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Reposted by Lib Dem Friends of Cycling 🔶🚲

Congleton Sustainable Travel @congletonsustrav.bsky.social · 3d

We so need to have people-friendly pavements here in Congleton. It has been done in London so when here? @cheshire-east.bsky.social

Lib Dem Friends of Cycling 🔶🚲 @libdemcycling.org.uk · 23d

Good to see an MP speaking up on #PavementParking - five years after the consultation closed there is public appetite for action. Councils need the powers to enforce (including retention of fines to pay for other road safety initiative)

Freddie van Mierlo MP 🔶 @freddievanmierlomp.bsky.social · 23d

I recently spoke in Parliament about the impact of pavement parking—a concern I hear often from constituents with disabilities, sight loss or mobility aids.
It makes everyday journeys harder and more dangerous. Councils need proper powers to act.
Everyone deserves safe, accessible streets

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Reposted by Lib Dem Friends of Cycling 🔶🚲

Stephen Frost @sfrost.bsky.social · 5d

How do you know your city is a healthy habitat for people? A decent place to start is whether children can play freely in their neighbourhoods and get around independently.

This is an excellent introduction to Tim’s work and the benefits of shifting away from car centric urban spaces.

The War on Cars @thewaroncars.bsky.social · 8d

New episode up! We talked with researcher Tim Gill about how we need to make our cities safe for children, not cars. "Children are basically living very captive and kind of contained lives, and that's just not healthy."
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...

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Lib Dem Friends of Cycling 🔶🚲 @libdemcycling.org.uk · 3d

Good episode of @thewaroncars.bsky.social
- who *did* decide that all our public space would be given over to cars? #LiveableNeighbourhoods

Cities for Children with Tim Gill

Podcast Episode · The War on Cars · 30/09/2025 · 38m

podcasts.apple.com

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Lib Dem Friends of Cycling 🔶🚲 @libdemcycling.org.uk · 4d

Good evidence of the effect of building safe #ActiveTravel infrastructure - aside from the health and environmental benefits, it builds in transport resilience

Walk Ride GM @walkridegm.org.uk · 5d

Bus strike mania has hit Manchester

This week Oxford Road saw the most cyclists in a single day EVER

Nearly 4000 people used the route on Monday

Record numbers choose cycling on Oxford Road during Manchester bus strike

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Reposted by Lib Dem Friends of Cycling 🔶🚲

Walk Ride GM @walkridegm.org.uk · 5d

Bus strike mania has hit Manchester

This week Oxford Road saw the most cyclists in a single day EVER

Nearly 4000 people used the route on Monday

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Lib Dem Friends of Cycling 🔶🚲 @libdemcycling.org.uk · 23d

Good to see an MP speaking up on #PavementParking - five years after the consultation closed there is public appetite for action. Councils need the powers to enforce (including retention of fines to pay for other road safety initiative)

Freddie van Mierlo MP 🔶 @freddievanmierlomp.bsky.social · 23d

I recently spoke in Parliament about the impact of pavement parking—a concern I hear often from constituents with disabilities, sight loss or mobility aids.
It makes everyday journeys harder and more dangerous. Councils need proper powers to act.
Everyone deserves safe, accessible streets

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Lib Dem Friends of Cycling 🔶🚲 @libdemcycling.org.uk · 28d

Excellent work in Oxford #CongestionCharge

Oxford Clarion @oxfordclarion.bsky.social · 28d

Oxford is to get a congestion charge of £5 per car per day, starting this autumn. Charges will be levied for driving past one of six camera sites. The decision, intended to accelerate bus services and encourage cycling/walking, was taken at an Oxfordshire County Council cabinet meeting this morning.

Buses on the High Street, Oxford. Photo by Roger Close.

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Reposted by Lib Dem Friends of Cycling 🔶🚲

Mums for Lungs @mumsforlungs.bsky.social · Sep 3

"Looking at the entire British population, 90% of citizens live in areas which breach World Health Organization guidelines."

New analysis by @healthequals.bsky.social emphasises the inequities of exposure and vulnerability to #AirPollution, & shows how far we still have to go to clean up our air.

