Department for Transport commissions report on Active Travel Fund schemes – but you’ll have to wait three years to read it

IanMK wrote:

Since COP26 it's like the climate emergency is over. I haven't heard any politician talk about it since then. Politicians need to be honest enough to say that these schemes have to be introduced to change behaviour and driver inconvenience is necessary and intended. Despite the lack of discussion about active transport at COP26 we still agreed to 'wider system transformation'. Failure to do that is a failure to meet obligations. It's really that simple. Waiting 3 years is non sensical and deceiving the public about what has to happen.

Exactly. To my mind an emergency requires an immediate response, yet it seems our response to a climate emergency is to float some hot air about CO2 targets in ten or twenty years time. It's all talk and no action.

Exactly. There's a wealth of data from other cities around the world, so lets just copy the best bits and learn from their mistakes (e.g. that poorly designed cycle bridge in Copenhagen http://www.copenhagenize.com/2017/04/copenhagens-fantastic-stupid-bicycle.html and compare it with their lovely Cykelslangen snake bridge).

Instead, we seem to ignore what works and install the most poorly thought out infrastructure possible that has the maximum amount of conflict points between peds/cyclists/motorists. And beg buttons.

"well it makes some sense in that if its going to report on the long term impacts, you cant measure long term impacts unless you actually take the time to monitor them long term."

Is 50 years enough?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuBdf9jYj7o

have any of these UK schemes been in place for 50 years ? its not about producing a report that questions is making your roads safe for cycling a good idea.  Its about does putting a segregated lane down High Street of average  UK Town/City, make a difference to cycling and motor vehicles.

This is part of the problem though. The question really is one at the political level. The design and engineering and figures are important. But what you end up with depends on the priorities someone has set.

Even if you do nothing / don't change - that's a decision too.  So it's what sort of mobility are our towns and cities designed for now? (I think most level-headed people sort of know...) Is this optimal? Is this sustainable? What uses do we want to design for in the future / who do we prioritise?

I think the government often hides behind the "this is obviously properly the responsibility of local authorities". Yep - but you give them money and set a direction. Same with the councils / local authorities.  Manchester's major has effectively said "we are doing this".  This is translating into "design and measure and consult".  What it is not about is "we'll do a trial of something random one one streeet, fight about that for years, then try something else random at another point".

(Ranty Highwayman has a good article touching on this in the context of pedestrian crossings - noting that this normally questions normally get referred to engineers / designers when those in change should take responsibility for making a decision.)

I agree that - at a fairly low "officer" level this is indeed how the UK works (or should...). Design, propose, consult, bring in legislation (ETRO / TRO etc.), maybe do a trial, more consultation, change design, maybe another trial etc. (If you watch Bicycle Dutch's more recent version of "How the Dutch got..." it's more apparent that over 50 years that this process was followed there too - and indeed all the familiar protests / councils dragging their feet / one step forward, then rewind took place).

I'm all for testing / trial / monitoring. Adapting to local conditions etc. But currently it's just too easy for all this to be an endless round of test this, test that. Because the all important decision has already been made - "very little change if any, thanks".

It is at least possible - we know because "big" decisions and indeed unpopular and expensive ones are actually taken fairly regularly - from the top downwards.

But there's more - new and improved (and more thoughtful after 10 years) version of that video:

How did the Dutch get their cycle paths?

Article here: https://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2021/11/17/how-did-the-dutch-get-their-cycle-paths/

Thank you. I grabbed the first link that came up, as it was more about making a point: the wheel doesn't need to be reinvented countless times.
In that context, the blog of David Hembrow is a treasure trove , too:
http://www.aviewfromthecyclepath.com/?m=1

Well I believe the Active Travel Unit at the DfT is staffed by people committed to quality active travel schemes.

It never seems to go very far up the tree, though. So we have a little department here, a couple of posts there. And over time the people move on - but not up. So the skills and knowledge are dissipated and we don't get people "with a background in active travel" in higher level roles. Seen it in Edinburgh council, looks like it's happened with West Midlands Police.

There are a few exceptions thankfully - at city level Manchester's Andy Burnham stands out. London mayors Ken (for making a start) and Boris(!). Leslie McInnes as Edinburgh transport convener is moving in the right direction. Humza Yousaf in Scotland made some sensible noises as minster for transport - though he's moved up and on.

In a Christmas so let's have good cheer - who're your pick for hopeful voices in power for cycling / active travel?

HarrogateSpa wrote:

Well I believe the Active Travel Unit at the DfT is staffed by people committed to quality active travel schemes.

I'm sure they are. The problems are entrenched opinions throughout the rest of government and DfT (and especially Highways England/National Highways for filling that bridge in with concrete). Also a problem is that we have weak political leadership - Boris with a large majority and an interest in cycling really should have done more, but it appears that he's too tied up in other shenanigans.

eburtthebike wrote:

I'm not aware of any such analysis of the effects of road-building; how strange.

Too soon, eburtthebike, too soon to say...