Bicycle NSW’s Post

🚳 Let’s Not Skip the Investment in Active Travel with the next Government! Our Cycling UK manifesto is advocating for long-term investment in walking and wheeling. https://lnkd.in/esU9Y9K8 This investment benefit goes far beyond individual health; it’s essential for our 🌍 environment, 📈 economy, and overall 🧘♀️ well-being. We are calling for an increase in investment in active travel to at least 10% of the total transport budget within 5 years. Here are some points to consider and what’s informed our ask: 🚗 Comparison with Road Spending: Active travel spending is dwarfed by road expenditure. Between 2016 and 2021, £148 per person per year was spent on roads—more than ten times the amount spent on active travel. Despite this, active travel investments have a much higher return on investment (ROI) of £5.62 per £1 spent, compared to road building’s £2.50 per £1, with some road projects yielding no ROI at all. Whilst we're on the topic of roads 👇 🌱 Environmental and Health Impact: Increasing cycling and walking is crucial for achieving net-zero emissions and improving air quality. Doubling cycling and increasing walking could prevent 8,300 premature deaths and save £567 million annually through better air quality. Cycling needs to increase by at least 20% by 2030 to meet the UK’s climate commitments. Diversity of funding allows for options and that’s important for personal choice and the benefits this brings 👇 💰 Cost of Living and Health Benefits: In a cost of living crisis, well-integrated active travel infrastructure can offer more affordable travel options and significant health benefits. The lack of such infrastructure creates a "postcode lottery," where areas without active travel facilities miss out on savings from reduced car use and improved health outcomes, which could save the NHS £17 billion over 20 years. IPPR has produced a comprehensive report on the importance of investment with some key recommendations for a new government. 📄 Read the full report 👇 https://lnkd.in/ezchQJZY It is imperative that our next government seizes this moment to implement policies and allocate funding that will ensure the growth and sustainability of cycling and walking infrastructure. The long-term benefits will be felt across generations, contributing to a healthier, greener, and more prosperous future. #SustainableTransport #Cycling #Walking #InvestInFuture #HealthyLiving #GreenEconomy #ActiveTravel #NetZero #AirQuality #HealthBenefits #EconomicGrowth #CommunityWellBeing #ClimateAction #PublicHealth #Infrastructure #TransportPolicy #GeneralElection #CyclingUK

This week in PTAANZ’s #TopTransportNews - Melbourne’s Doncaster Park and Ride is set for a major upgrade that will cut bus travel times along the Eastern Freeway by up to 30%, supporting a shift towards public transport. With a dedicated busway, new entry and exit ramps, and expanded platform bays, the upgrade will allow buses to operate more efficiently, reducing congestion and encouraging commuters to leave their cars behind. The project will also introduce a 435-space multi-level car park, improved cycling and pedestrian access, and over 1,000 square metres of green wall space, featuring 20,000 plants and 150 new trees, making it not only a practical but sustainable solution. Public and Active Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams highlighted the benefits for commuters, saying the new state-of-the-art hub will enable faster, more reliable services, unlocking new routes as Melbourne grows. The Doncaster upgrade, along with the new Bulleen Park and Ride, will connect directly to the future Eastern Busway, providing high-speed bus lanes and helping to drive mode shift towards public transport. As part of the North East Link, this initiative will support more sustainable, efficient travel, reducing reliance on cars and improving commute times across the city. Read more here - https://bit.ly/4ghhP96  #PublicTransport #ModeShift #Doncaster #EasternBusway #Melbourne #Sustainability #TransportInnovation #PTAANZ 

Great article including input from Griffith Uni's Matt Burke. My partner replaced her car with an e-bike at the beginning of 2024 and we have done over 1.200km with it already. In a couple of months, it will have paid for itself by avoiding costs for rego, insurance, servicing, parking, repairs and petrol. For myself, despite the infrequent arguments over space on the road and rising temperatures, I still love the commute to work by bike 🚴♂️💨 Unfortunately, the trend seems to be going in the opposite direction for the rest of Australia: "National surveys of cycling rates show the percentage of people who use a bike either weekly, monthly or annually have dropped since 2011, outside a big increase during the pandemic – [...] with fewer cars on the road, people felt safer to get on two wheels." I still believe that one day more outdoor-loving Australians will appreciate the many (financial) benefits of active mobility. Time for better infrastructure and policy incentives!

