Chris Boardman believes £18 billion is needed to grow cycling equitably between rural and urban areas, Laura Laker has reported for Cycling Industry News. The current budget is £3.8 billion, the head of Active Travel England noting that to meet the 2030 target (of half of all journeys in towns and cities being make by walking or cycling) will cost £9 billion, while to do things equally in rural areas also would cost double.
"If we focus on areas of high population density, we focus on [authorities] who have the capability now to meet the targets by 2030, we can do that. If we want to spread it more equitably across the country, go to rural areas, then that will move towards the £18 billion, and that’s a governmental choice," Boardman said.
"We know that 31 per cent fewer young people are now owning cars. That's not how they want to spend their available disposable income, and they're looking for alternatives. I think right now we also have a duty to ensure that people have access to cheap transport.
"Active travel provides all of that for the local journeys, the vast majority of which are less than five miles, and a huge, around about a third, are less than a mile. So it is a part of our future as part of an integrated transport system."
Officers across Northern Ireland yesterday took part in close pass operations, whereby plain clothes officers ride a bicycle along a stretch of road, flagging any dangerous driving to colleagues further along the road who then educate/enforce a penalty.
And while any action to try to "raise awareness of cycle safety" is appreciated, one Belfast cyclist pointed out it would also be useful if cyclists had an Operation SNAP-style reporting portal to submit footage of dangerous driving, rather than the current system where complaints go through PSNI's 'Online Incident Reporting'.
In response to an FOI request by a Mr Murray in March, "PSNI can advise we do intend to introduce a scheme matching Operation Snap used by UK police forces. Research has been conducted with UK forces to establish how the scheme operates and best practice. Enquiries have also been made regarding the technology and training required to run the scheme."
Interestingly, the FOI also revealed such a platform would cost "£3,500 per annum, with an additional £2,000 set up cost", plus staffing costs.
Of course, it wouldn't be a police force talking about cyclists without a touch of anti-cycling bingo...
"All very good, but when are you going to get cyclist off the footpaths and enforce that in town centres."
"Are there any plans to make the use of cycle lanes compulsory?"
"Can you also educate cyclists on how to use cycle lanes & also the road in general when there aren't any. From what I can see they are a law onto themselves when sharing the road."
"Tell the cyclists, especially cycle clubs, to stop at red lights at pedestrian crossing and not just drive through!"
"Will you be riding side by side at 5 miles an hour moaning at all the drivers who unlike you have to take a test and pay to use the road"
Saved my favourite for the end there...
What time is it?
I love the casual cycler 😂 pic.twitter.com/OCJA8UXtJl
— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) June 8, 2023
Well that's an interesting take on Near Miss of the Day...
Back in February 2022 we shared a picture on our live blog of a Kyiv cyclist spotted training "surrounded by tanks" in one of the most surreal photos of the year. Days later, more Strava activities from the city were spotted online.
This should come with a trigger warning for all of us who've suffered similar...
I've been riding a few years now, but you're never more than one moment's inattention away from an embarrassing un-clipping incident.
Of course, it happened at a packed set of traffic lights.— Brian Moore (@brianmoore666) June 8, 2023
Fortunately no schoolchildren, just a sizeable group of building workers who I'm sure were extremely sympathetic in their laughter...
We've all been there. Mine happened to be a morning commute at a busy zebra crossing, made worse by the fact the heavily worn cleat which wouldn't unclip, still refused to budge as I was lying on the floor... serves me right for being cheap and forcing every last pedal stroke out of them...
Fortunately, I haven't managed it again since, unlike the former England rugby international (don't worry, Brian, I'm sure I'll make it 2-2 at some point).
Close to your anniversary..!https://t.co/n3rDYC4Plm
— Phil Jones (@philpmj) June 8, 2023
Time for your tales...
Richard Cotton: "I was fortunate that it happened to me in a fairly quiet country lane. However, I was unfortunate in that I went down on the drive train side and bent the rear mech inwards!"
James Flibble: "My first attempt with clips, I got to the end of the road. Neighbours were chatting in the front garden. Clips wouldn't release, I fell in what seemed to be slow motion. They were delighted, I was less impressed."
James Shepherd wins... "When I first started riding clipless, I came down on the Fulham road at 5pm on a match day. 100s of Chelsea fans signing 'she fell over' as I lay on the ground."
Here's a lovely sight for your Friday morning...
It’s almost shocking to get back to London at rush hour and see people commuting home through central London absolutely everywhere pic.twitter.com/LB10OhRq19
— Danny Williams (@citycyclists) June 8, 2023
Strange, I thought the Northern Ireland comments told us cyclists don't stop at red lights...