Whenever I've met Dutch transport professionals, they are visibily shocked that it's near impossible to maintain, let alone upgrade or improve highways infrastructure in the UK.

To be fair, this is a poor translation because andar is the verb for cycling, walking, driving etc - so they mean cycling on the sidewalks improperly. But still.

Sources: www.instagram.com/p/DXZHC2Tl2d... + www.instagram.com/p/DXZCnl3jU-S/

Post from ANSR + Portuguese government: A distraction can cost you your life When you walk on FOOT: 👉 Avoid mobile phones and headphones ─ reduce the perception of the environment; 👉Don't change direction unexpectedly; 👉Before crossing the treadmill, stop and always look both ways — even on one-way streets or with a green light.

INTERNAL ADMINISTRATION Users of bicycles and personal mobility devices Driving against the flow of traffic or breaking traffic rules. Disregarding signs, traffic lights, and right-of-way. Riding on sidewalks improperly Lack of maneuver signaling Absence of lighting, reflectors, or other visibility elements. Failure to use protective equipment (e.g., helmet, recommended)

Portugal has one of the worst road safety records in Western Europe. You're 1.7x-2x more likely to die in a road crash in Portugal than in neighbouring Spain.

Faced with rising deaths and growing anger, the Government is now victim-blaming vulnerable road users instead of tackling the danger.

This is exactly how this street should be. It is not a street designed for motor vehicles, which are guests.

Already, people are demanding in these videos that the tech becomes more assertive against pedestrians and cyclists.

This is the beginning of a slippery slope for human-scale cities.

The "Ridiculous" Traffic Plan That Actually Worked YouTube video by Streetscapes

If you are a Councillor, please watch this.

It happened nearly 50 years ago in the Netherlands. The arguments against restricting traffic were the same as those made today and were proven to be wrong.

Many cities would greatly benefit from a circulation plan.

youtu.be/bgKokpZMFnU?...

Ali claims he was suffering a relapse of a mental health disorder, likely schizophrenia. He had stopped taking his medication. He also assaulted an emergency worker upon arrest.

It’s incredible that our society thinks this is a person we should ever let behind the wheel again.

Twist of fate that saw dad killed by 90mph driver on Soho Road Hizar Hanif, 32, was killed instantly in the horrific crash

Mohammed Ali killed one person and injured several others while speeding at 90mph in a 30mph zone.

He’s been jailed for 7 years. Once released, he’ll be able to drive 4.5 years later.

What would you need to do to get a lifetime driving ban?

www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midland...

These Tesla Full Self-Driving videos really do highlight how counterintuitive it is to drive a large motor vehicle in cities.

Figure 11: Real terms percentage change in the cost of transport since 2006

DfT traffic projections suggest that drivers will face increasing congestion in the coming years. The Department forecasts a 10% rise in traffic, resulting in an average 10 minute delay per month for drivers (17 minutes in urban areas), between now and 2035. The three main drivers of this forecasted increase in traffic are increases in GDP, population growth and decreases in the real terms cost of driving. Together, these factors accounted for around 90% of the traffic growth in the National Road Traffic Projections, 2022.

Deep in the Government’s new integrated transport strategy is a truth at odds with the rhetoric you hear in the media: driving a car has gotten cheaper in real terms, while public transport has gotten more expensive.

The Government is also clear that this will mean more traffic and more congestion.

We have committed to update the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions, the legislation for traffic signs and road markings, which will include changes such as new, simpler zebra crossings that will make walking and wheeling easier, safer and more accessible. In addition, we will update the Network Management Duty Guidance [HC1] which sets out how local traffic authorities should manage traffic on their network. This means treating all road users fairly by ensuring that footways (including pavements) and cycle paths are treated in the same way as the road infrastructure and recognising that every driver is also a pedestrian at some point – so places that work for pedestrians tend to work for everyone.

Source: www.gov.uk/government/p...

A good case for zebras column in Birmingham Mail.

A side road zebra in Westminster

Good news for walking!

The Government has confirmed in its new "Better Connected" strategy that it will enable new simplified zebra crossings.

Many campaigners have, for many years, been advocating for this change. Here's the case I made in 2022.