87% of British schools in toxic air zones, 12million at risk

25,000 campuses are located in areas that exceed the World Health Organization’s air quality guidelines, according to a new analysis. The assessment shows that 87% of schools are situated in ‘toxic…

environmentjournal.online

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Lib Dem Friends of Cycling 🔶🚲 @libdemcycling.org.uk · Sep 1

Disappointing that the Government’s strategy for the #InactivityPandemic is to encourage people to go for a run (which people with busy lives will find hard to make time for) rather than building in ‘incidental exercise’ by making it easier to walk to the shops or school #ActiveTravel

More than 600 dead after earthquake hits Afghanistan, officials say

Authorities said that more than 1,500 people were injured by the 6.0-magnitude earthquake

liveapp.inews.co.uk

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Reposted by Lib Dem Friends of Cycling 🔶🚲

Walk Ride Rochdale @walkriderochdale.org.uk · Aug 31

As the schools go back, the additional traffic from the school run will be obvious. For a substantial proportion, especially primary, the distance to school is less than a mile so walking, wheeling or cycling would be feasible if it felt safer to do so #SchoolStreets @solveschoolrun.bsky.social

Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · Aug 31

The more kids are invited to bike, walk and take public transit to school, the safer, healthier and smarter it is for EVERYONE. It’s shocking how much vehicle congestion in cities is actually “driven” by trips to and from schools. #BackToSchool #LetKidsBike #LetKidsWalk cartoon by Yehuda Moon

Cartoon about the amount of unsafe traffic “driven” by parents driving their kids because of safety concerns. We need both safer conditions and a different perspective about what’s safe.

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Reposted by Lib Dem Friends of Cycling 🔶🚲

Mums for Lungs @mumsforlungs.bsky.social · Aug 30

A good read on why we need to reverse the trend towards ever bigger cars.

Children are 82% more likely to be killed in a collision with an SUV rather than a small car.

#Carspreading

We need to curb carspreading - Transport for Quality of Life Limited

Reversing the trend towards heavier, longer, wider and higher cars would make our streets healthier, safer and more people-friendly; and could leverage funds to improve alternatives to car travel.

www.transportforqualityoflife.com

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Reposted by Lib Dem Friends of Cycling 🔶🚲

Mike Cookson 🔶 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @mikecookson.bsky.social · Aug 30

Trigger Warning for Road Violence.

I found out last night that this video forms part of the induction for new students at Jesmond Park Academy.

Accompanied by a warning to pupils to look both ways, even when the green man / red light is on, because drivers can't be trusted to stop🚦.

Cont.

Schoolchild hit by car running red light

Dashcam footage captures the moment a pupil is hit by a car on the Coast Road in Heaton, Newcastle.

share.google

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Lib Dem Friends of Cycling 🔶🚲 @libdemcycling.org.uk · Aug 27

Living Streets @livingstreets.bsky.social · Aug 27

Read our response: www.livingstreets.org.uk/nts

Government failing to meet walk to school target

New data reveals that the Government has likely missed its goal to get more pupils walking to school.

www.livingstreets.org.uk

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Lib Dem Friends of Cycling 🔶🚲 @libdemcycling.org.uk · Aug 7

Today is #CycleToWorkDay

Contact your councillors and ask for safe infrastructure to give more people the choice to cycle to work, school or the shops in safety - ⅔ of adults would cycle instead of driving with the health benefits this brings if they didn't have to mix with traffic.

#DemandBetter

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Reposted by Lib Dem Friends of Cycling 🔶🚲

Wera Hobhouse MP @werahobhouse.bsky.social · Aug 7

Today is National Cycle to Work Day! 🚲

Cycling means cleaner air, less congestion, and a healthier you. It’s good for our planet and our wellbeing: boosting fitness, lowering stress, and lifting your mood before the workday even begins.

Let’s make active travel the norm.
#CycleToWorkDay

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Reposted by Lib Dem Friends of Cycling 🔶🚲

Walk Ride Rochdale @walkriderochdale.org.uk · Aug 4

Please consider signing this petition to help ensure alternative long-distance walking and cycling routes are provided when existing ones are lost to major transport schemes #ActiveTravel @cyclinguk.bsky.social @sustrans.bsky.social

Petition: Mandate funding of active travel provision as part of any transport projects

In light of the Chancellor's recent announcement of funding for transport infrastructure, we call for new legislation mandating funding for active travel provision alongside funding for transport…

petition.parliament.uk

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Reposted by Lib Dem Friends of Cycling 🔶🚲

Walk Ride Rochdale @walkriderochdale.org.uk · Aug 4

“What is an acceptable death toll that justifies getting to work two minutes faster?”

#20sPlenty @walkridegm.org.uk

Journey times up, deaths down: Welsh 20mph speed limit still divisive two years on

Protests continue against default lower limit in urban areas that supporters say is working ‘exactly as intended’

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Lib Dem Friends of Cycling 🔶🚲

Mike Cookson 🔶 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @mikecookson.bsky.social · Jul 21

Me, trying to work out how Newcastle managed to solve its traffic problems overnight.

