Jan 31, 2021
An aide memoire of items I’ve noted from the boroughs where I work, rest and play, in case it is of use to others.
Here’s a link back to December 2020’s round-up if you want to rummage backwards.
Consultations closing
Closing 28 Feb’21 … perversely, the consultations are still open …
A car diet – WillCycle
Recently, I caused a bit of a storm on social media. My crime? Simple – I asked why we do not have laws that limit the size (width and length), along with top speed and engine power of cars. Yes, I’m aware there are laws which specify certain limits, esp w.r.t vehicle width, and that different licence categories impose weight restrictions, but this is more specific that that.
You will note that – despite rather strongly believing that we should have tight laws governing this – what I did was merely ask a question. Never once did I suggest that we should immediately scrap all cars that exceed certain limits, nor that everyone everywhere should be forced to all drive exactly the same car.And yet, some of the reactions I got suggested that some people at least convinced themselves that this was exactly what I proposed, and as a result became extremely defensive.
One person (unsurprisingly, a Land Rover driver) claimed that SUVs were somehow safer for pedestrians – the reality is SUVs are lethal to pedestrians, and becoming more so.
(Repeat post) There is no ‘war on cars’ in London, but perhaps it is time for one (part 1) – The London Society
The London Society aims to provide a platform for the debate on how London ought to develop, and to go with our theme of ‘change’ in 2021, we will have a strand of articles on the blog called “Change: Opinions” – polemical pieces that make a case for a radically changing some aspect of the status quo or of received wisdom.Here, Jon Burke formerly a Hackney Councillor, and the Cabinet Member for Energy, Waste, Transport and Public Realm, argues that on environmental, medical and social grounds, drastic action has to be taken against the motor vehicle in London. Part 1 (below) looks at the scale of the problem, and part 2 addresses what we need to do. You can download the whole article here (PDF).
Opinion | There’s One Big Problem With Electric Cars – The New York Times
They’re still cars. Technology can’t cure America of its addiction to the automobile.
Feb. 18, 2021
I am starting to worry about the electric car.
Not the thing itself; I’ve found electric vehicles to be superior to their fossil-powered predecessors in just about every important way, and although I am a car-crazy Californian, I don’t expect to buy a lung-destroying, pollution-spewing gas car ever again.
But electric motors are merely a power source, not a panacea. From General Motors’ Super Bowl ads to President Biden’s climate-change plans, plug-in cars are now being cast as a central player in America’s response to a warming future — turning a perfectly reasonable technological hope into overblown hype.
It’s time to give the victims of car-centric planning a voice – Transport Xtra
Truly liveable neighbourhoods can only be created if the views and needs of society’s most marginalised groups are heard, writes Daisy Narayanan
We know the environmental, social and economic reasons for creating people-friendly, ‘liveable’ places. The last century has seen a significant rise in car ownership, resulting in cars becoming a dominant presence on our roads, impacting the way we use our streets and how we move around our local neighbourhoods. As a result, we are often left with congested neighbourhoods, poor air quality and uninviting public spaces.
Our streets should be more than carriageways for vehicles, and our cities should place people at its very heart, supporting and enhancing the lives of the communities they serve.
‘Bike lanes to nowhere’: for cyclists, Los Angeles is heaven and hell | The Guardian
Poor infrastructure makes LA one of the most difficult US cities to bike in. Cyclists hope the pandemic will change that
Andrew O’Reilly in Los Angeles
Thu 18 Feb 2021 11.00 GMT
With year-round perfect riding weather and a topography that allows both bike commuters to enjoy pedaling without too much strain and experienced riders to explore the nearby mountains and hills, Los Angeles in many ways is a cyclists’ paradise.
But the city’s cycling reputation is tempered by the fact that it is one of the most vexing, difficult and downright dangerous cities in the United States to ride a bike in.
“The weather here is so perfect that you really don’t need a car to shelter like you do in other parts of the country,” said Phil Gaimon, a former professional cyclist turned author and YouTube star. “But LA is also the shittiest city in the most beautiful part of the world.”
From steel city to bike city: Wollongong pins hopes on becoming world-class cycling destination | The Guardian
Rafa Touma
Sat 13 Feb 2021 19.00 GMT
If Australians were asked what they most associated with Wollongong, most would probably nominate heavy industries such as coal and steel production. But now the city 90km south of Sydney has been recognised alongside diverse European destinations as it strives to make a new reputation as a centre for both professional and recreational cycling.
DfT report reveals each generation “driving less than their predecessors” – Cycle Industry News
Mark Sutton16 February, 2021
A new report commissioned by the Department for Transport has found that each passing generation is driving less within urban areas, in particular were convenient alternatives are provided.
Undertaken by NatCen Social Research, the research reveals a pattern of trends that are already in motion, such as young people’s propensity to avoid car use in urban areas, if alternatives are easily accessible. In rural areas, where far less congestion exists and travel distances often greater, the trend is understandable less pronounced.
Prepare For Gridlock If Future For Autonomous Vehicles Is Plentiful Cheap Journeys – Forbes
Carlton Reid10:46am EST
Hiring a taxi is expensive. This is mostly because of the cost of the human driver. Replacing that driver with a robot will clearly reduce the cost. That is the one of the key promises of autonomous vehicles (AVs)—in the future, we will be able to travel where we want, when we want at low cost because we will no longer own cars and nor will we have to pay the high costs of human drivers.
Paperboy, 80, cancels his retirement plan after being gifted a new electric bike – inews
By Benjamin Russell
February 15, 2021
One of Britain’s oldest paperboys has decided not to retire after being gifted an electric bike to help him on his route.
George Bailey, who distributes newspapers around the village of Headcorn in Kent, said he has been given a “new lease of life” with the e-bike.
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The octagenarian first made headlines at the end of January and had been considering giving up the 2.5-mile round.
However, he has postponed hanging up his bag after British cycling companies Raleigh and Evans Cycles offered him a new Raleigh Motus Crossbar E-Bike, which will give him up to 250 per cent of his pedal power, and speeds of up to 15.5mph.