They have power to “not consent”! But the way govt seems to have stepped over TfL’s devolved powers is an issue.
Steve Knattress
@cycleoptic.bsky.social
“retired" broadcast technical editor. Islington, North London. Campaigning for a safer London for cycling and walking. https://m.youtube.com/@cycleoptic Everything is possible, somethings just take longer than others ! Opinions my own
It's always the exceptional hardship defence that gets them off a driving ban. If the hardship would be exceptional for losing their license, then they wouldn't speed. share.google/4NeTQD0PTRtK...
More than 4,000 drivers with 12 or more speeding points still allowed on the road
RAC calls on Government for repeat and excessive speeders to have Intervening Intelligent Speed Assistance devices fitted to prevent them reoffending
share.google
We have been in touch with the Council regarding the missing ghost bike at Carpenters Road—it was removed, seemingly in error, but we have been assured they will return it to its original location soon.
Almost £70 billion in profit in just 3 months is obscene when the climate is in crisis. The fossil fuel industry should be forced to pay for transforming to renewable energies. www.theguardian.com/business/ng-...
Revealed: major oil firms make $93bn profits amid war and climate crisis
Iran conflict windfall over three months reignites calls for companies ‘cashing in on human misery’ to pay for environmental damage
theguardian.com
Saw this from @transportaction.bsky.social, and I thought there was some stuff in the new @ategov.bsky.social #Rural guidelines about how NH design rural trunk roads? One way or other things should be working better for all road users and not just the ¾ who have a car
Transport Action Network@transportaction.bsky.social · yesterdayA Memorandum of Understanding with Active Travel England, adopted in 2024, wasn't published until we unearthed it under the Freedom of Information Act. Even now, we can see no signs of the promised annual reports on progress in putting it into practice transportactionnetwork.org.uk/national-hig...
I’ve lost my dog, Nico. She is very dear to me and I am absolutely heartbroken. She was last seen in Silkstream park in Colindale London. If you see her, can you let me know? I realise she could be anywhere in the country now if she got into someone’s car...
And pollinators are dying because the NFU pushed for the ban on pesticides containing neonicotinoids to be reinstated
Worth noting that whilst the crossing point for the Dartford Tunnel cycle minibus was moved due to air pollution, the Silvertown Tunnel Cycle Shuttle is immediately adjacent to a dual carriageway, near to a good ten lanes of traffic and an energy centre which burns huge quantities of gas.
Laura Laker@lauralaker.bsky.social · yesterday“It’s perverse that people who want to walk and cycle are penalised because the motor traffic is too polluting". National Highways closes cycling and walking routes beside heavily polluted roads lauralaker.substack.com/p/national-h...
“It’s perverse that people who want to walk and cycle are penalised because the motor traffic is too polluting". National Highways closes cycling and walking routes beside heavily polluted roads lauralaker.substack.com/p/national-h...
National Highways closes walking and cycling routes beside heavily polluted roads
Roads body accused of 'perversely penalising' walkers and cyclists for motor traffic pollution
lauralaker.substack.com
We've never taken driving offenses seriously, despite all the deaths, injuries, and property damage caused by bad drivers.
Yes I acknowledge it makes sense in context but “I need my car to meet criminals” is now my favourite basis for an attempted exceptional hardship plea. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
A great article that shows there is a lot of potential in emission reductions by replacing short flights with a good rail services.
Simon Christie@thebonnieloon.bsky.social · 2d ago
Once again I find myself asking "have you considered simply not breaking the speed limit?" www.dailymail.com/news/article...
Writer Lynda La Plante breaks down as she is handed driving ban
Lynda La Plante said a driving ban would effectively end her writing career, as she would not be able to meet contacts for her works.
dailymail.com
"I'm getting fed up with getting pulled by you guys, so this one will result in a complaint," says the driver with 59 points on his licence. 59 points, and still driving, and he didn't go to prison. The system is broken. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Lincolnshire driver with 59 points on his licence avoids jail
Iain Ashmore, of Witham St Hughs, was caught driving on three occasions despite being disqualified.
bbc.co.uk
Privilege, not right: Driving is a privilege — earned and kept through proven safety, not assumed as a right. When utterly outrageous, dangerous acts take a life, we should feel confident to hand down lifetime bans. No hesitation.
