🗳️ Local elections are coming up this May! Do you want streets where children can play, air is clean, and public transport actually works? It’s time to #VoteLowTraffic. 🚲🚌🚶 Check out our new campaign page for everything you need to make your voice heard: lowtrafficfuture.org.uk/vote-low-tra...

We've updated our 'Vote Low Traffic' toolkit! If you / your group want to press parties/candidates in May's local elections to help cut people's motoring or taxi costs and reduce oil imports, by making other transport options easier/cheaper, visit ... www.lowtrafficfuture.org.uk/vote-low-traffic

“A year after the $1.1 billion overhaul,” which added a new lane each direction, “the 405’s rush hour drive times were a minute slower than they were before the workers broke ground. Five years later, traffic was worse at all times of day.” www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

To help retail businesses, shut the cars out of city centres. Spanish bank BBVA analysis showed a 9.5% increase in retail takings after traffic restrictions in Madrid. www.forbes.com/sites/carlto...

The Dept for Transport plan to hand over >£120m p.a. *indefinitely* to the Dartford and Lower Thames Crossings, yet they can't afford to invest properly in walking & wheeling, cycling, public transport...

Fantastic Appeal Court win for @saveoursaferstreets.org, who have averted the threat to remove popular and effective #LowTrafficNeighbourhood schemes in Tower Hamlets (E London).

Looking forward to free @sfrost.bsky.social webinar this pm, about his @ippr.org research into the transport attitudes of different voter segments (different ages, political leanings, parts of the country etc) - and hence what #lowtraffic messages will land with whom! 6-7pm, registration link below.

My reflections tinyurl.com/3er5w77k on the Dept for @transportgovuk.bsky.social's #RoadSafety Strategy, launched yesterday. There are some positives, some 'mixed blessings' and some frustrating omissions, notably the lack of action to reduce speeds, boost roads policing or invest in active travel.

The £-multi-billion Lower Thames Crossing is still going ahead, while the Leeds tram scheme gets postponed. Surely what's holding this country back isn't the bats, newts, nimbies and the legislation that supposedly allows them to block progress - it's @treasurydept.bsky.social's skewed £ priorities!

New Government figures (tinyurl.com/3ajz9x67) show local authorities' #Cycling & #Walking funding being cut yet again! We need 10,000s of miles of new C&W links, not just 500 miles (see tinyurl.com/5dk3t5mx). Please respond to consultation on C&W 'Investment' Strategy by Monday tinyurl.com/2v3dmx6d

Lovely 6-min video by @streetfilms.bsky.social, showing how great Low Traffic Neighbourhoods can be! Let's reclaim our streets - and let's also reclaim the term "Low Traffic"! It's hugely desirable for loads of reasons and, despite what some media voices want us to believe, it's hugely popular too.

I love it - hats off to these guys!

For principles, see summary and full guides at lowtrafficfuture.org.uk/portfolio-it... For best practice in target-setting, see lowtrafficfuture.org.uk/challenge/ We're contacting groups with upcoming LTP consultations to offer support. For an invitation, please email [email protected]

This Wed (8th Oct), I will be contributing to a webinar about how the Government's #planning and #devolution reforms could support #LowTrafficHomes, with safe streets, great public transport, homes close to schools / shops / etc, and attractive outdoor space. To register, visit tinyurl.com/2yh3cux6.

Starmer wants to make it even harder for people to legally challenge environmentally destructive roads, airports etc tinyurl.com/3cdpszp2. If only he was as eager to stop fossil fuel companies from using 'corporate courts' to block *positive* action for nature and the climate eg tinyurl.com/4r4tdy38

A great legal win by @drandrewboswell, tireless campaigner against roads and CCS - i.e. the fantasy that we can carry on emitting carbon, then capture and store it all. This will doubtless blow a big hole in the Carbon Budget Delivery Plan that the Gvt *must* legally publish by the end of October.

A crucial win for investment in #cycling & #walking... The last Gvt's funding cuts caused a glaring mismatch between the 2nd Cycling & Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS2)'s "objectives" and the funding earmarked to achieve these. Let's hope there will now be no repeat in CWIS3, due later this year!