Oh yeah, it's the start of the 6 weeks summer holidays.

Which demonstrates that an awful lot of our traffic in the mornings is School Run.

Why did the Council abandon it's #SchoolStreets programme?

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Lib Dem Friends of Cycling 🔶🚲 @libdemcycling.org.uk · Jul 15

This is good work from @vikkislademp.bsky.social - #IllegalParking is a danger to people walking, wheeling and cycling and councils should be properly empowered to enforce it (including using #ANPR cameras) and keep the fines to subsidise enforcement and other transport measures.

Vikki Slade MP @vikkislademp.bsky.social · Jul 15

After raising the issue of illegal parking with the Minister yesterday, I’ve sent a letter seeking clarity on the Government’s plans for enforcing parking fines. Also I have requested a meeting with the Minister and affected councils to discuss the next steps.

Text - Dear Minister Norris,

Re: Illegal and Dangerous Parking

During MHCLG questions yesterday, I asked whether you believed it was reasonable for law-abiding council tax payers to subsidise illegal and dangerous parking. Your response referenced the Government’s consultation on private parking providers, and I must express my deep disappointment with this, as it does not address the core issue.

As you may know, I previously served as Leader of BCP Council before being elected as one of its Members of Parliament. Parking is therefore not a new issue for me. In fact, throughout my first term, I was alarmed by the sheer scale of the illegal parking problem. I introduced towaway measures for dangerously parked vehicles, only to discover that councils are unable to recover the full cost from offenders. The fine remains fixed at £100 plus the penalty notice, while the actual cost of towing often reaches several hundred pounds — an amount that has likely increased over the past five years.

In 2023, I worked with then-MP Sir Conor Burns to raise this issue with the Government. We met with the Department for Transport, and in early 2024, they agreed in principle to a pilot scheme. Officials assured Sir Conor that this could proceed regardless of the outcome of a General Election.

I wrote again in summer 2024 before stepping down as Council Leader. Since then, the new leader has continued to campaign for an increase in standard fines and those associated with vehicle towaways. Other BCP MPs have also written to you and to the Department for Transport. It has been disheartening to receive responses focused solely on keeping costs low for motorists.

I would highlight that these drivers are not just breaking the law—they are endangering public safety. They block pavements, depriving disabled people and families of safe passage; they park on roundabouts and corners, creating serious hazards; and they obstruct residents from accessing their own homes.

$test - This is a source of growing frustration for residents, who rightly expect their council to act. Recently, BCP Council launched a consultation on introducing parking charges in additional areas—specifically to fund increased enforcement. Yet, the question remains - why should law-abiding drivers and council taxpayers bear the cost of those who flout the rules? I accept that fines for minor infractions—such as overstaying in a car park or inadvertently breaching a yellow box—should remain lower. However, fines for illegal parking have been frozen for 20 years. In London, the Mayor has the authority to increase fines, and has done so recently. As we look towards devolution, I would ask what plans the Government has to devolve this power to Combined Authorities and Mayors across the country in the same way? It is my view that local authorities would also greatly benefit from the ability to use Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) in council-run car parks, as private providers already do. This would ensure that all users pay for the service, allowing civil enforcement officers to focus on safety-critical areas rather than revenue protection. While not suitable for all car parks, ANPR would be highly effective in multi-storey facilities and those with a single entrance and exit. BCP Council is keen to participate in a pilot scheme for both enhanced (and potentially seasonal) parking and towaway fines, as well as ANPR implementation. Following my recent question, I have also been contacted by residents from other seaside towns who are eager to see change. In summary then, I would be keen to understand what plans the Government has to devolve parking fine powers, and separately, would welcome the opportunity to meet with you and representatives from affected councils to discuss next steps on parking and the possibility of making ANPR accessible for council-run car parks. It is important that we act on behalf of all our residents.$

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Reposted by Lib Dem Friends of Cycling 🔶🚲

Vikki Slade MP @vikkislademp.bsky.social · Jul 15

After raising the issue of illegal parking with the Minister yesterday, I’ve sent a letter seeking clarity on the Government’s plans for enforcing parking fines. Also I have requested a meeting with the Minister and affected councils to discuss the next steps.