End exceptional hardship loopholes: Approx 1 in 5 defendants who hit 12 points keep their licence via “exceptional” hardship. 20% isn’t exceptional — it’s routine. Some have gone on to kill in later crashes. This loophole doesn’t protect the public. It doesn’t support victims.Time to close it.
Anyone who's ever ridden a bike knows there's much more direct incentive for cyclists not to crash into pedestrians than there is for car drivers who are, unlike cyclists, strapped into crash seats inside steel roll cages behind crumple zones and multiple airbags
Lord Sweatpants 🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇦🇲🇽🇪🇺@lordsweatpants.bsky.social · 4d agoYou can’t hear a bicycle coming at you and at 25 mph, there is enough force there to kill you. Both vehicles and bikes are hazardous to pedestrians. I support bikes but they need to operate within traffic laws as everyone else has to.
If this were an ebike, they'd be banned by cities across the country immediately. Instead, it's just another deadly day in vehicular violence and it will be forgotten about by the next 24 hour news cycle.
The War on Cars@thewaroncars.bsky.social · 4d ago"MNPD said an 87-year-old Kentucky man who was driving a Ford Fusion ran the red light at the 4th and Broadway intersection in downtown Nashville and hit four people."
It was always unlawful, under the Highways Act 1980. But I don't suppose Suella would know that, being a lawyer, MP and former Attorney General.
Then create safe and legal routes and put the traffickers out of business overnight.
Ironically, the system needs 'reform'. 'Dulwich College, a £67,000-a-year school that counts Nigel Farage among its alumni, broke up for summer earlier this month but continues to keep its sports pitches well watered. Community gardens in nearby Brockwell Park, however, cannot be properly watered.'
Trevor, darling, if you and other drivers are being fined in London then they are not "going about their lawful business", they are going about their business unlawfully. If you don't wish to obey London's traffic laws, there's an excellent train service from Canterbury.
🚲️ Been out for a ride as a family this weekend? Bring those good vibes to September's London Cycling Festival! 🎟️ Get your FREE tickets today: buff.ly/8wiGFhA
Also see The Royal Parks. From Richmond Park Cyclists. Forest is now the sole bike share in Richmond. But while you can ride a forest bike through the park you cannot park anywhere inside the park. There’s no published figure for the number of *free* car parking spaces across the 7 car parks..
It's Simon, yeah?@coldwarcliff.bsky.social · 3w agoWestminster West End councillor Tim Barnes bemoaning how difficult and expensive it would be to provide Lime Bike parking. Westminster has >40k motor parking bays >5k motorbike parking bays. It has 200 bays for bikeshare. 🤷🏻♂️
Because of my background, I have to ask if these had planning consent and were they sanctioned by the highway authority (if on the highway). Traffic sign rules explicitly forbid this type of sign being used for advertising. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Peak District's rebrand deal brings in cash - but also criticism
After the Peak District signed a brand deal with Skoda, could other national parks follow suit?
bbc.co.uk
The absurd position of Courts sending begging letters to elderly pacifists not to attend after mass arrests for "terrorism"
Burnham Has a Choice: Drop the Palestine Action Ban or Be Cursed by It | Steven Methven
Britain’s new prime minister should be looking at the Palestine Action ban and thinking: why should I pay for the last idiot’s blunders? Steven Methven writes.
novaramedia.com
Bus lanes are not safe cycling infra, because buses have to pull in front of those cycling. Dangerous & stressful even when everyone is careful & follows the rules. Protected cycleways with floating bus stops make this kind of near miss impossible. (Video from Old Street—thankfully not in Newham!)