Tomorrow, the Court of Appeal will publish its ruling on @transportaction.bsky.social's challenge to the legality of the last Government's drastic cuts to the funding for #walking and #cycling...

Join us and cprelondon.bsky.social on Thursday 19 June for a FREE webinar to learn why parking matters and the policies that can be promoted in Local Plans and Local Transport Plans to support a shift to more sustainable modes. Sign up here: buff.ly/QHrmAJn

🚨BREAKING🚨 WE’VE WON OUR CASE TO #DefendDemocracy The Court of Appeal has ruled that anti-protest laws which completely ignored the will of Parliament are unlawful

Since 1990, carbon emissions for domestic transport have only fallen by 13%, showing how woeful the Department for Transport’s reaction to a climate emergency has been. Our latest blog post 👇 transportactionnetwork.org.uk/net-zero-und...

Conservative ministers cut two-thirds of dedicated funding for walking, wheeling and cycling. We have a new government, yet ministers have refused to drop the case and settle. Today, we take our case to the Court of Appeal.

Great to see @transportfornewhomes.org.uk 's latest report out today. Sadly it shows most new housing is still car-dependent. The Govt's Planning & Infrastructure Bill is due out next week. Urge your MP to back housing which supports clean and healthy travel lowtrafficfuture.org.uk/low-traffic-...

The @thecccuk.bsky.social's proposals make optimistic assumptions about how quickly we will switch to EVs. They also leave it for Gov't to tackle the rebound problem: cheaper driving (thanks to EVs) will mean more driving, unless other measures are taken to address this. But this bit is important...

Here's an excellent summary, from @sfrost.bsky.social of what the @thecccuk.bsky.social's 7th Carbon Budget report said last week (while I was away!) about surface transport...

With the Government aiming to build 1.5m new homes, the Dutch show how it can be done without worsening traffic chaos, by providing clean, safe and healthy travel options for everyone. Please email your MP, urging them to back similar plans in England www.lowtrafficfuture.org.uk/low-traffic-homes

🚨 BIG DAY IN TRANSPORT ALERT 🚨 Today is the final day to respond to the National Transport Survey for England. We think it's time for a #LowTrafficVision 1️⃣ Write to your MP using this handy template actionnetwork.org/letters/low-... 2️⃣ Respond to the survey lowtrafficfuture.org.uk/low-traffic-...

@transporthealth.bsky.social @walkridegm.org.uk @owlernook.bsky.social @brumcjc.bsky.social @bricycles.org.uk @batbrighton.bsky.social @leicestercyclingcg.bsky.social @leicsactivetravel.bsky.social @newcycling.bsky.social @cmdkenyon.bsky.social @iamthedans.bsky.social @msingerhobbs.bsky.social

If you're in England, tell your MP that efficient & affordable public transport together with extensive cycling and walking infrastructure will save money to the NHS by cutting road accidents and improving our physical & mental health. It will also regenerate the local economy. This is Paris:

@livingstreets.bsky.social @londoncycling.bsky.social @psimonk.bsky.social @betterstreetsforbirmingham.org @davidcox65.bsky.social @harryhamishgray.bsky.social @merseycyclists.bsky.social @camcycle.bsky.social @cambstravelall.bsky.social @roxyfromoz.bsky.social @cycloxoxford.bsky.social

@friends-earth.bsky.social @rosiedownes.bsky.social @ippr.bsky.social @sfrost.bsky.social @globalactionplan.bsky.social @olliehayes.bsky.social @cleanairlondon.bsky.social @olord.bsky.social @crisortunity.bsky.social @lcefuk.bsky.social @ralphpalmer.bsky.social @jossgarman.bsky.social

@greenpeaceuk.bsky.social @green-alliance.org.uk @transportfornewhomes.org.uk @transenvuk.bsky.social @gregmarsden-leeds.bsky.social @metalprofessor.bsky.social @northeastptug.bsky.social @jamiewclarke.bsky.social @emilykerr36.bsky.social @reclaimourbuses.bsky.social @mjhtopham.bsky.social

@wearepossible.bsky.social @cyclinguk.bsky.social @healthyairuk.bsky.social @actionvz.bsky.social @wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk @climateemergencyuk.bsky.social @carltonreid.com @adamtranter.bsky.social @christianwolmar.bsky.social @petedyson.bsky.social @freewheeling.info

The Gvt is working on a National Transport Strategy and wants your ideas! We've made it easy to email your MP and/or respond. Please call for a #LowTrafficVision: more funding for walking, cycling, public transport etc, less dependence on cars, vans & lorries lowtrafficfuture.org.uk/low-traffic-...