$test - This is a source of growing frustration for residents, who rightly expect their council to act. Recently, BCP Council launched a consultation on introducing parking charges in additional areas—specifically to fund increased enforcement. Yet, the question remains - why should law-abiding drivers and council taxpayers bear the cost of those who flout the rules? I accept that fines for minor infractions—such as overstaying in a car park or inadvertently breaching a yellow box—should remain lower. However, fines for illegal parking have been frozen for 20 years. In London, the Mayor has the authority to increase fines, and has done so recently. As we look towards devolution, I would ask what plans the Government has to devolve this power to Combined Authorities and Mayors across the country in the same way? It is my view that local authorities would also greatly benefit from the ability to use Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) in council-run car parks, as private providers already do. This would ensure that all users pay for the service, allowing civil enforcement officers to focus on safety-critical areas rather than revenue protection. While not suitable for all car parks, ANPR would be highly effective in multi-storey facilities and those with a single entrance and exit. BCP Council is keen to participate in a pilot scheme for both enhanced (and potentially seasonal) parking and towaway fines, as well as ANPR implementation. Following my recent question, I have also been contacted by residents from other seaside towns who are eager to see change. In summary then, I would be keen to understand what plans the Government has to devolve parking fine powers, and separately, would welcome the opportunity to meet with you and representatives from affected councils to discuss next steps on parking and the possibility of making ANPR accessible for council-run car parks. It is important that we act on behalf of all our residents.$

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Lib Dem Friends of Cycling 🔶🚲 @libdemcycling.org.uk · Jul 15

Please sign if you can #ActiveTravel

UK Government Petitions @petitions.bsky.social · Jul 15

New petition: "Mandate funding of active travel provision as part of any transport projects"

Deadline 15 January 2026, created by Reg Khawar

#NewPetition

New petition: Mandate funding of active travel provision as part of any transport projects

In light of the Chancellor's recent announcement of funding for transport infrastructure, we call for new legislation mandating funding for active travel provision alongside funding for transport projects, built at the same time as any transport improvements or construction.

petition.parliament.uk

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Lib Dem Friends of Cycling 🔶🚲 @libdemcycling.org.uk · Jul 14

The benefits of #LowTrafficNeighbourhoods keep building, whether that’s health, air quality or (as in this) road safety.

Our politicians must have the courage to do the right thing and expand these.

London Cycling Campaign @londoncycling.bsky.social · Jul 14

LTNs save lives. Lack of LTNs means lives lost, and lives and families damaged irreparably. Yet more evidence that LTNs are needed urgently in more of our city: www.standard.co.uk/comment/ltns...

You can't argue with the data - LTNs are officially saving lives

It’s a truth many struggle to accept, but in London cars have become killers.

www.standard.co.uk

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Reposted by Lib Dem Friends of Cycling 🔶🚲

Walk Ride Rochdale @walkriderochdale.org.uk · Jul 7

What’s true in London will be true in our other towns and cities. The benefits of #ActiveNeighbourhoods are becoming overwhelming, and we need action, and now. Reinstate the #MilkstoneAndDeeplish trial.

#StopDeKindermoord @rochdalecouncil.bsky.social @walkridegm.org.uk

Peter Walker @peterwalker99.bsky.social · Jul 7

NEW: Big study of low-traffic neighbourhoods in London suggest they cut road injuries and deaths by more than a third within their boundaries with no apparent negative safety effect on nearby roads. This feels a *major* boost for proponents of such schemes.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

London’s low-traffic zones ‘cut deaths and injuries by more than a third’

Exclusive: Study also finds no change in number of casualties on roads just outside low-traffic neighbourhoods

www.theguardian.com

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Lib Dem Friends of Cycling 🔶🚲 @libdemcycling.org.uk · Jul 2

#ActiveTravel is a public health intervention as much as anything else, and our political leaders must make the case for this - reduced illness, and reduced demand for social care.

Peter Walker @peterwalker99.bsky.social · Jul 2

At a big active travel conference in York, Chris Whitty is explaining how amazing physical activity is for health, and how it needs to be built into everyday life. Those who benefit most are those who currently do nothing, followed by those who do little, he says.

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Lib Dem Friends of Cycling 🔶🚲 @libdemcycling.org.uk · Jun 30

This is an excellent piece by @rantyhighwayman.bsky.social explaining in detail why poorly considered and unnecessary legislation on #BusStopBypasses is a major threat to cycling for transport and the health, air quality and environmental benefits #ActiveTravel brings

The Ranty Highwayman @rantyhighwayman.bsky.social · Jun 30

As promised, my written evidence is now on the @cityinfinity.bsky.social website blog. It has also been acknowledged by Parliamentary support.

I hope you understand why I have unusually disabled replies.

cityinfinity.co.uk/2025/06/30/b...

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