Dan Simpson

@iamthedans.bsky.social

Policy & public affairs @ @WalkWheelCycleT.bsky.social. He/him.

Another welcome letter down! It's really striking the progress that we've been able to make despite ministerial churn in the 3 and a half years I've been at the Trust. We'll be sorry to see @liliangreenwood.bsky.social go, but great to welcome Justin Madders and @simonlightwood.org.uk (back!)

@walkwheelcyclet.bsky.social · 6d ago

Today, Paul, our executive director, has written to congratulate the new ministers responsible for local transport and roads in England. We're ready to offer our expertise to unlock even more people-powered movement. 🚲

Our executive director, Paul, smiling into the camera whilst signing a letter.

The government’s just released their third Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, and it’s got big ambitions. In the first of a series of blogs, @iamthedans.bsky.social, our policy and public affairs manager, breaks down what the funding means. Read it here 👇

Is the government giving enough funding to active travel in England?

The government’s just released their third Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, and it’s got big ambitions. In the first of a series of blogs, Dan Simpson, our policy and public affairs manager,…

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Councils should have the power to decide where you can park on the pavement - they know their streets best. But this should only be where it's safe, accessible and absolutely necessary. It's heartbreaking reading Hana's experiences here. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Pavement parking allowed by half of councils in England

Disability charities say the practice makes streets harder to navigate for wheelchair users and people with limited sight.

bbc.co.uk

🧵 1/2 Have you seen delivery robots on the pavement? They're spreading to more British cities. Pavements are for people, and we shouldn't have more clutter making it harder to navigate them. We've fought cars, bikes and scooters blocking pavements, and we'll fight this as well.

The apartment we're staying in has two of the passive cooling installs that are too hard to get in the UK - external shutters (which need planning permission as they alter the external appearance of the property) and awnings (which sometimes need permission e.g. in a conservation area)

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What if we could design new towns where everything you need is within easy reach? England’s New Towns Programme is an opportunity to get this right, but only if walking, wheeling and cycling are built in from the start. In our latest blog we've set out how 👇️

7 reasons why the New Towns Programme should show stronger support for everyday journeys

How often are we given a blank canvas to create a whole new town where the things we need are all within easy reach?

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Great weather for the Parliamentary Bike Ride! In some ways, it was a jolly. But, I ended up having a lovely geeky conversation with Phil Jones, conspiring about new road signage which could be pitched in the upcoming Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions update. If of interest, lmk 🚦

A white guy in his 20s with a moustache and stubble smiling on a bike in a flowery shirt under a blue sky, sitting on a bike

An integrated transport system isn't about big interchanges, even if they're cool. It's about a change of mindset, not being competitive between modes - investment in public transport helps more people walk, wheel and cycle, and vice versa. Here are some short clips from what I told parliament.

A picture of Dan, a white bearded guy in his 20s, smiling while sitting in a committee room in the House of Commons. There are green chairs and wooden panelled walls. Dan's wearing a suit with flowers on his shirt.
@walkwheelcyclet.bsky.social · 3mo ago

🧵 1/7 Walk Wheel Cycle Trust Policy and Public Affairs Manager @iamthedans.bsky.social gave evidence in Parliament last week, for the Joined-up journeys: achieving and measuring transport integration session. With 'connecting' as one of our strategic goals, it was close to our hearts Highlights 👇

It was actually fun (!) being interrogated by the select committee and hearing from such interesting panellists. I'm not going to watch it back because I'd cringe at myself, but perhaps you should watch it.

@walkwheelcyclet.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Our very own Policy and Public Affairs Manager @iamthedans.bsky.social will be giving evidence this morning in Parliament for the Joined-up journeys: achieving and measuring transport integration session. You can watch live here www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...

Jong geleerd, oud gedaan. De enorme vrijheid die fietsen biedt is ongekend. Ik denk dat wij inmiddels 90% van de ritten fietsend afleggen. Een goede bakfiets én een elektrische ‘gezinsdeelfiets’ voor de langere ritten, of voor de puber die nog in het donker op pad moet, helpen daar wel bij.

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Thrilled and terrified in equal measure to say that I'm giving oral evidence to the transport select committee next Wednesday. They're looking at how to make journeys more joined up. Almost every bus journey starts with a walk or wheel. Thinking cross-mode just makes sense.

