40 years on from the disaster, why there are foxes, bears and bison again around Chernobyl Endangered species are making their home in a massive wild zone around the derelict Chernobyl nuclear plant.

Extreme rewilding admittedly (and alternatives are available), but fascinating non the less.
theconversation.com/40-years-on-...

Parking is a huge problem and not because it's inadequate and costs too much: 'Abundant parking does not solve a transport problem; it creates one. Every space generates demand, spreads destinations further apart, and makes the alternatives - walking, cycling, and public transport - less viable".

Vote everything that works (sustainably)!

Die CSU feiert das Aus des Verbrenner-Aus: "Ab jetzt gilt wieder der Wettbewerb der besten Antriebstechnologien."

Parallel schreibt Michael Kretschmer, CDU: "Wir müssen unsere heimischen Ressourcen Gas & Braunkohle halten & erschließen, um Abhängigkeiten zu reduzieren."

Mit Vollgas in den Abgrund.

Indeed.

Don't disagree, but that really isn't the issue here. And as regards Colinton Road, you'd have to ask the members of TEC.

You can also choose to vote for those who think more broadly about the city’s overall environmental, social and economic future. #Edinburgh needs its old Granton branch line back.

'How impressive! Yesterday, the longest car-free bridge in the world – and the longest bridge in Finland – was opened in Helsinki, ahead of schedule. Spanning 1.2 km, the Kruunuvuorensilta connects the city centre with the outskirts and is open only to pedestrians, cyclists and trams'.

Start of spokes article #Holyrood2026 : Travelling Backwards The Holyrood election on 7 May is critical to active travel and wider transport policies and budgets for the next 5 years. Is there a local project being planned that you’re looking forward to? – in Edinburgh, say Meadows to George Street, or Portobello to Musselburgh? When and if such projects will happen depends largely on the existence and size of the Scottish Government active travel budget. Sadly and shockingly, in view of the climate crisis, the cost of living crisis, and the need for healthier lifestyles to help the NHS crisis this year’s manifestos mark a massive deterioration in active travel policies as compared to the 2021 election – or even 2016. This article includes an analysis of the various party manifestos, and lots of other relevant info. We will add more as it becomes available.

Table comparing AT investment promises in 2021 and 2026 manifestos. Sorry, tables don't come out well in ALT text! Key to tables below++Very good and/or best+good=mixed, unclear, or less good than other parties-poor (or unrealistic) - -very disappointing NNot in manifesto [N is generally disappointing, but depends on the issue, so think!] Page numbers shown are to pages of each party’s 2026 manifesto 2026 v 2021 comparison of AT Investment manifesto commitments Sadly and shockingly, in view of the climate crisis, the cost of living crisis, and the need for healthier lifestyles to help the NHS crisis the 2026 manifestos mark a massive deterioration in active travel policies as compared to the 2021 election – or even 2016. Only the Greens, and to a lesser extent the Lib Dems, retain positive approaches. Whilst this applies to many policies and promises, the astonishing contrast is seen clearly in this comparative table on the top issue, active travel investment AT Investment Conservative Green Labour LibDem Reform SNP 2021 manifestos [AT funding then was approx £116m, roughly 3.5% of total transport] + 10% by 2026 ++ £320m immediately [approx 10%] rising further + 10% [unclear if soon or by 2026] = “aim” to double existing [this would be approx 7%] N/A = 10% of “capital” bgt by 2026 [BUT this is less of the total transport bgt] 2026 manifestos [AT funding is now approx £163m, roughly 3.9% of total transport] - - p35; p75 cut the AT budget; end ring-fenced cash to councils ++ p26 at least 10%; multi-year funding N = p66 “Invest in active travel for the first and last mile” - - p11 End ring-fenced cash to councils = p64 £2.5m for bike repair; new fund for outdoor recreation paths