Wow, who would have thought it?!

UPDATE: Judge gives the green light to our challenge on all our three legal grounds. She was extremely critical of the Department for Transport’s attempts to ignore consultation responses that called for a shift to sustainable travel as well as the climate impacts of road schemes.

For the subject of this year's Chief Medical Officer's annual report, published today, Chris Whitty has chosen "Health in Cities" www.gov.uk/government/p.... It includes an excellent section on #ActiveTravel (section 4.7). Some key snippets attached, recommendations to follow (1/2).

Great Xparty support for cycling tinyurl.com/mwhuktjf from @freddievanmierlomp.bsky.social @laylamoran.bsky.social @benobesejecty.bsky.social @jamesmaccleary.bsky.social @simonforstroud.bsky.social @clivejonesmp.bsky.social @libdemcam.bsky.social @steffanaquarone.bsky.social @simonlightwood.org.uk

Reasons to be cheerful... (Data from Ember. Quoted in Times environment briefing today.)

We are hearing a lot about the impact of social media on children’s well-being. Should the UK follow Australia’s lead and simply ban under 16’s from using it? But in all this debate, we must look at the other equally massive - and deeply connected - factor impacting children’s lives…🧵👇

Bluesky tip for newbies: Bluesky has no real algorithm. Likes here do nothing but show the poster that you enjoyed their content. That kindness is always going to be appreciated by creators, but if you want to help to boost something here, you have to repost it so others see it. 🙂

New: MPs will discuss how to improve public transport next Thursday 5th Dec (this is a debate agreed by the Backbench Business C'ttee) whatson.parliament.uk/commons/2024.... Please urge your MP to speak, it's vital to signal to ministers that this really matters to people www.theyworkforyou.com/mps/

Heidi Alexander appointed as new Transport Secretary www.gov.uk/government/n.... So, from her time as London's deputy mayor, at least we know she understands and is interested in sustainable transport, though she did inexplicably defend the Silvertown Tunnel.

2 days ago, I was wondering if Louise Haigh would succeed where John Prescott had failed to deliver his integrated transport vision. I said Prescott failed partly "because his party leadership was unwilling to back him when the going got tough" tinyurl.com/bdfc77ss. Was Haigh dropped preemptively?

I gather Louise Haigh personally fought to include the commitment to "set targets for modal shift to lower emissions from the transport sector", in Labour's pre-election rail policy paper labour.org.uk/wp-content/u.... We may now need to work harder to get that promise delivered and properly funded.

Congrats @jilliananable.bsky.social, @metalprofessor.bsky.social, @adamtranter.bsky.social & @dhnnjyn.bsky.social on being appointed to the panel to lead the Dept for Transport's Capital Review www.gov.uk/government/g.... Other panellists don't seem to be on BlueSky, but it looks like a great team!

The Dept for Transport has just published a 'call for ideas' for its Integrated National Transport Strategy www.gov.uk/government/c.... Time to get reading and responding!

Hours before the previous Parliament broke up in May, the Tories formally designated a new policy to make it even easier to bulldoze new roads through our countryside. We had hoped Labour would do something different but... Astonishingly, Labour has decided to back the Tory roads policy!

Transport Sec Louise Haigh will publish her Integrated Transport Strategy on Thursday. That's precisely 30yrs since the Dept for Transport's bailiffs began evicting the squatted/barricaded homes of Claremont Rd to make way for the awful M11 Link Road. Hope she can deliver a very different 'vision'!

Haha! It's also amusing to note that Transport Sec Louise Haigh is due to publish her Integrated Transport Strategy this Thursday, precisely 30 years since the start of the eviction of Claremont Rd to make way for the M11 Link Road. Commentary here bsky.app/profile/roge... (PS Don't call me "old"!)