Deniz Huseyin24 June 2022
TfL and boroughs get powers to fine drivers who infringe on cycle lanes – Transport Xtra
Drivers who infringe on cycle lanes on TfL roads and in some London boroughs will be issued with an £160 fine
Drivers that infringe on cycle lanes and cycle tracks in the capital can now be fined by Transport for London and councils in the same way that moving traffic contraventions are enforced. New powers introduced by the Government mean that TfL and London boroughs can issue fines to those that drive within, or cross, cycle lane white lines.
Motor vehicles are already prohibited from driving within or crossing cycle lanes that are marked by a solid white line and cycle tracks, but until now…
Fossil fuel industry faces surge in climate lawsuits | Environment | The Guardian
Number of climate-related lawsuits globally has doubled since 2015, with quarter filed in past two years
Isabella Kaminski
The world’s most polluting companies are increasingly being targeted by lawsuits challenging their inaction on climate change and attempts to spread misinformation, according to a new report.
Research by the London School of Economics Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment found a surge in legal cases against the fossil fuel industry over the past year – especially outside the US – and growing action in other corporate sectors.
Cycling made e-asy to launch in Sheffield – Transport Xtra
Cycling UK is powering up to make cycling e-asy in Sheffield with an exciting new scheme, Cycling made e-asy
Funded by the Department for Transport, this unique scheme will launch in Sheffield on Thursday July 21. Community members will be given the opportunity to try an e-cycle by joining engaging try-and-ride sessions or by loaning one for up to three months.
More flowers, fewer cars: the rewilders turning parking spaces into parks | Urban wildlife | The Guardian
As more towns and cities bring in measures to curb traffic and the number of cars on the streets, the idea of converting parking spaces into “parklets” is gaining traction. These tiny green parks are part of a trend in urban rewilding by individuals that is boosting biodiversity across the world.
‘The council came at 5am and took our garden away’
Unsafe roads deter women from using e-scooters, research find – transportxtra
The lack of safe, segregated infrastructure is discouraging women from hiring e-scooters, according to new research.
Some 79% of female respondents said that not feeling safe due to infrastructure was a barrier to riding.
It found that, similar to cycling, only 30% of e-scooter riders in the UK are women.
In general women also want to gain a better understanding of the law around e-scooters, and need access to safe, well-lit parking spots, said the study by urban mobility firm Voi, JFG Communications and Women in Transport.
Drivers who kill could receive life sentences under law reform – BBC News
Drivers who kill could receive life sentences as part of changes coming into force this week.
Judges will be able to hand down life sentences to dangerous drivers who kill and careless drivers who kill while under the influence of drink or drugs.
The current penalty for each crime is a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.
“Those responsible will now face the possibility of life behind bars,” Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said.
The changes come into force as part of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act.
The new legislation will also create an offence of causing serious injury by careless driving, meaning those who inflict long-term or permanent injuries also face tougher sentences.
Integrated regional transport at heart of EEH business plan – transportxtra
Improved bus services, and better routes for cycling and walking must be at the top of “transport hierarchy”, England’s Economic Heartland (EEH) has stated in its new business plan.
EEH said that over the next three years it will plan for an integrated regional transport system “which provides a seamless journey from doorstep to destination”. This will comprise: ticketing and information provision; the first mile, last mile including connectivity to transport hubs; cost of travel; safety and perceptions of safety; reliability; and convenience.
Britain ranks bottom in Europe for nature connectedness | Access to green space | The Guardian
Out of 14 nations surveyed, UK citizens measured lowest for their oneness with the natural world
Patrick Barkham
From the romantic poets to the global reach of Sir David Attenborough, Britain has a reputation for being a nation of nature lovers.
But the citizens of this supposedly green and pleasant land are ranked bottom of 14 European nations measured for their “nature connectedness”, according to a new study.
Nature connectedness is a psychological concept that measures the closeness of an individual’s relationship with other species and the wild world. Studies have found that people with a high level of nature connectedness enjoy better mental health and are more likely to act in environmentally friendly ways.
A City Fights Back Against Heavyweight Cars – bloomberg.com
David Zipper – 26 May 2022
A 2020 Silverado HD pickup truck at the GM assembly plant in Flint, Michigan, in 2020. Owners of vehicles like this that weigh more than 6,000 pounds will face additional fees in Washington, D.C.
Imagine that you, a city resident, are contemplating swapping out your mid-sized sedan for a full-sized pickup truck. And not just any pickup truck; your eye has fallen upon a heavy-duty one, like the Chevy Silverado HD or the Ford F-250. These are machines intended for towing and hauling, but they’re increasingly popular as passenger vehicles in the US, despite their massive proportions. At 6,695 pounds, the F-250 is 23 inches taller and more than twice as heavy as a Honda Accord.
Such oversized vehicles exacerbate problems across all kinds of communities, but none more so than dense urban neighborhoods full of pedestrians and cyclists. Driving a large pickup or SUV increases the likelihood you’ll kill or injure someone; its thirsty power plant (the F-250 gets 15 mpg) spews more air pollution and greenhouse emissions.
Noisy Cities – Possible
Remember: decibels are not a linear scale. Instead, we experience an increase of 10 decibels as a doubling of loudness. For example, 80 decibels is four times louder than 60 decibels.
Data Sources: DEFRA (Department for Environment, Transport and Rural Affairs). Data is entirely modelled and not directly from any monitoring stations. The London data only shows main roads as the UK only carries out the minimum mapping required under the EU Environmental Noise Directive. More information ––– https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/strategic-noise-mapping-2019
Data are under the third five year cycle of EU Environmental Noise Directive reporting. Data is ‘Lden’ (24 hour – day, evening and night) average noise levels for road traffic noise only (hence low levels can be seen on the maps close to railway stations and airports).
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