Author name: Steven Edwards

We want to see physical and societal barriers to cycling removed and one of our key areas of concern are the physical barriers installed by local authorities across cycle paths. Disabled cyclists have been using their knowledge of freedom of information and equality legislation to challenge such barriers with some success. A great example of the process, type of questions and local authority reaction can be reviewed here.

Because equality legislation requires complaints to be made by the person with the protected characteristic, we would advise that only disabled people should use this process for challenging local authorities and only if they cannot physically dismount and walk or carry their cycle (such as a handcyclist). We would love to hear from you if this process has worked for you or if we can put in in touch with someone with experience in challenging local authorities. Please drop us a line here.

Sales more than triple on e-bikes and scooters as commuters avoid public transport

Zoe WoodTue 8 Sep 2020 17.51
Sales of electric bikes and scooters have more than tripled over the summer months, according to Halfords as the health crisis has prompted people to steer clear of public transport.
While many retailers are struggling due to the economic upheaval caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the car and bicycle parts company is enjoying a purple patch as shoppers invest in new wheels as well as sprucing up old bikes left languishing in sheds and garages.

Shadow minister says £1.2bn project should be ditched in favour of green transport links

Local Transport Today is the authoritative, independent journal for transport decision makers. Analysis, Comment & News on Transport Policy, Planning, Finance and Delivery since 1989.School Streets are a welcome development, but they focus mostly on primary schools. Measures are urgently needed to make it safe for secondary school students to cycle to school, writes Lucy Marstrand, walking and cycling lead at Project Centre

Analysis finds work absences related to poor air are costing Britain about £600m annually

Fiona HarveyWed 9 Sep 2020 00.01 BST
Polluted air in the UK causes 3m working days to be lost every year owing to people getting sick or taking time off to care for sick children, new research suggests.
Cutting air pollution and meeting the World Health Organization standards would benefit the economy by about £1.6bn a year, by improving productivity, according to the analysis carried out by the CBI. About 17,000 premature deaths of working age people each
year would be prevented by meeting the guidelines.

Can low traffic solutions help re-shape and revive our streets?The spread of people-friendly streets across Waltham Forest, plans for safe cycling corridors through Liverpool City Region, and Project Centre’s approach to winning local support for schemes were discussed at Landor LINKS’ Low Traffic Neighbourhoods webinar. Deniz Huseyin repor

We have approached the Government with 30 towpath improvement schemes for inner city and urban areas, as the Government signalled plans for a walking and cycling ‘revolution’

The proposed improvements include places such as Burnley, Wigan, Sheffield, Bradford, Birmingham, Leicester and London. We are seeking to secure a combination of government and local authority funding for the schemes.

Sep 11, 2020
A cyclist found guilty of breaching Hemel Hempstead’s town centre Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) has been fined a total of £563 for cycling through two car parks. 
Councillor Julie Banks commented: “This prosecution sends a clear message that breaching the town centre PSPO will not be tolerated and that enforcement action will be taken where necessary.”

Mark Sutton3 September, 2020