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“City Transport: Faster, Cheaper, Greener: Rare Earth“ REALLY GOOD

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  1. chdot
    Admin

    “

    How we get around town has never been more political, with controversies over low traffic neighbourhoods and 15 minute cities, and rows about congestion charging and public transport breaking out all over the country. Tom and Helen are in search of the kind of consensus that makes things faster, cheaper and smoother for all of us. What works and what’s been a complete flop? Should we all stop moaning and get on our bikes? Who is the reshaping of traffic flows working - and not working - for? And could Milton Keynes have all the answers?

    With contributions from:

    Chris Boardman, Commissioner of Active Travel England.
    Stephen Potter, Emeritus Professor of Transport Strategy at the Open University
    Karen Lucas, Professor of Human Geography at the University of Manchester and Director of the Manchester Urban Institute
    Natalie Ashton. Senior Engagement Officer (North) at Transport for All

    “

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002n7p1

    Posted 1 day ago #

  2. LaidBack
    Member

    @chdot - but is it better than the Hebridean Baker - Nordic Islands? (As advertised on big illuminated 48 sheet at Haymarket Station) ;-)
    That had road tunnels with roundabouts between the impoverished Faroe Isands. Plus he went to Bornholm and Gotland, both cake and cycling paradises. Sad to say he always drove though as on tight schedule.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002jl5z/episodes/player

    I will listen to your suggestion to compare though...!

    Posted 1 day ago #

  3. LaidBack
    Member

    Now listened to.
    Programme starts in Bristol beside station where there of the team have to get to BBC studio about 2 miles away.

    One is on a 1925 Perfection Roadster which took 10 minutes.
    Other on a rented e-scooter - 15 minutes
    Third on a bus - over 50 minutes.

    Chat about schemes like the Bee System in Manchester and MK on demand buses in Milton Keynes.
    Obviously a lot about cycling but also acknowledgement that most people will never cycle. Apparently 50% of Dutch population don't cycle.
    Bit of English city rivalry vibe in this programme I felt? ;-). Both Milton Keynes and Manchester have robotic delivery pods. Consensus that these cut down on car journeys (and human couriers tho?) Chris mentioned a cargo bike hire scheme in Manchester I think.
    Natalie mentioned she'd ridden an e-trike - something she wasn't expecting to do with her mobility issues. Not likely to own one as too expensive and nowhere secure to park.
    Nothing about car clubs but lots about the 'wild west' of bike hire schemes like Voi. Yes it would be good to take a car parking space away and take some bikes off pavements (I think).
    Rail and tram not mentioned really.

    Next Rare Earth looks at the not so strange disappearance of winters with snow. A recent Landward episode was up at the Lecht looking at our now too common warm grey winters.

    Posted 1 day ago #

  4. wingpig
    Member

    A clip flashed past on SM recently (didn't see where or when it was filmed) of a delivery robot impeding and inconveniencing pedestrians somewhere as it stuttered along. They'd perhaps be a good test of whether pedestrian infra is accessible - could, to pick a random example, Duke St Tesco launch one from the front doors with a destination on Claremont Park without it immediately getting bogged down amongst all the dips/slopes/kerbs, big metal roadworks signs and BUS STOP CLOSED signs on the footway on Duke St.?

    Posted 16 hours ago #

  5. chdot
    Admin

    Programme was (partly) talking about robot delivery in MK.

    Am surprised it’s still going.

    However

    2 things

    Said that when a robot gave up trying to get up a kerb it ‘said’ ‘help me please’, then ‘thank you’ after being put back on track.

    Also, in MK robots used the “underused” Greeways. These were/are deliberate alternatives to the significant road network (lotsa roundabouts). Used to be covered in gravel ‘to slow bikes down’. Maybe that’s changed.

    Posted 13 hours ago #

  6. chdot
    Admin

    Laugh/cry time -

    “

    Speaking about the funding, Baroness Lloyd added: "We're going to support more robots here in Milton Keynes on the streets, doing jobs that are really going to benefit the public such as cleaning, surveying, looking for trip hazards and that kind of thing."

    While the robots being trialled were not built in Milton Keynes, the network and support needed to run them safely on the streets was developed locally.

    “

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8x14jzk81yo.amp

    Posted 13 hours ago #

  7. chdot
    Admin

    Also

    “
    14 Signage to show people which side of the path/red way they should walk, enforcement against illegal use of escooters, lower maximum speed limit for escooters/cycles

    15 adding to the connectivity with new rights of ways, better upkeep by land owners with overgrown foilage

    16 Some of the cycle routes have appalling surface. To bumpy to ride on.

    17 Make passing rules clearer to all users e.g. once saw Nordic walkers taking up the whole footpath and bullying a wheelchair user onto the grass because they felt entitled to walk three abreast. Encourage cyclists and escooter users to utilise bells. Enforce a loose 15mph speed limit for wheeled vehicles.

    “

    https://milton-keynes.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s10202/Rights%20of%20Way%20Improvement%20Plan%202023-2033_Annex%20C.pdf

    Posted 13 hours ago #

  8. LaidBack
    Member

    Other fact on programme is that commuter journeys are only 15% of transport now. The other 85% is driving for 'chained journeys'. That might be school run, then work, then shops at lunchtime, then out in evening. If you own a car you may want to maximise its use as it costs whatever. If it's electric its environmental cost has already happened (apart from taking public space from other modes and its tyre particulates which affects e-buses too of course).

