CyanLines, IKEA And… Open Prisons? Or, from the sublime of nature in Manchester via a pedestrian vision in London to the car-based ridiculous in Milton Keynes

I'm loathe to suggest more changes to the planning system but government must ensure developers provide basic infrastructure before homes are occupied. The MHCLG has “rules”… but have you ever seen a rule not be broken?
#manchester #cyanlines #oxfordstreet #pedestrianisation #miltonkeynes #MHCLG

Collage of 9 photos from my week.

Some highlights this week:
💙Talking about GM’s prevention-first approach @TheKingsFund Conf
🚴‍♀️Cycling around London
🎂20th anniversary @transportwm
❤️@VCFSELeadersGM insights & action
💷Planning for GM Guaranteed Living Income & UBI pilots.
📕@sarasiobhan book launch & panel
🌱GM #CyanLines launched

Great pleasure to be part of the GM launch of #CyanLines last night with Tom Bloxham & @bevcraig.bsky.social, reconnecting our parks, waterways and footpaths with characteristic #Manchester determination and pizzazz cyanlines.com/about/

Another concern is puff pieces about floating cycleways that will never happen.

They know what they need to do #CyanLines

Visualisation of the Irwell, with walking and cycle paths

So GM's latest initiative for walking, wheeling and cycling is #CyanLines, which is a series of routes to connect the city's blue/green spaces cyanlines.com

I'm a regular user of blue/green spaces, largely on bike, but also on foot. So I'm definitely supportive of the scheme. But... 🧵

#BikeSky

Leisure routes are often badly lit & surfaced, & as per the @cyclinguk.bsky.social #MyRideOurRight campaign may not feel safe at night, particularly for women, & so unsuitable as #ActiveTravel infrastructure.

Hopefully the #CyanLines event on 10 Sep will provide reassurance @walkriderochdale.org.uk

The #CyanLines initiative sounds really good, but there’s concern it’s going to be the usual conflation of #ActiveTravel with leisure cycling & that GM councils will use it as a substitute for a proper AT network, especially given the slow progress of the original #BeeNetwork vision.

Vision for 100-mile network to link Manchester’s green and blue spaces - Place North West Cyan Lines will plug gaps in walking and cycling routes across Manchester and Salford in a bid to give the cities’ residents better access to nature.

#CyanLines looks like an excellent initiative to promote leisure cycling, but it would be nice to see delivery on the #BeeNetwork vision for #ActiveTravel