Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Martin Price @mrmjprice.bsky.social · 9h

It’s a pleasure to have @lucycaldicott.bsky.social in @betterstreetsforbirmingham.org’s committee.

Lucy steered our 1 year of the road safety emergency event and is currently preparing to launch our new manifesto asks into the world next month.

Lucy had an hour-long interview on Brum Radio y/day.

Birmingham Midweek with Roifield - Brum Radio

Mondays from 6pm. #BrumHour’s Dave Massey chats to Birmingham-based people about how they use social media to promote the work they do. Join in #BrumHour, Birmingham’s biggest social media networking ...

brumradio.com

1 4 7

Martin Price @mrmjprice.bsky.social · 20h

300 😮 - Is that in addition to, or replacing existing? We’ve managed four moving traffic enforcement cameras in three years in Birmingham.

Martin Price @mrmjprice.bsky.social · 20h

Returned a hoover with an electrical fault to Argos. Not in stock so I go for the gift card to order online. It turns out that I bought it at a £100 discount earlier this year. Will have to plead with support tomorrow. 🥸

1

Martin Price @mrmjprice.bsky.social · 1d

In my city (Birmingham, UK), the bike layer isn’t to be trusted. It’s been largely algorithmically defined and completely ignores the shape of cycle lanes where they’re separated from other traffic. Google Maps doesn’t support editing of bike friendliness of a street, just the adding of new lanes.

1

Martin Price @mrmjprice.bsky.social · 1d

That last bit is likely because of flip flopping in the last government’s policy. I’ve recently moved into a new build - it was either that or investing money I didn’t have access to for retrofitting to a 1900s home - and we’re the first lot to have solar panels through regulation. No 🦔🛣️ though! ☹️

1 4

Reposted by Martin Price

Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 2d

Under any other leader Jenrick would have been sacked for saying this.

Under Badenoch he'll probably get a promotion www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Robert Jenrick complained of ‘not seeing another white face’ in Birmingham neighbourhood

Shadow justice secretary criticised for suggesting he could tell how integrated Handsworth was based on short visit

www.theguardian.com

66 130 510

Reposted by Martin Price

Giles Wilkes @gilesyb.bsky.social · 4d

"Polarisation may be an unhelpful term .... It implies that both sides are becoming equally extreme. Arguably the real dynamic is that elements of the right have hardened, embracing positions that would have been unacceptable a decade ago" on.ft.com/46TGRHs by @henrymance.ft.com 1/

How polarised is Britain?

Behind media perceptions of a sharpening political divide is a more complicated picture

on.ft.com

12 84 300

Reposted by Martin Price

David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 5d

"Over half of the e-cargo bike mileage ridden during trials substituted for car use."

doi.org/10.1016/j.jc...

1 46 170

Martin Price @mrmjprice.bsky.social · 5d

Those plans are moving to delivery. It’s just right now there are temporary three-way lights causing congestion and badly disrupting the 61/63/76

Martin Price @mrmjprice.bsky.social · 5d

Just two more weeks left of roadworks (and drivers rat running to avoid their £67.6 million bypass) gridlocking Selly Oak High Street and all the bus routes that use it. 🎉

1 1 7

Reposted by Martin Price

Maria @thismaria.bsky.social · 5d

Wish I could say it comes as a massive surprise that there's an overlap between the flag people and suspected fraudsters, but this is great work by the @birminghamdispatch.bsky.social.

'It's 100% legitimate' www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/red-flags-th...

Red flags: The non-existent company behind Brum's Union Jacks

'It's 100% legitimate'

www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk

2 29 34

Martin Price @mrmjprice.bsky.social · 5d

Andy Street made decisions on schemes for completion up to three years after his term. Richard Parker is making decisions that will complete at the end of the next mayoral term. 🧐

Martin Price @mrmjprice.bsky.social · 5d

Just reading a report on how to speed up building trams from Egis. It’s the first time I’ve seen mayoral cycles mentioned as having an impact on transport delivery. And it’s just occurred to me that the mayoral cycle is wildly out of sync with the transport settlement cycle.

1 1 3

Martin Price @mrmjprice.bsky.social · 6d

And then proceed to breach the Highways Act 1980 by attaching an unauthorised attachment to a highways asset?

