Jackie DeWolfe’s Post

Which cities rate highest for bike infrastructure? Where do bike commuters use facilities the most? Where can you get a government subsidy for buying an e-bike? https://lnkd.in/gtXjrnTz

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) recently stated, "Provisions for constructing cycle tracks are generally not mandated in IRC codes. However, they are included in contracts where there is significant non-motorized two-wheeler traffic." But let's consider: 1. Rivers existed long before boats floated on them. 2. You can’t expect a child to read without access to books. Likewise, how can we expect people to cycle when roads are unsafe? Traffic surveys must account for the untapped potential of cycling. Who dares to cycle without dedicated lanes? Let’s spark a conversation on achieving 100% cycle track coverage in Indian urban areas. Share your thoughts in the comments!

Cyclists of the Tyne Valley - I attended a ‘presentation’ of proposals for the suggested works intended to encourage wider use by cyclists between Hexham and Corbridge at the Wentworth Leisure Centre at 10.00 Friday 12th July 2024. I asked whether this was a follow up to the earlier ‘consultations’ on the proposals which I also attended and contributed to, and was informed that the ‘consultation’ has now finished and these are now the detailed proposals. I’m afraid I was bitterly disappointed by this as it seems to me - as a local pedestrian, cyclist, public transport user and motorist - that the proposals represent a serious missed opportunity and consequently a potential waste of funding and hindrance to eventual real improvements. The staff at the presentation were geared up to explain the detailed design arrived at - and the ‘rationale’ of the funding (Levelling up?) but I could not do other than respond that it shows a serious lack of ambition. The cycle ways created from the mouth of the Tyne to Prudhoe Riverside Park and Ovingham are very good indeed and I believe the parties involved in this exercise should consider those routes as the model for improvements between Hexham and Corbridge. The tyne routes downstream from Prudhoe clearly encourage much wider use by cyclists of all abilities. Instead we in Hexham and Corbridge are ‘presented with’ - - road markings on the urban part of the route in Hexham (which in my view will not help nervous cyclists feel any better about the proximity of motor vehicles and seem to encourage new conflicts with pedestrians where foot and cycleways will ’share’) - traffic lights at the road bridge over the Devil’s Water on the A695 (which in my view will inconvenience all road users and cause cyclists to lose momentum in order to stop at the lights and also have to accelerate from stop alongside the moving traffic, when the lights go green. Motorists will of course be aggravated by the new delay) ...Then there will be the ongoing cost of the traffic lights in perpetuity. Continues ….

The Australian Automobile Association (AAA) is urging voters to check their local MP's stance on road safety and data transparency. With a 7.5% annual rise in road toll and alarming increases in pedestrian and cycling deaths, it's time to take action. 💡 Visit https://lnkd.in/gKmc_-NT to learn more and find out if your federal MP supports linking federal road funding with data transparency. Let's save lives, prevent accidents, and make our roads safer together! #RoadSafety #DataSavesLives 🛣️📊🚦

Australia’s road network has just recorded its deadliest six months in 13.5 years. Adam Tranter, the cycling and walking commissioner for the West Midlands in the UK has said: 'Driving is probably the most dangerous thing we will ever do, and as a normal citizen, it is the most likely way that you will kill another citizen.' (quoted by BetterStreets here: https://lnkd.in/grEy992X) The Australian Automobile Association’s latest Benchmarking the National Road Safety Strategy report reveals 1,266 people died on Australian roads in 2023, representing a 7.3% increase on the previous year. They are calling on the Australian Government to use their upcoming 5-year National Partnership Agreement funding to States ($50bn!) to drive data availability and transparency, read more here: https://lnkd.in/gCD92fqs

Two news items from the past week: The Dutch cyclists' union Fietsersbond: "Urgent Intervention Necessary to Halt the Rise in Traffic Casualties." From Anine Hartmann: "Today we got preliminary data for the year up to November, that show 12 consecutive months without any fatalities on city roads and streets in Oslo. That is quite an achievement by the city." We know what needs to be done. We understand how to make our cities and roads safer, not just in theory, but in practice. Yet, here in my province of Brabant, all we seem to do is run campaigns. Campaigns filled with victim blaming and the empty wish for zero casualties. Unless policymakers acknowledge that driving an SUV at 50 through the city is not a legitimate need, and that being able to go outside safely is paramount, nothing will change. Traffic deaths cannot be prevented solely through campaigns; they require robust infrastructure. The Netherlands was once a leader in biking infrastructure, but we've grown complacent. Now, we're witnessing a rise in the number of traffic deaths and casualties, particularly among cyclists. We have the knowledge and solutions to put an end to this. Image: In the Netherlands, specifically in Provincie Noord-Brabant, it is Lotte's responsibility to ensure she isn't run over at a pedestrian crossing in an urban area.

There’s a great fuss being made about Sydney’s Northern Beaches developing an e-bike code which I’m strongly in support of, and there’s no question that e-bikes are environmentally friendly and here to stay. What baffles me is why the real safety issue hasn’t been addressed, and here it is. Why build small stretches of joint cycle and pedestrian lanes on very narrow pavements ? Why force cyclists and e-bikes onto the existing narrow and very busy roads of Sydney ? Let’s call on the council to do what other States do ‘build dedicated cycles lanes and beach boardwalks’. keep cyclists away from congested roads and vulnerable pedestrians.

🚨 Stay In the Know: Highway Code Updates! 🚨 🌟 Did you know that it's been two years since crucial changes were made to the Highway Code? 🚦✨ These changes simplify rules at junctions, introduce the concept of a hierarchy of responsibility, address dangerous overtaking, and provide guidance on opening car doors safely. 🚴♂️ The introduction of the hierarchy of responsibility is a game-changer for cyclists and all road users! 🚗🚲 If you're unsure about the new guidelines, don't worry! Check out the link below to ensure you're up to date: https://lnkd.in/eDKhb63t Let's all play our part in making our roads safer for everyone! 🌈🛣️ Share this post, spread the word, and stay informed. Knowledge is power! 💪🚦 #HighwayCodeUpdates #RoadSafety #StayInformed #CyclistSafety 🚴♀️🚗