While not dismissing the cycle routes altogether, they are wiggly and indirect, through countryside. They would probably end up being leisure/mountain bike routes - or, more likely, never built at all.

Bus lanes and Park & Ride are being floated too, but will probably never happen.

North Yorkshire Council and their consultants have now deprioritised cycling and walking. There are proposals for MOVA traffic lights to increase capacity for motor vehicles.

After 6 years we still don't have any on-the-ground improvements, which is disappointing.

It was supposed to be a response to the Harrogate &Knaresborough Congestion Survey, in which 77% of 15,500 respondents said they wanted better walking & cycling facilities.

Worse, insisting people get off and push is discriminatory against those with disabilities who can't get off and push. Appearing to be anti-cycling and anti-people with disabilities would be a terrible look for ATE.

It now looks likely that @ategov.bsky.social will rubber-stamp NYC's proposals. That would leave a chasm between ATE's rhetoric and its actions. Viewed from N Yorkshire, ATE increasingly looks like anti-cycling organisation.

This is unacceptable. Cycling is systematically deprioritised and excluded from the council's plans. We are asking Active Travel England not to fund this scheme.

My impression is that ATE's 200 staff is not enough to get involved and make a difference at resistant councils. ATE might give a council guidance then assume the council will go away and get on with it. If the council doesn't, nothing happens.

The Mayor says he is going to appoint an Active Travel Commissioner, and part of his role will be to make sure projects stay on track. Agreed, Tom Gordon does not support active travel.