Table of party manifesto comparisons (page 1) 2026 manifesto overall comparisons Note that the manifestos include more transport policies/promises than are shown here, particularly on walk, bus and rail. We hope this table includes most of the items directly relevant to cycling, as well as some relevant wider transport issues. Also, note that if something is not in a manifesto, it doesn’t mean it won’t happen, though it is less likely to. Issue Conservative Green Labour LibDem Reform SNP AT Investment [from above table] - - ++ N = - - = Extent of cycle/AT routes/networks ambition - - p36 “End the obsession with cycle lanes” Cycle lanes only ok if not using road or pavement space ++ p26 “national blueprint of walking, cycle and wheeling networks“; faster Council AT project delivery N + p66 “Investing in active travel for the first and last mile” = p23 Rural Scotland: “support outdoor recreation ... cycling … with accessible paths” = p64 outdoor recreation paths fund; no Roseburn tram; support Powderhall AT path [see note 3 below] Is AT recognised and supported as a public health measure - p57 Only considers leisure centres & sport + p163 “space to walk, run, play, wheel and cycle is a right not a privilege” N ++ p33 & p61 “Supporting wellbeing by making it easier for people to use active travel” N N Neighbourhoods / Car-free lifestyles N + p118 “Support local living and 20-minute nbd approaches” N + p52 New towns “prioritising features such as rail links.. and 20-minute nbds” N N Disincentivise car use/ Demand management - - p35 “End the war on drivers”; No targets; stop any Workplace Parking levies or congestion charging ++ p22 Seek road-user taxation powers for Scotland ++ p33 Levy on out-oftown retail, to support towns + p89 Business rates replaced by a new levy favouring town centre retail & hospitality = p73 “Moving all forms of transport away from fossil fuels” – But carrotsonly approach - - p21 “End the war on the car“ N 20mph - p36 20mph only ok where locals…

Table of party manifestos (page 2) Potholes - - p33 Fund pothole filling by cutting (scrapping?) the AT budget N + (or - -) p49 £350m fund [see note 1 below] + p64 “fair funding” for councils; use of new technology + p21 “Fix potholes” + p72 “up to £350m” for potholes & resurfacing Air pollution including Low Emission Zones - - p36 Halt more LEZs and reduce fines in existing ++ p118 expand LEZs, plus stronger monitoring N - - p21 Abolish LEZs N Transport integration, with respect to active travel = p38 Rail, bus & tram integration; no mention of walk/ bike + p22, p26 Better AT links to public transport; All new rail, bus, tram to carry bikes N N N N Road building - - p34 New law to fasttrack trunk road upgrades; dual A9 by 2031; many other trunk projects + p22 Future-proof roads like A83 vulnerable to climate change; no mention of expansion - - p49 Dual A9 by 2035, look into dualling A77 and A75, & create National Roads Plan - - p64 Dual A9 & A96; - - p21 “plan to upgrade major trunk roads” [see note 2 below] - - p71 Dual A9 by 2035, also parts of A96; and consider A75, A77 Air travel taxation ADT= Air departure tax - - p39 oppose any new taxes; reduce long-haul tax ++ p34 frequent flyer levy; private jet tax; more.. N + p66 Higher tax for private jet passengers N + p27 private jet tax; including for ‘ghost’ flights USP – unique selling points (good and bad!) picked out by Spokes - - p33 1. AT schemes are “ideological projects” 2. ban bikes in all pedestrian areas + p16, p156 Universal rail card; £2 max bus fares + p122 Council powers to enforce traffic contraventions + p55 “Crush illegal e-bikes, using drones to track & trace unlicensed bikes” + p64 ”Dangerous Roads Programme“ - - p21 “End the war on the car“ + p38 £2 bus fare cap [1] Labour £350m pothole fund. The manifesto does not say where the money would come from. In early campaign speeches Anas Sarwar had said it would be from cutting Active Travel funding. On our estimate this would mean a 40% cut on curre…

#Holyrood2026 #SP26

Our #manifesto analysis
--> www.spokes.org.uk/2026/04/holy...

We looked at #activetravel, mainly 🚲, and some related transport/environment, but not at 🚌🚆

1 Greens, excellent
2 LibDem, positive in a fairly modest way
3= Labour & SNP, poor
5 Reform, bad
6 Conservative, terrible

My sort of destination.

Always intrigued why the LibDems assume any community speaks with one voice.

