Thanks, Dave. The research and thoroughness is very much to the credit of @tandemkate.bsky.social!

It's great to see DRUK supporting our 10 key asks for the Government consultation on mobility aids.

Please take the time to respond by the end of Wednesday evening.Simply email: mobilitydevices@dft.gov.uk. You can email even if you've already responded to the consultation and want to add more.

Great to see the "10 key asks" document being promoted. Responses to the consultation can be emailed to mobilitydevices@dft.gov.uk. You don't need to put your answer in the format of the consultation questions, and can send a second response if you want to add to your first.

So much this!

Vote Low Traffic Why Vote Low Traffic? The May 2026 local elections in England are a key opportunity to shape the future of transport in your local area. They take place at a time of global instability in oil prices,...

This is a welcome initiative from Low Traffic Future
lowtrafficfuture.org.uk/vote-low-tra...

But putting bollards in might be effective (and thus upset the motorist lobby), doesn't make anything like such a good election photo, and will give rise to complaints about the council spending money. From their perspective, standing there is the perfect answer.

The headlines are getting more truthful.

1 in 20 is the standard.

Seems almost certain that the result would be excessively steep slopes that could cause problems for users of wheeled mobility aids. @tandemkate.bsky.social may be able to add more expertise than I have at my disposal.

Even with the amber beacon, it's the wrong sort of dual carriageway, so she'd still be breaking rules 😢.
It's fair to say circumstances where someone would want to take advantage of that rule would be _very_ rare (eg someone who lives in house on an unusually quiet dual carriageway w/o pavement).

While at @wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk we want cycles used by Disabled ppl to be recognised as mobility aids, we are not keen on the idea that they'd be _regulated_ under class 3 in the Government consultation. This graphic might give you a clue about why...
For more info wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk/ejeo

Coloured bar chart. Headline: Greens 2nd place and highest ever vote share. REFUK: 29% (-3) Green: 19% (+2) LAB: 17% (+3) CON: 17% (-1) LDM: 11% (-) changes from 21 January. Source Find Out Now 28 January. Graphic from Green Elects.

This is quite something. The Green Party on a record 19%, in second place in a national opinion poll, and with the gap behind RefUK smaller than in any previous poll where Greens have been second, as RefUK share down sharply, and Greens up. #GreenParty #OpinionPoll

Worrying lack of recognition that tipping is _safety_ issue for #Disabled #cycling - many of us (but not me) ride 3+ wheelers that are more likely to tip. Humps massively increase tipping risks, especially if, as illustrated they adjoin horizontal deflection of the cycle track. #MyCycleMyMobilityAid

RNIB have some really sensible people, but NFBUK stridency (particularly Sarah Gayton - not all in NFBUK) and fellow-feeling among the community of VI people is meaning the tail is wagging the dog.

If you are interested in the Government consultation about mobility aids, these free webinars are for you...

Campaigning for inclusive cycling, Wheels for Wellbeing Wheels for Wellbeing is an award-winning charity supporting disabled people of all ages and abilities to enjoy the benefits of cycling.

To support the DfT’s consultation into modernising the law for powered mobility devices in achieving the best possible outcome for Disabled people, we will be launching explainer information resources, webinars and carrying out consultation sessions.

Such a good morning's work! Thanks to @whizzkidz.bsky.social for the event and the campaigning!

Just love this year's Christmas "card" from work...

I push my manual wheelchair up slopes with ease, I regularly swim 2.5km 💪. Its only hope would be turning round and seeing if it can go faster than me (and I'm not sure their design top speed will enable that).

If I come across one on a narrow path like that when I’m using my ♿️, one of us will end up in the road. And it won’t be me.

It's because the Conservatives are more bothered about stopping the #EastWestRail route (originally proposed by Tories) going through the farmland of north Bedfordshire that they refuse to investigate how to effectively stop people's homes being demolished.

3/3

My successful motion also commits #Bedford Borough council "To investigate options for the #railway and construction that will similarly obviate the need to demolish homes in the Poets estate". The Tories, on the other hand, voted AGAINST helping residents threatened with demolition by #EWR!

Screenshot of a social media post from Bedford & Kempston Conservatives. The main item is a green-coloured montage, with text "Tell your residents the truth - you voted for it!" "Green Party voted for East West Rail 'Route E' Demolishing homes and businesses." "Facts cannot lie". On it is a photo of Ben Foley and buildings that look similar to some buildings in Ashburnham Road.

The Tories should look at my feed. I've been clear what I voted for. My successful motion commits the council to "investigate designs for Bedford station that will provide the most convincing case that ...there is no need to demolish homes."
Facts cannot lie, but Conservatives do all the time.

Montage of three leaflets with titles "Castle and Newnham Green" "Kempston News" and "Greyfriars Green". While each has a different design, each of them features prominently on the front page a story about saying "no". Accompanying text visible includes "Council want to make the poorest pay" and "Overspending by the Tory-run council has left it in financial trouble. Now to balance the books they want to cut council tax support for the poorest. They're consulting on council tax support changes. These changes will mean everybody who qualifies for council tax support will pay hundreds of pounds..."

#Bedford council has rejected Tory proposals on council tax support. So, Bedford & Kempston's poorest households saved from bills of £100s next yr. @greenparty.org.uk took key role w/ other opposition cllrs. Greens delivered 10,000 leaflets, successfully urging rejection of proposal in consultation.

Motion makes clear to maximise the chances of making a case that will be listened to by a Government committed to building #EastWestRail, that any response to planning consultation about EWR on behalf of Bedford council shouldn't oppose the route, but should oppose all demolition of homes. 2/2

Photo of Bedford's four Green councillors, with at the top, a Green Party logo and at the bottom the words "Green Win" and "Bedford Council vote to oppose EWR demolitions". The four councillors are all middle aged and wearing coats with Green Party badges, three of the councillors are white. On the left, one who is masc presenting, wearing a trilby hat and specs, next one femme presenting with light coloured hair, then one masc presenting with dark hair and 'salt and pepper' facial hair, finally one femme presenting with grey hair and a handbag. They are in sunlight with autumnal trees behind them.

Last night's meeting of #Bedford Council included passing @greenparty.org.uk motion, committing to defend all residents whose homes are threatened w/ demolition for #EWR, investigating designs for Bedford station (& options for #railway nth of station) to make sure there's no need to demolish homes.

Reform UK's Zia Yusuf calls Nathan Gill 'ancient history' The party's head of policy says he has never met Nathan Gill, who served as the leader of Reform UK in Wales in 2021.

According to Zia Yusuf, Reform UK's former leader in Wales being convicted of taking money to undermine British national interest in favour of Russia is "ancient history". 😂🤣😂

He was sent down for ten years three days ago. Three. Days. Ago. ~AA

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The claimed excuse for a cap on #Cycle2Work doesn't hold water & will be harmful for Disabled ppl.
If Govt was bothered abt rich ppl benefitting from Govt tax breaks for things rich people use for leisure, they'd tax aviation fuel, when air travel is disproportionately used by richest (by LONG way).

If you're trans or non-binary and struggling, please ring 116 123 to go through to Samaritans 24/7. You can also reach out to Switchboard: switchboard.lgbt

Photo of five white envelopes, four with the words "private and confidential", three with windows visible. One has "Overdue" printed in red on the envelope, a second "Final notice" and a third has a red exclamation mark and obscured other parts in red.

Result of Bedford's council tax consultation yesterday. More people gave right answer than wrong answer on question 5 😀.
But signs are it's being ignored 🤬.
So: petition calling on council to respect the outcome. *Please sign & share* actionnetwork.org/petitions/bedford-council-respect-the-decision