Latest news with #cyclists
BBC News
4 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Tulips bollards in Westminster to 'protect cyclists and bring joy'
Colourful tulip-shaped bollards have sprung up in central London in a bid to separate traffic from cyclists while adding a splash of bollards made from recycled plastic have been installed to line bike lanes in Sussex Gardens, by the poppies at the Tower of London and the sunflower field scene in the Tour de France, it is hoped they will be more visible to drivers."The idea was to protect cyclists, but also to try and bring joy to the street," said Luke Tozer, director at Pitman Tozer Architects, which helped create the wands. "We road tested it, we had trucks run over it, we had cyclists hitting into them, to check that they would survive in the urban environment." Designer Alex Douglas said: "I started on this back in 2022, so it's really nice to finally see it on the streets."A ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by the newly appointed Lord Mayor of Westminster, Paul Dimoldenberg, the BBC's Jeremy Vine and social media sensation Sigrid, the deaf cat who explores London by bike, and her owner Travis Nelson.
Forbes
18 hours ago
- General
- Forbes
Local Politicians Blame ‘Rude' Cycling Advocates For Lack Of High-Quality Cycle Lanes
Detail of a bike symbol partially obliterated by roadworks on Tottencourt Court Road, in London, ... More England. (Photo by Richard Baker / In Pictures via Getty Images Images) Aside from the proliferation of potholes, few other issues lead to fiercer debate in local media than the creation of bike lanes. Even though cycling is a benign form of personal transport, much of this debate is often headlined as 'controversial,' with those who call for cycle infrastructure sometimes labeled, wrongly, as 'all-powerful.' At the same time, far more dominant car interests fly under the radar. Now, a new British study claims that a 'sizeable number of cyclists may unwittingly undermine their own cause.' In the words of one local politician mentioned in the study, this was because of the 'rudeness' of some cycle advocates on social media. This characterization may be a symptom of so-called 'motornormativity'—unconscious bias in favor of motoring—but, according to a local politician quoted in the paper, many U.K. councils 'find it harder to advocate for more cycle infrastructure, not because people don't like it, but because people feel that nothing we ever do will make cyclists happy.' Given the often truncated nature of bike lanes—which can start and stop for no physical reason and rarely mesh to form a useable network, unlike the infrastructure provided for motorists—this is perhaps unsurprising. The study includes interviews with dozens of councilors and local officials who work on local transport projects across the U.K. Study author Dr. Alexander Nurse, a reader in urban planning at the University of Liverpool, found that while bike lane opponents were often hostile and antagonistic, so were some cycle advocates. View of a bus cutting across a painted cycle lane at Old Street roundabout on in London, England. ... More (Photo by John Keeble/Getty Image) Nurse found that slightly less than one-third of interactions with cycle advocates about new projects were seen as negative. One respondent complained: 'Cycling campaigners are counterproductive due to their rudeness.' Strident social media campaigning in favor of bike lanes 'can massively undermine [cycling's] case, particularly with skeptical councilors,' said a respondent to Nurse's survey of almost 50 councilors and officials. However, such strident posts on Twitter, Facebook, and other social media sites were considered by councilors to be peripheral, while far more persuasive were emails and face-to-face interactions with constituents. 'While social media is a powerful tool,' said Nurse, 'it doesn't replace traditional methods when it comes to meaningful community engagement.' The subject of providing infrastructure for cyclists was considered 'controversial' by many councilors, reports The Guardian, with debate on social media seen as 'toxic.' Those opposed to cycling infrastructure could often be 'abusive,' said the research. One councilor described being 'doxxed' online, with their address and family details revealed. Some councillors expressed suspicion of those opposed to bike lanes, describing them as 'usually anonymous' and often pushing 'misinformation from the Libertarian fringe or organizations that are almost certainly bankrolled by fossil fuel organizations' but councillors also said that some cycle advocates 'don't appreciate challenges in advancing delivery.' The paper is published in the journal Local Government Studies.