Specialized e-bike adverts on petrol pumps in UK

It's you, only happier. Specialized e-bike adverts on petrol pumps in UK

It's you, only greener. Specialized e-bike adverts on petrol pumps in UK

The cheapest petrol is the petrol you don't use.

As fuel prices rise once again, it could be a good time to consider switching to an e-bike, as these ads at pumps in Bristol suggested.

(Campaign by Fusion for Specialized from a few years back)

The Road to Vision Zero in London, with Will Norman | Streets Ahead London's Cycling & Walking Commissioner

NEW EPISODE! 🚨 London’s road danger reduction plan under the microscope. What will it take to achieve Vision Zero by 2041?

With @willnorman.co.uk, @adamtranter.bsky.social & @lauralaker.bsky.social

Listen here, or wherever you get your podcasts:
shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...

A Victoria era building in Manchester

A cladded building in Manchester

A range of Victoria buildings in Manchester

A modern brick building in Manchester

These four photos were taken from the same location in Manchester.

We should make buildings beautiful again.

Having cars parked in city centres is not necessarily a sign of city centre prosperity. If city centres want to thrive, we need good third spaces, good public transport, walkable neighbourhoods, density (which surface car parks destroy) and people actually living there, rather than "commuting" in.

Car park firm NCP collapses with nearly 700 jobs at risk The car park operator says demand for parking has not recovered to pre-Covid levels, as its administrators look to sell the business.

The city centre car park has had its day. There is now a significant opportunity to put the land previously used for car parking to much more productive use.

Land that could be used for tens of thousands of homes in city centres.

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

The world would be a better place if journalists and lawmakers can distinguish an ebike from an electric motorcycle.

Families can’t even appeal because causing death by careless driving isn’t covered under the unduly lenient sentencing scheme.

The whole thing is disgusting.

The judge rightly asked why this was not causing death by dangerous driving.

It is possible the CPS and the defence negotiated a guilty plea to the lesser offence of causing death by careless driving to guarantee a conviction, albeit with a lower sentence.

Javonnie Tavener’s actions were so extensively appalling that I ran out of characters in the first post.

He also reversed over Maya, dragging her along. He also caused serious injury to two other people at the same time. He blamed another driver, claiming he was a passenger.

Driver jailed over Birmingham Eid crash that killed girl, four Javonnie Tavener is sentenced over the crash that killed Mayar Yahia in April 2024.

In England a driver can be speeding, using cannabis and a phone, overtake another vehicle, mount the pavement outside a school playground and kill a 4-year-old girl while uninsured — and receive just 3 years 10 months for causing death by careless driving.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Families can’t even appeal because causing death by careless driving isn’t covered under the unduly lenient sentencing scheme.

The whole thing is disgusting.

The judge rightly asked why this was not causing death by dangerous driving.

It is possible the CPS and the defence negotiated a guilty plea to the lesser offence of causing death by careless driving to guarantee a conviction, albeit with a lower sentence.

Javonnie Tavener’s actions were so extensively appalling that I ran out of characters in the first post.

He also reversed over Maya, dragging her along. He also caused serious injury to two other people at the same time. He blamed another driver, claiming he was a passenger.

Driver jailed over Birmingham Eid crash that killed girl, four Javonnie Tavener is sentenced over the crash that killed Mayar Yahia in April 2024.

In England a driver can be speeding, using cannabis and a phone, overtake another vehicle, mount the pavement outside a school playground and kill a 4-year-old girl while uninsured — and receive just 3 years 10 months for causing death by careless driving.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The Vegas Loop carried 16,400 passengers per day during the expo.

For context, London’s Elizabeth Line carries ~800,000 per day.

Even Victorian steam trains in 1860s London moved 3–4× more people per hour than Elon.

In case you didn’t already know: cars in tunnels aren’t the future of transit…

How to help women feel safe cycling | Streets Ahead Laura goes out and about in London

NEW POD EPISODE! 🚨Women protesting for safer cycle routes - Laura joins a protest and the opening of a new cycle lane, and meets some people along the way shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...

American cars set for huge UK rollout including 'favourites' GMC, Chevrolet and Cadillac Three of the most popular vehicles in the United States are now available in the UK

This is awful news for anyone not in one of these hideous machines.

www.gbnews.com/lifestyle/ca...