    The carrot approach in Manchester to avoid pavement parking was to regulate to make pavements wide enough for a double buggy.

    Modern voters don't seem to believe cost and health savings of cycling but if they think it might give children the ability to make safe solo journeys then they become interested.

    (Of course the interesting thing in rural life is that because secondary schools are often over 12 miles away, few parents drive children. They drive them to farm road ends maybe but then wave goodbye. Blairgowrie High School has all bus routes fed through its campus every morning. Drivers let buses through on very tight town roads often parked along one side.)

    Posted 12 hours ago #

  9. chdot
    Admin

    “Other fact on programme is that commuter journeys are only 15% of transport now..”

    Yeah that was a useful fact.

    Also talk of the ongoing problem of transport planning still being more interested in roads, cars and (likely) out of date assumptions/stats.

    The fact that some on the programme seemed to only recently have got round to thinking that ‘not everyone wants to/might cycle seemed odd.

    I think the early days of cycle campaigning was mostly about safety and ‘convenience’ (like being able to cycle through The Meadows) plus some degree of environmental evangelism (Spokes was a spinoff created by Edinburgh Friends of the Earth).

    The idea that ‘you just want everyone to be made to cycle’ was just one element of organised pushback that came later.

    Posted 12 hours ago #

  10. chdot
    Admin

    Chris Boardman mentioned Kesgrave - the original ‘cycling to school’ exemplar (apparently more people cycle to it than any school in the Netherlands).

    I hadn’t realised it was built to fit in with existing, good, walk/cycle infrastructure.

    CB also said that cycling there ‘reduced bullying’ as there was less hanging around at bus stops.

    Anyone have evidence of this?

    Posted 12 hours ago #

  11. chdot
    Admin

    “
    Kesgrave has a large (2000 pupil) 11-18 comprehensive school and three local Primary Schools each with around 500 pupils. 61% of the pupils at the high school cycle to the school.

    “

    https://www.kesgrave.org.uk/product/?cycling

    Which also shows that the ‘accepted wisdom’ that ‘secondary students won’t cycle to school’ is WRONG.

    Posted 12 hours ago #

  12. LaidBack
    Member

    School pupils will cycle to school on an e-bike here as uses less energy than walking and very fast.
    Voi seem to be a hit with younger people.
    Funny to think the JustEat scheme was mainly manual bikes with only a few e-bikes coming in before they packed in.
    You could argue that Voi is probably most significant boost to cycling rates to ever happen in Edinburgh? Or am I overestimating it?

    Posted 11 hours ago #

  13. chdot
    Admin

    Random

    “

    The Role of Bicycles in Modern Society

    Bicycles are a vital part of today's environmentally and health-conscious transportation system. In urban areas, bicycles are useful substitutes for cars, assisting in the reduction of air pollution, traffic jams, and environmental harm. Cycling is becoming increasingly popular and accessible cities throughout the world invest in bike-friendly infrastructure, such as bike lanes and bike-sharing schemes. These kinds of initiatives encourage more individuals to think about riding a bicycle as a practical way to get to work.

    Bicycles are prized for their ability to improve both physical and mental health in addition to their environmental advantages. Frequent cycling develops muscles, lowers stress levels, and enhances cardiovascular health. Since many communities have formed cycling clubs, it has become a popular recreational and social activity due to its fitness benefits.

    The relevance of modern bicycles is further increased by their versatility. Bicycles are becoming more adaptable to accommodate a range of demands, from cargo bikes made for moving goods to electric bikes which enable long-distance travel.

    “

    https://www.careersindesign.com/blog/the-history-of-the-bicycle-and-its-modern-technology#:~:text=Technological%20Innovations%20in%20Modern%20Bicycles,one%20of%20the%20major%20advancements.

    Posted 10 hours ago #

  14. chdot
    Admin

    “

    You could argue that Voi is probably most significant boost to cycling rates to ever happen in Edinburgh? Or am I overestimating it?

    “

    Simple answer

    Too early to tell.

    I rode around central Ed last Sat

    OK weather

    Only saw 1 Voi moving

    I think hire schemes are good. ‘All electric’ sensible.

    There are people on here (presumably bike owners!) using them for fun - and convenience. Also for those who consider their bike to be too valuable to leave on the street.

    Reasons for use by many non-owners.

    This type of bike hire scheme is common enough in many cities for people to know about/understand be willing to explore the idea of using them.

    Is Voi doing any marketing in Edinburgh beyond street presence and media mentions?

    It’s reasonable to assume that bike hire here is likely to last. Whether it mean many more regular users/journey or ‘gateway’ to ownership remains to be seen.

    A lot may depend on enough bikes in the right places for people to rely on.

    How well Voi manages this remains to be seen - that’s not a criticism. Understanding the unique demand dynamics and journey patterns of any city takes time.

    All electric, means less tendency for bikes to predominantly go on one way trips to the bottom of hills!

    Posted 10 hours ago #

  15. neddie
    Member

    Apparently 50% of Dutch population don't cycle.

    That doesn’t sound correct. IIRC, it’s more like 87% of the Dutch population cycle

    Posted 6 hours ago #

  16. neddie
    Member

    At the top of the chart, 43% of the Dutch population cycles every day, 28% 'a few times a week', 16% 'a few times a month or less often' and a mere 13% never

    https://www.cyclinguk.org/article/campaigns-guide/cycling-levels-in-european-countries

    Posted 6 hours ago #

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