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Thomas Ableman

@freewheeling.info

2.2K followers 390 following 1.5K posts

🚇 Was Strategy & Innovation Director Transport for London 🖊️ Freewheeling Blog / Podcast www.freewheeling.info/blog SUBSTACK: Freewheeling Bitesize: https://freewheelingbitesize.substack.com/ & History of Europe in 75 Railway Journeys http://bit.ly/3EQNOPA

freewheelingbitesize.substack.com

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Thomas Ableman @freewheeling.info · May 4

My happy place is the compartment of a European train, with a cup of coffee in one hand and a history book in the other.

Hence a Substack exploring European history based on my travels.

Each month the story of a different period through the prism of a ride.

open.substack.com/pub/historyo...

Welcome to A HISTORY OF EUROPE IN 75 RAILWAY JOURNEYS

Riding the rails through 1,000 years of European history

open.substack.com

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Thomas Ableman @freewheeling.info · 1h

Maybe there is a “verify“ article somewhere that gently explains it, but I do think that the BBC is irresponsible in credulously reporting a plan is to fund all of these policies with £47 billion worth of savings without unpacking the consequence of £47 billion of cuts
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Conservatives would scrap stamp duty, Kemi Badenoch announces

The Tory leader says the move would help millions buy a home, in her annual conference speech.

www.bbc.co.uk

Thomas Ableman @freewheeling.info · 1d

Someone check if I’ve got this right: I think (for the first time ever) there is a cohort of voters who have lived a majority of their life under a Labour government.

Specifically, people born 17 March to 17 June 1997.

Thomas Ableman @freewheeling.info · 1d

The share is irrelevant. What matters is the amount of coal (and carbon). If we're still burning large amounts of coal, it doesn't make any difference that we're also generating a large amount of renewables: the atmosphere doesn't care.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Renewables overtake coal as world's biggest source of electricity

Developing countries lead the historic clean energy charge but the US and EU rely more on fossil fuels than before, a think tank study shows.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Thomas Ableman @freewheeling.info · 4d

Feels like we might need some additional capacity on that route.

A new line, maybe?…

If only some preparatory work had been done to make that happen.

Reposted by Thomas Ableman

Adam Hill 🚇🚏🚶‍♂️🚃🛴🚙🚲 @itseditoradam.bsky.social · 5d

📰 Excellent piece in this issue of www.itsinternational.com by @freewheeling.info on the ‘Mini Switzerland’ integrated transport concept… 🇨🇭

+ the brilliant @beatekubitz.bsky.social on #realtimedata and #Oasis gigs

Also #trafficmanagement, #V2X and #VisionZero

i.e. something for everyone 🫶🏻

ITS International: We ♥️ ITS @itsinternational.bsky.social · 5d

Latest issue of the brilliant* ITS International is OUT NOW‼️

Go to www.itsinternational.com & click on ‘MAGAZINE’ in top bar

There’s V2X v C-ITS … Big Ideas in Mini Switzerland … smartphone tolling pros & cons … Masters golf traffic management… and even some Oasis 🎸

*Yes, we’re biased but etc.

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Thomas Ableman @freewheeling.info · 5d

Absolutely. His transport analysis is generally terrible.

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Reposted by Thomas Ableman

Iain Roberts @slowbikeiain.bsky.social · 6d

I bumped this up my playlist - definitely worth a listen. The case for AV buses is stronger than AV cars.

I didn't quite get the practicalities for use. If there are no staff, how will they ensure enough people pay, and how will they deal with anti-social behaviour? @freewheeling.info (1/3)

Thomas Ableman @freewheeling.info · 7d

Paris is getting on and delivering autonomous buses.

On the latest podcast, I talk with James Dick of RATP (Paris's transport agency) about the work they're doing.

Autonomous public transport has so much more potential for social good than robotaxis!

www.freewheeling.info/the-freewhee...

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Thomas Ableman @freewheeling.info · 5d

To be fair, it was Simon Jenkins in the 1990s who first alerted me to the increase in centralisation (and gutting of local government) that you have subsequently written about in Failed State.

Thomas Ableman @freewheeling.info · 7d

Now, the relationship is more of hiring employees, not electing leaders. We have a list of demands, and we expect results. "They work for you" culture.
The focus on "delivery" is counterproductive as it reinforces this sense that voters can expect results without tradeoffs. Liz Truss exemplifies.