The Guardian
a day ago
- General
- The Guardian
Forceful bike campaigners can undermine UK cycle lane planning, report finds
Few things rouse the ire of disgruntled road users more than cycle lanes. But a report has unveiled a surprising obstacle for local councils when planning bike infrastructure: cyclists. The study, based on interviews with dozens of councillors and local officials who lead on transport projects across the UK, found that opponents of bikes lanes and similar projects were the most uniformly hostile, but sceptical cycle campaigners were some of the harshest critics. The research, published in the journal Local Government Studies, found that slightly less than one-third of interactions about new projects with pro-cycling voices were seen as negative. One respondent to the research wrote: 'Cycling campaigners are mostly counterproductive due to their rudeness.' Another said they felt that councils 'find it harder to advocate for more cycle infrastructure, not because people don't like it, but because people feel that (from their impression from social media) nothing we ever do will make cyclists happy'. As another put it, while social media posts from cyclists might be aimed at pushing for more action, they 'can massively undermine [cycling's] case, particularly with sceptical councillors'. In a wider lesson for campaigners of all stripes, the nearly 50 councillors and officials who responded to the study said that while people on social media were often opinionated and noisy, they tended to be listened to less then those who chose other ways to communicate. Asked to list the forms of engagement most influential on eventual decisions, the councillors and officials almost all cited emails and face-to-face chats, with posts on Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites seen as much more peripheral. The study, by Dr Alexander Nurse, a reader in urban planning at the University of Liverpool, found multiple concerns about a 'very toxic' and 'often abusive' debate about cycling, although this was primarily down to opponents, and often those posting anonymously on social media. This occasionally went beyond virtual targeting, with one councillor describing having details of their address and family published as a threat, while another respondent said they were followed in the street and their family was abused. Such extreme opposition, the report concluded, generally seemed to be less a reflection of actual local sentiment than, as one person called it, 'misinformation … from the libertarian fringe or organisations'. Nurse said: 'This study reveals the shocking extent of abuse directed at public officials, some of which spills into real-world intimidation. One respondent even feared for their children's safety. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion 'While social media is a powerful tool, it doesn't replace traditional methods when it comes to meaningful community engagement. 'Interestingly, we also found that well-meaning but overly forceful advocacy –particularly from pro-cycling campaigners – can sometimes undermine the very schemes they are trying to support. 'Although focused on cycling infrastructure, the study has broader implications for local democracies worldwide, especially those grappling with complex issues, such as climate action, urban planning, housing and public space.'
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
First foot passenger fare approved for Corran Ferry
A foot passenger fare will be introduced for the first time on Europe's busiest single-vessel car Council said a £2 charge could generate £20,000 a year on its Corran Ferry service in crossing of Loch Linnhe's Corran Narrows carries about 10,000 foot passengers alongside 270,000 cars and 11,000 commercial vehicles each council's economy and infrastructure committee approved the new fare, saying it would "contribute to the sustainability of this vital transport link". The fare will only apply to passengers aged 23 to 60 years charge will come into effect in the summer and will include cyclists, although there will be no extra charge for the previously agreed to a 10% increase on vehicle fares in crossing links the wider Lochaber area with communities in the Ardnamurchan peninsula in the alternative journey by road around Loch Linnhe takes about two hours.
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Section of Kings Road in Newbury permanently closes to vehicles
A section of road has permanently closed to motorists following a public consultation. West Berkshire Council said only cyclists and pedestrians would now be able to access the section of Kings Road in Newbury between Gordon Road (east) and Windsor authority said concrete barriers would be put up after the peak traffic period earlier, with more permanent changes to road layouts and signage to follow "in the coming weeks".It said the impact of the changes would be monitored. The decision prompted dozens of people to comment when it was announced on social media. Some described it as "barmy" and "flawed", while others said it would reduce noise for residents living on the stretch of road. 'Improvements' West Berkshire Council said: "We understand that changes like this take time to get used to. "We'll be monitoring the area throughout the summer to see how traffic adjusts and to make sure everything is working as it should. "Thank you for your patience and support as we make these improvements."The council said new road signs and markings would be installed along both ends of Kings Road and the surrounding area, to direct traffic towards Hectors Way via the roundabout at Hambridge were some road closures on Wednesday evening to allow the road markings to be added. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
