As global lockdowns keep most people at home, congestion-riddled, pollution-choked streets around the world have transformed into empty, eerily silent spaces. The most conspicuous absentee is the car, as personal vehicles remain parked in driveways and side streets. This lack of cars has contributed to a sudden drop in emissions of carbon dioxide, pollutants like… [Read More]
“We’ve only got weeks” to change UK’s cities for the better, warns Chris B oardman | road.cc
Appeal comes as AA survey suggests a third of drivers may cycle, walk or run more once lockdown eases Chris Boardman has warned that time is running out to harness the changes that the COVID-19 pandemic has wrought on the way we move around the UK’s cities to ensure a lasting benefit. His appeal comes… [Read More]
Mayor’s Streetspace Plan could see cycling increased tenfold post-lockdown | BikeBiz
1/5/2020 As the UK lockdown heads into its second phase, Mayor of London’s walking and cycling commissioner Will Norman outlines how London could adapt to enable socially-distanced travel… With London’s public transport capacity potentially running at a fifth of pre-crisis levels, up to eight million journeys a day will need to be made by other… [Read More]
Could e-bikes be about to get even more eco-friendly? Researchers develop rechargeable graphene batteries | road cc
Swedish researchers Graphene Flagship have developed a rechargeable battery made from graphene that they say could greatly improve the eco-friendly credentials of current e-bikeswith lithium-ion batteries. Bosch developing new tech that they say will bring “a giant leap forward in e-mobility” As graphene is non-toxic, Graphene Flagship say it’s already a better choice than a… [Read More]
Lockdown is showing how our car-jammed streets can change for the better | Greenpeace UK
If you’ve been out on foot recently, you might have found yourself wishing you had a bit more space. Most pavements in our towns and cities are too narrow for people to pass each other while staying two metres apart, and all too often you’re often forced to step into the road – or hold… [Read More]
France offering €50 to get your bike fixed with registered mechanics – Cycling Industry News
Jonathon Harker1 May, 2020 France is tackling the travel challenges of the pandemic lockdown directly by offering its citizens €50 to spend getting their bicycles repaired. Members of the public can spend up to €50 at registered mechanics as part of a €20 million scheme. That cash total will also be used for cycle training… [Read More]
Could e-bikes be hit by Chinese battery shortage headache? Pandemic causes production to fall 10% in 2020 | road.cc
Specialist data analysts Global Data claim that the world’s clean energy sector could be hindered by a 10% fall in Chinese battery production capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They say that manufacturing across the global clean energy sector including renewable energy, battery energy storage and electric vehicles could all be affected; and crucially, two… [Read More]
Air pollution in London falls by 50% at busiest traffic spot – Transport Xtra
Coronavirus: Mayor Khan wants to lock in post lockdown pollution reductions Air quality in London dramatically improved since the imposition of coronavirus lockdown, with harmful emissions at some of the capital’s busiest roads and junctions falling by almost 50%. Figures released by the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan show that anti-pollution measures introduced from 2017… [Read More]
Fossil fuel firms linked to Trump get millions in coronavirus small business aid | Fossil fuels | The Guardian
Emily Holden Published on Fri 1 May 2020 13.16 BST US fossil fuel companies have taken at least $50m in taxpayer money they probably won’t have to pay back, according to a review of coronavirus aid meant for struggling small businesses by the investigative research group Documented and the Guardian. A total of $28m is… [Read More]
Fears grow of post-lockdown congestion crisis, bike industry called on to lobby now
Jonathon Harker1 May, 2020 As the UK contemplates how the lockdown will ease, it seems highly likely that there will be a level of nervousness around returning to public transport and crowded train carriages. Fears are growing that public transport users will instead opt for the car, pushing an already crowded road infrastructure closer to… [Read More]