3

Martin Price @mrmjprice.bsky.social · 6d

It would be interesting to FOI the change in demand for parking in the spring... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Dudley town centre parking costs halved for shoppers

From 23 October, drivers will be able to park for 30 minutes for 50p.

www.bbc.co.uk

2

Reposted by Martin Price

Better Streets for Birmingham @betterstreetsforbirmingham.org · 7d

Huge thanks to Moseley Forum for hosting a Road Safety Open Meeting 🙏 Our Chair, Martin Price, joined Mat MacDonald, Sarah Chaundler (City of Cars) & Cllr Izzy Knowles. Great to see prospective candidates + residents debating how to make our streets safer, healthier & more liveable
#SafeStreetsNow

A community meeting on road safety, with a panel of speakers seated at a table in front of an audience. One speaker stands with a microphone while others listen. A banner with bright colours is draped over the table. Photo credit: Radley Russell.

Audience members seated in a dimly lit room watch City of Cars projected onto a large screen at a community meeting. The film shows a man speaking outdoors. Several rows of people are visible, facing the screen. Photo credit: Radley Russell.

3 5 10

Reposted by Martin Price

Alex Nurse @alexnurse.bsky.social · 9d

Today was one of my favourite lectures, on how evidence influences debates.

Case A: 79 people died as a consequence of smart motorways (2010-2024). That's sufficient to pause the policy.

Case B: In the first year of the Welsh 20mph scheme 900 fewer people were injured. There's still contestation.

6 86 270

Martin Price @mrmjprice.bsky.social · 10d

Did several laps of above my house in Brum to burn more fuel 😅

Martin Price @mrmjprice.bsky.social · 12d

Sounds like we’re on the cusp of a ninth tip? 😏

NPR @npr.org · 13d

In 2024, 7,100 pedestrians were killed on the road, and in recent years, more than 1,000 cyclists have been hit and killed annually. Safety experts explain how bikers and walkers can stay safe.

8 walking and biking safety tips that just might save your life

In 2024, 7,100 pedestrians were killed on the road, and in recent years, more than 1,000 cyclists have been hit and killed annually. Safety experts explain how bikers and walkers can stay safe.

n.pr

Martin Price @mrmjprice.bsky.social · 12d

The underpinning laws and responsibilities are a total bin fire.

2

Martin Price @mrmjprice.bsky.social · 13d

Obviously the consultation needs to happen and I’ll be writing in to outline concerns about outing trans people - a reason for it not to include gender - but it’s not listed in the initial scoping.

1

Reposted by Martin Price

HowDoYou Guide @howdoyou.guide · 13d

Hi @npr.org! We worked late tonight putting together this handy pocket guide!

It doesn't address road design issues, but if we're going to educate road users, we should include drivers.

It's the size of a folded business card. Print it, fold it, put it in your wallet!

"How Do You Avoid Hitting People With Your Car" pocket guide. Instructs readers to Watch the Road and Slow Down. Further text humorously insists that watching the road and slowing down are indeed important.

41 1.1K 2.7K

Reposted by Martin Price

Stephen Frost @sfrost.bsky.social · 13d

Traffic lights in Copenhagen are synchronised so a rush-hour cyclist at 20km/h can catch green lights all the way.

“It’s so important to have the freedom on a bike to just ride along at a good speed… You can feel the city wants you – and supports you – going on a bike.”

‘It’s the best feeling’: how Copenhagen gave cyclists a green wave

Traffic lights are synchronised so a rush-hour cyclist at 20km/h can catch green lights all the way

www.theguardian.com

2 15 79

Reposted by Martin Price

James O'Malley @jamesomalley.co.uk · 13d

How the government's new digital ID will work… and why I’ve changed my mind on ID cards (FREE TO READ!)

takes.jamesomalley.co.uk/p/how-the-uk...

How the government's new digital ID will work

And why I've changed my mind on ID cards

takes.jamesomalley.co.uk

31 54 120

Martin Price @mrmjprice.bsky.social · 13d

Oh good they haven’t worked out the details of the policy and have framed it around migration.

Saul Staniforth @saulstaniforth.bsky.social · 13d

Nandy: "Although all UK citizens will have a digital ID, it will not be mandatory for people to use it, it will be entirely their choice"

So once the govt has set up the system & forced everyone to have an ID, future govts won't use them to curtail peoples rights & surveil them?

4