Government

“Hare-brained” segregated bike path will “prioritise a small handful of cyclists over thousands of commuters” and increase collisions, councillors claim

The local authority and residents, however, say the seafront active travel route will increase safety, improve air quality, and boost tourism

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“Going back is not realistic”: Councillor stresses “need to change” as Oxford LTNs made permanent – but angry residents say “we can’t get on bikes”

“We have all got too used to the idea that road space is something we can help ourselves to, as much as we like, whenever we like”

26

Cycling campaigners slammed for organising “deeply distasteful” protest demanding safer streets following two fatal collisions

“Trying to influence policy in the shadow of tragedy like this has resulted in poor policy and is putting people off cycling,” a former councillor said

17

“Car-centric” council missed massive pothole that killed 84-year-old cyclist because “primary focus” was to identify “dangers to cars”, not bikes

The local authority is also accused of “defying logic” by claiming that the crack – visible on Google Maps since 2009 – must have closed “on its own” prior to an inspection months before Harry Colledge’s death

35

Locals sign petition asking council to slow down traffic at “dangerous” roundabout where “cyclists nearly die every day”

“I always dream that one day I'm going to have a bus or big lorry go straight [through] here because they’re crazy,” said one resident

7

Conservative MP cites “safety” and attempts to reignite cyclist helmet debate

"If mandatory safety measures are acceptable for car drivers, they should surely be acceptable for cyclists"

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“When was the last time we heard of bus users against tram users?” Brompton Bike Hire chief blasts Rishi Sunak’s “cyclists versus drivers” rhetoric as “an artificial construct”

The hire bike company’s managing director says he hopes the prime minister’s pro-motoring “wedge politics” will “blow over given time”

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​MP calls out “criminal behaviour” after local councillors receive faeces in their mailbox for implementing LTNs

Death threats were also sent to an MP and his loved ones by the anti-LTN protestors, who is asking people to “calm down”

13

Council blames Tory Government’s slashed active travel budget after only one in three cycling and walking projects receives funding

The opposition leader, however, said that the council was “wasting time” bidding for money to duplicate existing cycle lanes instead of improving the city’s disjointed cycling network

7

Cycling charity accuses Conservatives of “ill-fated attempt to win” votes with pro-motoring policies “undermining” active travel success

Cycling UK reacted to transport secretary Mark Harper's party conference speech by calling on the government to create a plan which includes all modes of transport, describing the proposal as "like trying to complete a jigsaw with half the pieces missing"

8

Chris Boardman urges Rishi Sunak to stick with “fantastic” pro-cycling plans, admits concerns with language of “war on motorists” policies

The prime minister last week outlined his 'Plan for Motorists', a package of measures the subject of a speech from transport secretary Mark Harper this morning at the Conservative Party's conference

18

Scottish cycling commissioner pens scathing letter condemning the “frustrating and disappointing” lack of collaboration drowning active travel plans in “bureaucracy”

The former cyclocross and mountain bike champion said that she has seen “large sums of money” spent on bureaucracy while “inexpensive, creative projects that value people” were stifled

14

Cyclists fear being ousted out of decision making after council abolishes active travel forum without telling them for months

The active travel partnership was told that it had been disbanded in May, however other forums for bus users and taxi drivers have been kept

12

Rishi Sunak’s ‘Plan for Motorists’ will “rob people of choice” and force them to drive, say cycling and walking campaigners

“This is a plan that looks no further than one way of travelling and will make the roads worse for those occasions when people do need to drive”

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Cyclist deaths fall to lowest level on record, but latest stats show overall road deaths up 10% in a year

The Department for Transport's road casualty statistics show 91 cyclists lost their lives on Britain's roads in 2022

18

Council calms critics’ concerns contraflow cycling could cause confusion and chaos

Drivers have reported being "confused and worried" by the new road layout, allowing cyclists to travel against traffic on the one-way street

26

“Huge step backwards for road safety”: Reopening rat-run will put cyclists and pedestrians in danger, critics say

One councillor said he wants the closure reversed despite being a former cyclist who got knocked off his bike twice by drivers who were not looking where they were going

3

Rishi Sunak’s watered-down net zero policies could “destroy any hopes of a cycle friendly future,” says Cycling UK

The charity has launched a campaign urging cyclists to write to the prime minister showing their support for cycling and green-friendly schemes

50

“Extreme, undemocratic, and dangerous”: Council scraps majority of low traffic neighbourhoods – despite “overwhelming” public support for cycling and walking schemes

Tower Hamlets Council has voted to axe the traffic-calming schemes, after consultations showed that the majority of residents wanted to keep the measures

22

Council shuts down complaints about plan for new cycle lane segregation as councillor claims “nuisance” lane will be a “trip hazard”

A council spokesperson has defended the project as growing a "network of safe and attractive routes for walkers, wheelers and cyclists"

22

Cycling campaigners slam “outrageous” council plan to hold road scheme meetings in secret, arguing it will “erode trust”

The controversial decision to discuss travel projects behind closed doors comes in the same month activists called for segregated bike lanes and 20mph limits after three cyclists were killed in one week

11

Tory MP who touted 15-minute city conspiracy in Parliament claims cycling routes have turned city into a “ghost town”

Nick Fletcher MP has previously attacked 15-minute cities with conspiracy theories and claimed cycling infrastructure is “rarely used” and “takes away from drivers”

32

Councillors slam “ludicrous” and “cockamamie” idea of cycling path next to elderly people’s club and children’s park

The council leader said that he “couldn’t think of anything worse”, but one councillor accused members of being “anti-cycling” and called the decision disappointing

24

Councillor urges police to charge “tourist cyclists” coming on cruise liners and “running around unsafe”

The island’s locals have complained of the “hazard large groups of cyclists can pose to motorists”

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Conservative minister says government still considering new “dangerous cycling” law

Justice Minister Edward Argar said Department for Transport colleagues are working on legislation "to tackle those rare instances where victims have been killed or seriously injured by irresponsible cycling behaviour"

42

British Cycling calls for end to “hazardous leniency” in sentencing of drivers who kill or injure cyclists

"Greater consistency in the way police deal with incidents on the road": The governing body has joined forces with law firm Leigh Day to sponsor an All Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking report which will be published in Parliament today

9

Campaigners blast “hugely disappointing” decision to abandon “failed” cycling schemes, four years on from hosting world championships

Harrogate District Cycle Action claims that “almost all the cycling elements have been removed” from two active travel schemes in the North Yorkshire town

4

New barriers on infamous ‘car park’ cycle lane vandalised, as councillor calls for “robust” protection “before someone gets seriously hurt”

Plastic bolt down barriers were introduced as a trial two weeks ago on the much-maligned city centre bike lane, which the government claimed would now be “inaccessible to cars”

26

“Depressing” decrease in cycling traffic due to government’s “flawed” decision to slash active travel budget, says Cycling UK

New statistics showing a 5% fall in cycling from last year should be a “wake-up call for the government”, according to Cycling UK

14

Pimlico Plumbers founder Charlie Mullins suspended from Twitter after posting that “someone should kill” Sadiq Khan over ULEZ

The businessman, known for his staunch anti-cycling stance, also posted that “it’s time to dump the Muslim mayor”

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