Got to love an #Edinburgh cycle lane.

„Weniger fliegen ist keine Option“: Merz sieht Lufthansa als strategisch wichtig für Wirtschaftsstandort Bundeskanzler Merz lobt die Lufthansa als Schlüsselunternehmen – doch Streiks und Klimafragen werfen Schatten auf das Jubiläum. Den Konzern gibt es seit 100 Jahren.

"Flying less is not an option", declares German Chancellor Merz. A perfect example of political idiocy in the face of #climatechaos.

www.tagesspiegel.de/wirtschaft/w...

Heat pumps are the most efficient heating technology ever invented.

They harvest and compress pre existing heat in the air, ground or water and transport it where it is needed.

That energy is all around us.

And it does not have to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

Spanish prosecutors investigate CAF over its role in the Jerusalem Light Rail The company is already blacklisted by the UN for the same project.

Following a complaint filed by human rights organisations defending Palestina, the Spanish Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation into CAF over its involvement in the Jerusalem Light Rail.

Evaluierungsbericht - 2,5 Millionen Tonnen CO2 durch Deutschlandticket eingespart Durch das Deutschlandticket sind im Jahr seiner Einführung laut Berechnungen rund 2,5 Millionen Tonnen CO2 im Verkehrssektor eingespart worden.

Germany's Deutschlandticket (flat-rate public transport ticket) saves 2.5 million tonnes of CO2. Could be replicated anywhere there was the political will to do so.
www.deutschlandfunk.de/2-5-millione...

It’s pothole-pointing season again. And it looks like the LibDems don’t have a monopoly on it.

Same thing happens between Szczecin and Pasewalk. It's just performative nonsense.

Anas Sarwar appears to offer broad support to Edinburgh tram expansion plans Labour leader quizzed on position at manifesto launch

The polls appear to suggest he'll be in no position to support anything.
www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/scottis...

Free public transport via Montpellier Universal free public transport in Montpellier, France, a runaway success.

Universal free public transport is proving to be a runaway success.

Your Party goes extinct in Scotland All 12 members of the party's interim Scottish executive have resigned

Possibly not worth leaving the Scottish Green Party for after all.
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

Can these buggers do anything properly?

HELEN RUMBELOW | NOTEBOOK I broke the speed limit and now it's broken me The enforced slow pace of traffic has made motoring less sexy. I may as well take the bus Helen Rumbelow Monday April 13 2026, 12.01am, The Times

Which other criminal acts get this sort of softsoaping?

Terrible take from the NYT: “Orban’s defeat is a setback for the global nationalist revival promoted by President Trump.”

Is that what we’re calling Fascism these days? (Also, it started with Putin.)

Viktor Orbán concedes defeat as opposition wins Hungarian election Win for Tisza party ends rightwing populist’s 16-year grip on power and will likely reshape country’s relationship with EU

“Ruszkik haza! Legyen béke!” - Putin looses one of his top men.
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...

523 arrests at the Free Palestine protest in London yesterday. That’s even though the supreme courts ruled the prohibition was unlawful. Take that in! That’s the Labour government to thank.

SNP accused of 'courting middle-class voters' in Edinburgh tram route U-turn Edinburgh transport convener Stephen Jenkinson has accused the SNP of being "premature and reckless" in opposing both the Roseburn Path and Orchard Brae options for the city's new North-South tramline and claimed its stance jeopardised the entire project.

On this point Cllr Jenkinson is entirely right and it’s disappointing the SNP group has taken such a stance. However, the claim ‘It’s naked nimbyism so blatant it would make even the Lib Dems squirm’ is unfounded, because they wouldn’t.
www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/edinbur...

It may seem like nerdy detail that the increasing weight of cars is worsening potholes, but it matters.

The car makers push to sell wider and heavier cars is increasing road maintenance costs and that affects us all.

Not to mention worse crash outcomes and less space to pass (wider) parked cars.

The Council passes off so many things on paper, such as the City Centre Transformation, but then never implements them.

City of Edinburgh Council. Take progressive action. Bottle it. Repeat.

www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/edinbur...