Thomas Ableman @freewheeling.info · 7d

I was reflecting recently that the relationship between voters and Government has changed in my lifetime.
When I was a kid, we elected leaders: the person we wanted to set the national direction. We were expected to follow.
Thatcher was such a person, Blair didn't quite dare. Brown could have been.

Reposted by Thomas Ableman

Iain Roberts @slowbikeiain.bsky.social · 8d

We already have a system where unwilling, unpaid "volunteers" are made to do work in the community. It's called Community Payback, undertaken by convicted offenders.

So Labour's message to people wanting to come to the UK and build a life is literally "We'll treat you like criminals."

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Thomas Ableman @freewheeling.info · 8d

Transport changemaking requires a willingness to try things and figure out what they do.

Role model kids.

freewheelingbitesize.substack.com/p/play-isnt-...

Play Isn't Just for Children

Thanks for reading Freewheeling Bitesize: Moving Forwards Faster!

freewheelingbitesize.substack.com

Thomas Ableman @freewheeling.info · 9d

If immigrants need to volunteer in the community to earn a right to live here, shouldn’t British citizens have to do the same?

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Thomas Ableman @freewheeling.info · 9d

Coffee looks cheerful this morning

Thomas Ableman @freewheeling.info · 9d

Made in America!

US car culture created the modern world. Thanks to the power of Silicon Valley, it is also shaping our future.

Today’s blog…

www.freewheeling.info/blog/motorno...

Motornormativity in Tech: Coding Car Culture into All Our Futures - part 2 — Freewheeling

Europe might be learning the lessons of car-dependence but the future is still being built in Silicon Valley. From AI to autonomous vehicles, we’re coding car-first thinking into the systems that will...

www.freewheeling.info

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Thomas Ableman @freewheeling.info · 10d

To get things done, find the people in organisations that know other people

open.substack.com/pub/freewhee...

Find the Connectors. They Move Things Faster

Welcome!

open.substack.com

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Thomas Ableman @freewheeling.info · 12d

People are saying this shows they are bad at politics. They are, but this is being bad at outcomes. Compelling most people to do something they don’t want to do for no benefit when an alternative policy would give benefit to everyone (with the same angst for the antis) is policy not politics.

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Thomas Ableman @freewheeling.info · 12d

Am I right that this digital ID seems designed to alienate the “don’t make me carry papers, Stasi” mob without satisfying people like me who think that a unique digital ID for everyone could make so many things so much easier?

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Reposted by Thomas Ableman

John Quinton-Barber @johnqb.bsky.social · 13d

To those Labour MPs taking shots at Andy Burnham for even thinking about challenging, ask yourselves why he feels the need. People are fed up. The comms from No.10 are a disaster, and you're handing Reform an open goal. This isn’t about Farage’s charm-it’s about the vacuum of leadership at the top.

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Thomas Ableman @freewheeling.info · 13d

Completely agree! Have always thought that the climate change movement has got its messaging all wrong.

The planet has existe for billions of years. It'll be fine.

It's our current prosperity and way of life that's threatened.

Thomas Ableman @freewheeling.info · 13d

@samfr.bsky.social @stephenkb.bsky.social One of you explained the politics of the current Downing Street strategy.

It basically came down to building up to "it's us v Reform".

But how does being entirely pushed around by Reform's agenda do this?

Make this make sense!

Thomas Ableman @freewheeling.info · 13d

Seriously?? Seriously???

“Reform [UK] voters don’t think climate is important and the Mail and Sun [newspapers] complain that Starmer has spent a record number of days overseas”

Genuinely, words fail me.

www.ft.com/content/5f8f...

Keir Starmer has no plans to attend COP30 climate summit in Brazil

Final decision has yet to be made amid ‘big fight inside government’ over trip by prime minister

www.ft.com

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Thomas Ableman @freewheeling.info · 13d

To be fair, though, it's probably true. I prefer the honesty to the Boris "reincarnated as an olive" mendacity.

Reposted by Thomas Ableman

Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 13d

Listening to Andy Burnham on BBC Radio Manchester and the calls are mainly about: transport. Bolton caller: where’s the tram we were promised (which they were). Doesn’t personally care about the “prime minister debate”, wants to know why they spend 4 hrs commuting when they live 12 miles away

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