They have returned! There doesn’t seem to be a collective noun for newts, but they have gathered in their dozens in our pond.

A conversation earlier today reminded me of this slide I put into a recent talk. How did we decide the tiny human-sized machine is the special case, and the massive overpowered machine full of empty furniture is the norm?

Traffic levels on Magdalen Bridge have fallen by 13% and on Folly Bridge by 14% since the introduction of Oxford’s congestion charge, according to the latest data. The year-on-year changes also saw drops on Banbury Road, Marston Ferry Road and Thames Street, with rises of 0%–6% on the ring road.

Is riding an e bike cheating? No, it's just like doing 20 reps at a low weight instead of 10 at a heavy weight in the gym. You get the exercise anyway. AND you might be more likely to get on the bike in the first place. www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/2586115...

Are you Cyclox' new treasurer? Could you volunteer with our team of friendly trustees? We're not looking for an accountant, just someone with a head for figures who wants to see more people cycling more often and more safely in Oxford, more info here www.cyclox.org/index.php/wo...

The Movement for Good is a quarterly prize draw giving charities the chance to win funding. Please nominate Cyclox - it takes no time at all. Click ‘Nominate a charity’ Enter ‘Cyclox’ Select the ‘Health’ category movementforgood.com/draws/1000

Please sign this @theactionnetwork.bsky.social petition: No increase in car parking at Warneford Park! The increase of nearly 50% will increase congestion and goes against the city transport policy. Sign here: actionnetwork.org/petitions/no...

This makes an agonising read. What an opportunity lost. And information was withheld from Oxfordshire County Council 😦 oxfordclarion.uk/exclusive-10... All uncovered by @oxfordclarion.bsky.social

Wind and solar used to play a niche role when I started to work on energy in 2004. Last year they overtook fossil generation in the EU for the first time.

This is such good news! Well done @saveoursaferstreets.org for pursuing this action 👏👏👏 www.standard.co.uk/news/london/...

"Our investigation also found huge variation in the way councils record repairs across the country" Yes, potholes are a meaningless thing to measure, but politicians and the media talk about them incessantly.

The Cowley Low Traffic Neighbourhoods have saved 30 collisions over 3 years within the LTNs and boundary roads according to latest casualty data, analysed by @cohsat.bsky.social The Cowley LTNs were implemented in April 2021, after sporadic coronavirus lockdowns between March 2020 and March 2021.

🚨 BREAKING: A legal bid to halt Oxford’s congestion charge has been turned down. The High Court today refused an application for judicial review by Open Roads For Oxford Ltd, which had raised £60,000 “from private donations, transfers from aligned funds, and our GoFundMe campaign” to bring the case.

James from Wokingham needs a medal! Highways authorities should clone him. road.cc/content/news...

“Pavements are for pedestrians, not vehicles,” says Oxfordshire County Council’s Cllr Andrew Gant as the Government introduces new rules on pavement parking where councils will be allowed to introduce and enforce a ban: “We welcome the opportunity to apply for the powers to enforce this.”

Let alone their future driving permissions… Why is road crime treated differently to other crime? IMO complacency and acceptance of road danger as inevitable have dulled accountability. Strategy isn’t enough — we need a fundamental root & branch cultural reset. www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...

Tile whipping “Tegelwippen” has become a national competition in the Netherlands. We could do this here to help reverse the trend of paving over front gardens for off-road parking www.euronews.com/green/2025/0...

My letter to the Oxford Mail today on… the cable car. 🚡🚠💚

Don’t forget, for many years #Uber insisted loudly that it would reduce traffic in cities. Instead, Uber drivers cruise without passengers 40% of the time. Uber and Lyft no longer claim they reduce traffic. They now admit they increase congestion. So much for “making cities better…” Via @wsj.com

'Read the stories of Oxfordshire residents who make walking or wheeling a part of their everyday lives.' www.oxfordtraveloptions.co.uk/local-voices... These are lovely! There are many more everyday stories about getting around Oxford by bus, bike, and train, too.

Onwards and downwards to the future, fellow Londoners! 🚀

This year has broken wind and solar energy generation records.

True freedom. Being able to ride a bike safely to get to the shops, your friend, the hospital....can we do this in #Oxford?

