Peter Walker
Jordan Peterson is rarely lacking in strong opinions, but even by the standards of the Canadian psychologist turned hard-right culture warrior, this was vehement stuff: a city is planning to lock people in their local districts as part of a “well-documented” global plot to, ultimately, deprive them of all personal possessions.
Where was this? Not Beijing, or even Pyongyang. It was Oxford. In the days since Peterson’s tweet – viewed 7.5m times – officials in the city have fielded endless queries from around the world asking why they are imposing a “climate lockdown”. Inevitably, there have also been some threats.
Public transport is the best route to levelling up Britain | Transport policy | The Guardian
Zoë Billingham is right to argue that transport is crucial for improving regional economies (England’s transport system is a creaking misery – and an easy win for Keir Starmer, 3 January). But Labour should be wary of simply endorsing the massively expensive HS2 scheme, which delivers little for deprived areas of the north, as evidenced by its very low benefit-cost ratio. Instead, the party should focus on local improvements to bus services, the lifeblood of many communities, and on tram schemes in urban areas that have demonstrable wider benefits.
Islington outlines bold vision for cleaner, greener, healthier streets – Islington Media
13 Jan 2023 Media Library
Islington Council is announcing exciting plans to bring environmentally-friendly interventions to 70% of the borough, as it continues to tackle the climate emergency and create cleaner, greener, healthier streets for all.
The council is marking the start of 2023 by announcing pioneering plans for a network of Liveable Neighbourhoods, new environmental improvements to boost air quality outside schools on main roads, and bringing its successful School Streets to secondary schools. This huge programme of work – which was approved at last night’s Executive meeting – will be made possible through a £9m commitment the council has made for the years 2022/23 to 2024/25.
Nov 22) Transport in the era of The Head of Uncertainty – At War With The Motorist
Joe Dunckley August 31, 2011
There has been much jest made of the Department for Transport advertising the role Head of Uncertainty. But the narrative around uncertainty can have a profound impact on the direction of transport policy.
It was perhaps a predictable PR risk to advertise for somebody to head up delivery of “uncertainty” for transport at a time when the nation is full of such questions as “will my train turn up today?”, “will the railway be operating on the day that I want to travel?” and “is the government’s flagship rail policy dead or not?”. And the comparisons with W1A’s Director of Better were inevitable, but that’s because W1A was such a perfect parody of modern management that it’s true of half the senior roles advertised these days.
Lambeth Council’s Kerbside Strategy – lambeth.gov.uk
How we use this space must be guided by equity and sustainability.
The kerbside – most easily recognised today as the space where cars park – is one of the largest public
assets we have control over. In Lambeth, it is a space the size of 194 football pitches. How we use this space
can both support, and work against, our objectives. Today, 94% of the kerbside is used to provide and
manage car parking.
‘Can we reimagine Haringey’s streets for a sustainable future?’ – hamhigh.co.uk
Louise Wass, Haringey Living Streets
“Tag!” we cheered, charging from one pavement to another.
It was the early 1970s, local car ownership was low. As children, we were out all day: playing, exploring, climbing, biking. I knew every nook and cranny in our neighbourhood and formed a deep attachment to the landscape.
In the last 40 years, there has been a drastic decrease in children’s freedom to roam – they are visibly absent from our streets.
Sixteen children are killed or seriously injured in road crashes every week so this is no surprise. Air pollution affects us all, particularly the youngest.
Should children not have the same freedoms that we enjoyed? Why have we allowed unfettered car dominance to grow at the expense of our children’s well being? Hands up, when I owned a car, I did make some unnecessary journeys – it’s an easy habit to slip into.
Recent neighbourhood filtering in Haringey has met with some resistance. Low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) are often judged on their short term impacts, with little discussion on their vision or the multiple long term benefits – instead, “for or against” polemics are surfaced in an attempt to avoid the issues.
Electric vehicles are bringing out the worst in us – David Zipper – theatlantic.com
David Zipper – January 4, 2023
The downside of heavy, overpowered trucks and SUVs
American car executives keep insisting that there is no trade-off between saving the planet and having a hell of a good time behind the wheel. “What I find particularly gratifying,” Ford’s executive chair, Bill Ford, said in April as he unveiled his company’s new electric truck, “is not only is this a green F-150, but it’s a better F-150 … You’re actually gaining things that the internal combustion engine doesn’t have.” Mary Barra, the CEO of General Motors, sounded equally bullish in a recent social-media post: “Once you’ve experienced an [electric vehicle] and all it has to offer—the torque, handling, performance, capability—you’re in.”
How to explain car-oriented transportation planning: “Welcome to the restaurant. Let me tell you about our menu – Andy Boenau – Twitter
Andy Boenau @Boenau
How to explain car-oriented transportation planning: “Welcome to the restaurant. Let me tell you about our menu. Pizza is all-you-can-eat, and it’s free. Everything else costs $50 each, is a tiny portion, and takes 8 hours to prepare. So, what can I get you?”
Government needs to “get serious about reducing traffic levels” following active travel funding announcement – Green Party
The Green Party has criticised the government’s recent announcement that £32.9 million will be set aside to help councils across England build a network of cycling and walking experts, claiming that the new funding “doesn’t come close to delivering the active travel resolution we need”.
Car crashes into building – please post your Local news stories – road.cc
David9694 Aug 13, 2020
Running this one up the flagpole to see who salutes…
I just don’t remember this being a thing until recently, now it seems a daily occurrence.
Could it be that there are drivers not up to the job, too many cars; should houses be made to ride in single file, shops put on high viz, why are we putting newer buildings in danger like this, it’s irresponsible.
‘A Dorset Police spokesperson said: “Dorset Police was called at 12.48pm on Thursday, August 13, to a report of a collision involving a car and a wall outside Iceland on Poole Road in Bournemouth.
“It is reported that the vehicle was also in collision with a pedestrian, but they did not require medical treatment.”