Was there a competition for the worst possible public policy proposal?

A vision of the future? Paging @playingout.bsky.social and @tomflood.bsky.social ... @betterstreetsforbirmingham.org

Hmmn.

Thoughts for the West Mids … ?

“Hugely embarrassing and inexplicable.”

Cross party governmental inertia on an important issue. Footway (pavement) parking involves a public good being transferred to private use (car storage) in a way that disadvantages many.

This

An important issue - worldwide.

Three urban logistics vehicles parked, taking up less space than a traditional van or truck.

This is a problem encountered with many voluntary sector events and often also with the websites of charities and other voluntary sector organisations. ('How to find us.') It is also an easy win - the Barbican site, for example, handles this well. #Motonormativity #CleanAir #Campaigning #ActNow?

Interesting to see this gathering at the end of my cycle commute. A Letter Tree being launched by RoadPeace and TfWM to encourage people to make pledges for safer streets. Link to an online version in the next message. @betterstreetsforbirmingham.org

Gloves weather …

…

World Toilet Day is a good time to revisit some staggering statistics on sanitation: 3.4 billion people live without safely managed sanitation (WHO/UNICEF, 2025). 🧵

Its London Mayor’s Questions tomorrow & I understand that Greens on the London Assembly will be asking Sadiq Khan what the delay is with ending fossil fuel advertising on the tube & buses. If you too would like to drop the Mayor a polite email on this topic, please go to www.badverts.org/fossil-ads

Some good news from Birmingham … Heat-pump homes put less strain on grid than expected, study shows www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Trees are often lacking in #Edinburgh’s street design. We need #StreetsNOTroads. Streets have trees.

Glorious …

"I don't fly. I travel by boat and train instead. It means I can't go everywhere, but it's a magnificent way to see the world." - Celia Imrie youtu.be/s0AkpfHHF0M?... #TravelByTrain
#GreenTravel
#EcoTourism

Pretty cool ...

why can they not just fix it

'Lord Dubs told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “There is a proper case for children, there is a proper case for family reunion when there are children who are on their own,” and he said that “to use children as a weapon as the home secretary is doing I think is a shabby thing”'

...

THREAD. A couple of years ago I went on a pilgrimage to the derelict moorland cottage where a vegetarian ex-butcher once lived with a bull he had adopted, named Scrunch. You will find the story in the alt text...

Beautiful Bristol …

"The Home Office has re-assessed Peru and finds that it is no longer the deepest, or the darkest on our list. It is therefore safe for you to return, and we will compel you to do so within 1 week of receipt of this letter. Your marmalade sandwiches have been confiscated in lieu of your costs."

This piece is important. It is also a great (annoyingly great) example of what a properly resourced team of journalists can do. There are five bylines and almost 20 additional reporting credits on this piece. I've wanted to write this story for months but... do not have that many colleagues

This is every bit as good as people are saying. One of the most sensible pieces of analysis and linked policy proposals that I’ve read in a very long time. Two comments. Bus franchising requires ongoing revenue support if the aim is to provide a cheap and comprehensive network.

Good thread.

Climate activists gathered and protested in cities across the world on Saturday, including Birmingham, UK. We only have one planet. Defend it. #ActOnClimate #ClimateAction #COP30 #ClimateJusticeNow

With the world heating up [and more pedestrians being killed], why are more SUVs being sold? “It’s the industry that has driven the demand through huge marketing & advertising campaigns in recent years. SUVs offered the industry a simple way of charging more for a vehicle that does the same thing.”

This afternoon at 2pm, the West Midlands Police and Crime Panel meet in Wolverhampton. Road safety is on the agenda, bringing together different options and interventions. However, fresh Op Snap data for August shows 34% of 1847 submissions resulted in no further action and 39% in warning letters.

Quite. @alcarns.bsky.social

It really is worth taking the time to hear from people like “Mary,” who fled from Zimbabwe 20 years ago, to understand what life is like when the law denies you the chance to call the country where you’ve made your life home

Another reminder that a 13-year study found that protected bike-lanes led to a drastic decline in fatalities for all road users. ALL ROAD USERS. And painted bike-lanes? No safety improvement at all. For sharrows, it’s actually safer to NOT have them. Via @usa.streetsblog.org @nyc.streetsblog.org

This.

Your periodic reminder ... x.com/LSEnews/stat...

"Contrast this with the majority of American cities today, where you are 3 to 4 times more likely to get killed walking on a road. There is no way for my kids to ride their bikes to school without riding on a highway. The walking street is a single block long." marylandmatters.org/2025/11/15/w...

Pope Leo absolutely cooking

It's astounding how much CO₂ we put into the atmosphere each year by burning fossil fuels. For comparison, we all agree that plastic pollution is bad, but the mass of ALL THE PLASTIC humanity has ever produced is only 25% of the CO₂ we emitted into the atmosphere in 2025.

The best way to understand what is actually “driving the small boats” is “if something carried a one in a 100 risk of death, would you do it it it gave you ten more years of healthy life?”

For those wondering how you get on and off a penny-farthing. *A guy walking by said to his companion, “That looks incredibly dangerous.” 😅

Thank you Jam and team at 1000 Trades on the Park for a lovely Sunday roast. It was great to catch up with friends in such a warm and friendly space.

At the close of my victim personal statement, I said: “I ask you, my daughter’s killer, as one parent to another, please do not drive a car again in your lifetime. Experience life as a vulnerable human being.”’ www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/news-op...

It is very much worth noting this, today and every day. @betterstreetsforbirmingham.org