Those behind the recent “coup” in the National Clarion Cycling Club (Keir Hardie’s cycling club jettisons socialism, 14 June) have, like so many others nowadays, misunderstood the concept of inclusion, treating it like a mantra to be trotted out without actually thinking. Inclusion can only be invoked in order to remove irrelevant obstacles to joining an organisation.
For almost all organisations, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and many other attributes are irrelevant, so they should not be an obstacle. Not so when it comes to political leanings in the context of an overtly political cycling club. One might as well try to persuade the Spurs supporters’ club to admit a card-carrying Arsenal fan. Those who are so unaware of the current political situation as to think socialism “irrelevant” should do the decent thing, leave the Clarion and form their own club, to which they would then be free
Government tells councils it won’t fund painted cycle lanes | road.cc
The Department for Transport (DfT) has written to local authorities in England to reinforce its guidance from last year that it will not fund cycle lanes that are marked out with paint and that any applications for funding need to include segregation.
In a letter sent to councils this week, DfT deputy director Rupert Furness underlined that applications for grants from the government’s Active Travel Fund involving cycling schemes need to comply with the LTN 1/20 standard, reports transport journalist Carlton Reid on Forbes.com.
In May last year, as the government made encouraging active travel a central part of its plans for the country’s emergence from the coronavirus pandemic, the DfT made £250 million available for cycling and walking projects.
At the time, it said that “to receive any money under this or future tranches, you will need to show us that you have a swift and meaningful plan to reallocate road space to cyclists and pedestrians, including strategic corridors.”
Inviting councils to apply for a fresh wave of funding this week, Furness told them that the DfT “only intends to fund schemes which comply with the Cycling Design Standards set out in local transport note LTN 1/20.
Run a public awareness campaign to address driver aggression toward cyclists – Petitions
The Department of Transport should run a national public awareness campaign to educate motorists about dangerous, inappropriate and aggressive behaviours that can lead to the injury and even death of cyclists. The attitude that cyclists should not be on roads needs to end.
Three in four motorists can break the law due to a lack of policing | This is Money
Three quarters of people believe drivers can get away with a number of motoring offences because of a serious lack of traffic police officers on the roads, a new study has highlighted.
Just one in six think motorists would be caught and punished for careless driving because there aren’t enough traffic officers to police these types of crimes, a poll of more than 15,500 licence holders shows.
Similarly, just a fifth would be caught for drug driving and a quarter would be caught driving without insurance, the AA found.
Oxford Circus to be turned into pedestrian piazzas this year | The Guardian
Westminster city council said the new Elizabeth line would bring in an extra 60 million pedestrians a year, and that 70% of people travelled to Oxford Street by underground.
There will be road closures between Oxford Circus and Great Portland Street to the east and Oxford Circus and John Princes Street to the west through experimental traffic orders (ETOs). The traffic will continue along Regent Street, north and south of Oxford Circus.
Raleigh donates £42,000 of e-bikes and e-cargo bikes to National Trust – transportxtra
14 June 2021
Santander Cycles e-bike hire coming to London – transportxtra
Local Transport Today is the authoritative, independent journal for transport decision makers. Analysis, Comment & News on Transport Policy, Planning, Finance and Delivery since 1989.
Bike Hire
The first 500 Santander Cycles electric hire bikes are due to be introduced in the capital next summer. Transport for London (TfL) and Santander said the e-bikes will be able to use existing docking stations across the capital. A TfL spokesperson said that measures will be in place to ensure the bikes are safely used.
E-bikes and e-cargo bikes moving to the next level – transportxtra
Both private and public sectors are embracing e-cargo bikes and e-bikes to help meet climate change objectives
Hear more about e-cargo bike development in our free webinar, June 17, 14.30 -16.00: register here
‘Climate change is the single biggest threat to the precious landscapes and historic houses we care for,’ says the National Trust. ‘We’re tackling the causes of climate change by reducing our own emissions and, as a conservation charity, we’re always searching for greener ways to get around the places in our care.’
The Guardian view on socialism and cycling: fellow travellers | The Guardian
Editorial
Wed 16 Jun 2021
Cycling’s radical traditions are part of Britain’s social history. Recalling her teenage years in the 1890s, the great suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst wrote beautifully about the band of carefree lefties with whom she rode out of Manchester each weekend. Criss-crossing rural Lancashire and Cheshire, her cycling club was one of many associated with the Clarion, a popular socialist weekly newspaper. The more earnest socialists of the time saw this crowd as ideological dilettantes, too keen on having a good time. And their trips do seem to have been rather fun.
The APPGCW to hold an inquiry ahead of second Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy – Cycling Industry News
Liberty Sheldon 15 June, 2021
The Government published the first Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy in 2017, in a bid to increase cycling and walking activity across England, reduce the number of cyclists killed or seriously injured on the roads, and to encourage children to walk to school.
Since the strategy was published, the Government has received criticism for not matching this ambition and not providing adequate funding for cycling and walking.