http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: “The UK deserves real transport choice for everyday journeys” en Fri, 26 Jun 2026 08:33:27 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21944#post-384444 Tue, 26 May 2026 08:25:07 +0000 chdot 384444@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“A whole debate extending far away from just 'Active Travel'?”</p> <p>Well no and yes</p> <p>Shouldn’t need to be a debate. As you have demonstrated, things could/should be different - and could have been for a long time. </p> <p>Many reasons -</p> <p>‘Personal freedom’ - in this case (largely) for those who want to use/can afford cars (and don’t want restrictions)</p> <p>Govs who have been seduced/cowed by industry (car and road building) lobbying over decades </p> <p>‘Fear of voters’ (perhaps increasing) who believe ‘freedom’ arguments and don’t want higher taxes/costs (and resisting Road Pricing)</p> <p>But yes, <strong>TotalMobility</strong> v ‘active travel’ is an interesting angle</p> <p>Of course there are organisations like Transform Scotland which combine PT and AT in their advocacy work</p> <p>AT, in campaigning terms, essentially means cycling and walking - or to some cycling or walking!</p> <p>Cycle campaigning basically started as pressure for people cycling (or wanting to) on roads. This had successes (and pushback/setbacks) over the years. There were those ‘cyclists’ (probably still are) who saw the problem as lack of skill/experience and ‘need for training’ (perhaps compulsory). The phrase “man up” was used sometimes…</p> <p>Sustrans significantly pioneered ‘off road’ routes. To some this may seem like a distraction/cop out/diversion of funds away from sorting out roads, but the reality has been more people using bikes, more experience, more willingness to cycle on roads - and helping to raise ‘visibility’ of ‘cycling’</p> <p>In recent years there have been those arguing that ‘active travel’ (only/mostly) means ‘money for cycling’ to the extent that a small minority (often quite vocal) seem to believe that cyclists/bikes are THE problem. </p> <p>The arrival of electric bikes - particularly illegal ones has complicated reality/perception/controversy. Electric motorbike use has perhaps joined the ‘illegal boats’ as something to despise/fear. (Not suggesting that one or both aren’t problems)</p> <p>The question now is whether <strong>TotalMobility</strong> is a ‘tech fix’ or (partly) new opportunity for joined-up-thinking </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21944#post-384440 Mon, 25 May 2026 23:28:50 +0000 Tulyar 384440@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>In 1996 I worked on the first automated bike hire scheme in UK (Portsmouth Bikeabout) which was part of the EU CIVITAS programme, that used the ITSO card (bus pass - staff i/d etc) to hire bikes, and also to hire cars (Cambio at this time) as well as using this for bus, tram, &amp; rail trips </p> <p>Ultimately this was to deliver a single portal to access all mobility options - which I'm calling <strong>TotalMobility</strong> a deal that I've been personally hacking for around 20 years using my NEC (bus pass) to hire cars, hires (some) bikes get discount rail fares &amp;c </p> <p>Here's the modern option replacing the ITSO card with a phone app </p> <p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/h52/48590678631/" rel="nofollow">https://www.flickr.com/photos/h52/48590678631/</a></p> <p>With the <strong>TotalMobility</strong> portal people can drive a new electic car, ride a new electric bike and get a monthly bill for all their mobility needs - this could also be an employee benefit worth perhaps £6000 per year - like a pay rise....</p> <p>One employer has been saving £2000 per week through using fewer car parking spaces on their office site</p> <p>A whole debate extending far away from just 'Active Travel'? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21944#post-384436 Mon, 25 May 2026 14:16:23 +0000 chdot 384436@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>16 organisations call PM to invest in active travel to combat rising fuel prices An open letter to the Prime Minister states more support for active travel will reduce the UK’s vulnerability to volatile energy markets </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://road.cc/news/16-organisations-call-pm-to-invest-in-active-travel" rel="nofollow">https://road.cc/news/16-organisations-call-pm-to-invest-in-active-travel</a> </p>