British entrance kerb units forming the ramps for a speed table outside The Rusty Bicycle, Magdalen Road, Oxford. Installed in 1990 as part of a wider traffic calming and traffic management project in the area. Nothing is new under the highways sun. #FridayFun

Big news from Wales. Side road zebra crossings as an option where both roads are 20mph are on their way 🦓 Another tool in the box, but I'd recommend contextual use because they are not a universal solution. www.gov.wales/written-stat...

Heat pumps are the most efficiency heating technology ever invented. That's because they harvest, compress and transport pre-existing heat from the air, the ground or the water. Compared to a gas boiler heat pumps deliver ~4x more heat for each unit of energy inout.

Take care on the roads- they're for everyone - people walking, driving and cycling. Keep speeds down and eyes open. Don't use your phone. We are so glad that the boy who was hit did not suffer any serious injury but drivers in collisions should always stop. www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/2563447...

Shared e-bikes and e-scooters need to be available across the city to help people have more options to get around.

This is brilliant.

We often forget how far we have come: Today almost 3/4 of EU electricity generation is from non-fossil energy sources. It is not long ago that fossil fuels dominated the EU's electricity mix. This year their share is approaching 1/4 of EU electricity generation. Source is @ember-energy.org

It's amazing how much of a difference the congestion charge in Oxford has made. The roads are much quieter, it's so easy driving around the city centre now and being able to keep to time. My job has become less stressful.

A Conservative motion to cancel Oxford’s new Congestion Charge has been rejected by a meeting of Oxfordshire County Council. The Conservative and Labour groups voted to withdraw the charge but were outvoted by the LibDem administration and the Greens. (Our live posts are in the thread below!)

The temporary congestion charge seems to be working! We have now joined a small elite global group of cities with congestion charges - London, Durham, Stockholm, Milan, Gothenburg, and New York City🤩

The Congestion Charge went live today - so it's a great time to talk about a book (published this year) I recently finished reading. Did you know JRR Tolkien wrote a short satirical fantasy about how cars and congestion were ruining Oxford in the 1960s? Congestion has plagued Oxford for decades. 🧵

This is so sad.

Fun at the Glow Ride in Oxford tonight. Great turn out from Cyclox. Thank you for organising Cowley Road Condors!

The redesign tender, which we reported in September, is to be awarded in a week’s time. Brenda Boardman from Oxon4Buses said “This bus hub is 'owed' to us by Network Rail in return for all the ongoing disruption over the Botley Road bridge - they have more than one bridge to repair!”

#Oxon4Buses is calling for Network Rail to create a transport hub at the new station rather than a multi-story car park. This opportunity for an integrated network could be lost forever. Please sign ✍️ c.org/DX66nvC5qn

For as we all know, crimes committed in cars aren't real crimes

A small but significant achievement for those of us campaigning to improve cycle safety 🚲 Plans for crossings at Rose Hill service road entries abandoned as not addressing the fundamental problem of rat running. Officers asked to find an alternative solution. www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/2553901...

Wonderful! Another little step towards reducing motor traffic in Oxford.

Bit niche I think, but apparently this parking spot is reserved for female rock climbers.

Just what the congestion charge and traffic filters are meant to achieve hurray👏

A great use of the funds raised through the congestion charge 👏 www.oxfordbus.co.uk/free-bus-tra...

I mean, come on! Why are we accepting this as ok??! (pic from @urbancyclinginstitute.org )

Yup. It's been a long slog, though - as with all new therapies. I worked in a gene therapy lab back in 1997-8. The kinds of viral gene delivery systems the Huntington's work used were in development back then. So this stuff has been decades (of basic research - hence why you need it!) in the making.

What a way to celebrate #WorldCarFreeDay! Well done all who participated in the biggest ever #KidicalMassOxford and @cycloxoxford.bsky.social for organising it 👏🚲👏🚲

Oxford congestion charge, clean air, less noise, faster bus journeys...what's not to like? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Oxford's Congestion Charge approved at Cabinet today! I think this is the first UK one for 20 years - London and Durham being the other two cities with them. Looking forward to faster buses and more bus routes, fewer private cars and therefore being able to re-do crossings to favour pedestrians!