A screenshot of a meeting at 9:15am, Wednesday 15 April in Room 15 of the Palace of Westminster on Joined-up journeys: achieving and measuring transport integration. It features:
Ansaf Azhar
ADPH Board Member at The Association of Directors of Public Health
Pete Dyson
Researcher at University of Bath
Dan Simpson
Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Walk Wheel Cycle Trust
Professor Charisma Choudhury
Chair in Behaviour Modelling at Institute of Transport Studies, and UKRI Future Leader Fellow at School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds
Chris Hillcoat
Associate Director, Future Mobility at KPMG

Interesting that UK coverage has made a lot of the fuel duty changes in Australia but mostly ignored this more radical measure. I know one's federal and one's at state level, but there's a lesson for the UK here: councils and combined authorities could act quickly to save people money.

Adam Hill 🚇🚏🚶‍♂️🚃🛴🚙🚲@itseditoradam.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Free public transport , eh? 🇦🇺 Via @itsinternational.bsky.social #masstransit #freepublictransport www.itsinternational.com/news/austral...

Lovely news: sometimes, "at the next legislative opportunity" actually means that! In January, the government announced they wanted to give councils the power to tackle cars parked on the pavement. They've now tabled an amendment to the English Devolution Bill to deliver those 👇

Today we launch our 2025 Walking and Cycling Index 🥳 The report is the biggest assessment of walking, wheeling and cycling in the UK and Ireland brought to you by Walk Wheel Cycle Trust in collaboration with 22 regional and local partners.

Text reads: Walk Wheel Cycle Trust. For our health. Our wellbeing. Our world. UK report Walking and Cycling Index 2025.
Every year, walking, wheeling and cycling prevent 28,038 serious long-term health conditions. www.walkwheelcycletrust.org.uk/walking-cycling-indexText reads: Walk Wheel Cycle Trust. For our health. Our wellbeing. Our world. UK report Walking and Cycling Index 2025.
Every year, walking, wheeling and cycling creates £9.55 billion in economic benefit for individuals and UK Index areas.
www.walkwheelcycletrust.org.uk/walking-cycling-indexText reads: Walk Wheel Cycle Trust. For our health. Our wellbeing. Our world. UK report Walking and Cycling Index 2025.
Every year, walking wheeling and cycling saves 500,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
www.walkwheelcycletrust.org.uk/walking-cycling-indexText reads: Walk Wheel Cycle Trust. For our health. Our wellbeing. Our world. UK report Walking and Cycling Index 2025.
Every year, walking, wheeling and cycling saves the NHS £346.7 million equivalent to the cost of 7.7 million GP appointments.
www.walkwheelcycletrust.org.uk/walking-cycling-index

🧵 1/6 Some pertinent comments from @drscottarthurmp.bsky.social and Dr Anna Dixon MP during Tuesday's Westminster Hall debate: Women's safety while walking, wheeling, cycling and running. It's wonderful to hear the National Cycle Network described as 'binding' a constituency in this way 👇

Graphic showing quote by Dr Arthur Scott MP: In my constituency, a national cycle route runs alongside the River Leath. This route used to be the Balerno line, and it provides a space for active travellers to enjoy a quiet and beautiful route away from traffic. I use this route regularly and feel incredibly lucky to be able to enjoy it as I travel through my constituency. It's one of the things that binds my constituency...

Such a no-brainer to make it easier to build or improve railway paths. Here's a quick reminder of one step which could be taken. bsky.app/profile/iamt...

@walkwheelcyclet.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Great to hear @ollyglover.bsky.social MP and Local Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood's positive exchange about re-purposing railway paths for walking wheeling and cycling. There are paths over the country ready to be built and we'd love to talk about how we could make it easier to get going ⛏️

Great to hear @ollyglover.bsky.social MP and Local Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood's positive exchange about re-purposing railway paths for walking wheeling and cycling. There are paths over the country ready to be built and we'd love to talk about how we could make it easier to get going ⛏️

I've written a nerdy piece about setting a good national framework for devolved policymaking - I think it's relevant beyond active travel. Also proud to have snuck in a) some prosperous hypothetical parallel universes and b) a reference to the prog song Hocus Pocus by Focus🚲🎸

@walkwheelcyclet.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Councils control your roads, but the Department for Transport is setting their third Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy. If they want councils to follow it, they need to make it much more credible. Read more here 👉 buff.ly/qqsXcAQ

Graphic showing a photo of a person walking on a pavement next to a cycle lane in a city. Cars and vans can be seen on the road nearby. Text reads: Walk Wheel Cycle Trust. What can the government do to make roads safer near you?