Community feedback will help drive Council's transport planning to cater for the Scenic Rim's growth in coming decades. In response to the projected increase in the Scenic Rim’s population to 67,000 by 2041, which will place additional pressure on local transport networks and connections, Council is developing an Integrated Transport Plan to ensure infrastructure meets the demands of the region’s growth. Community consultation has now opened on the Let's Talk Scenic Rim community engagement platform and Transportation Infrastructure Portfolio Councillor Duncan McInnes encouraged Scenic Rim residents to join the conversation about planning for the road ahead. "This is the first time Council has undertaken a comprehensive study encompassing all of the Scenic Rim's transport needs and is a valuable opportunity for members of the community to share their knowledge and experiences of travelling around our region," he said. "In addition to the local road network, the survey aims to understand residents' experiences of walking paths, cycling routes and transport connections. "It will help to identify locations where we can improve roads and public and active transport across the region, the ways in which our transport network is currently used, and issues and ideas about future travel options." The community consultation on https://lnkd.in/gYHBHX7U and in-person sessions will run until Monday 2 September 2024 and will be the first stage in developing an Integrated Transport Plan. Once completed, the draft plan will be made available for review during a second round of community consultation. "Community feedback will help to shape the plan, which will guide the development of transport solutions to meet the needs of our growing region and inform Council's decision making," Cr McInnes said. "This plan will help Council to make getting around the Scenic Rim safer for residents and visitors through an integrated transport network that is connected, reliable, accessible and sustainable." The Walking Network Plans for the Integrated Transport Planning are 50 per cent funded by the Department of Transport and Main Roads Queensland as part of the Walking Local Government Grant Scheme.

In September 2023, the Department for Transport announced a long term plan to back drivers and put the breaks on anti-car measures. The plan includes a review of 20mph speed limits in England, aims to stop councils implementing '15-minute cities' and the exclusion of vehicles in bus lanes only when necessary.   Whilst the plan also pledges to tackle potholes and clamp down on street works, it fundamentally marks a shift in transport policy that seems to contradict endeavours to promote active travel.   The Guardian article explores the urges from Nicholas Boys Smith to make 'urban areas friendlier for walking and cycling' which in turn will 'boost prosperity, health and personal freedom, and could even help solve the housing crisis'.   Boys argues that whilst cars create mobility with ease, they also 'diminish the joy of moving around our urban neighbourhoods' and increase danger and pollution. Cars add differing levels of value in urban and rural areas and in order to maintain public interest, liberating sustainable ways to travel will ultimately benefit everyone. https://lnkd.in/em_Fzum3

The magic of good public transit is that it reshapes how we interact with our environment and creates more efficient, sustainable communities ✨ At BEST, we advocate for active and sustainable transportation options that benefit everyone, whether or not you ride transit regularly This kind of research underscores why investing in public transit is vital: not just for regular transit riders but for ALL OF US Let’s keep building communities where walking, cycling, and transit aren’t just alternatives -- they’re the best options! 🚌👟🚴♀️ 📖 Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/duEChMUc

What does Ontario province have against bike lanes in Toronto? Recent legislation suggestion in Ontario province of Canada led by Premier Doug Ford suggests to put on hold any new bike lanes, review existing ones and even remove specific ones from several streets of Toronto. While the legislation is receiving support by some business owners, Toronto's mayor, Olivia Chow, is continuing her plans for future cycling lanes in the city. While Premiere Ford is quoted saying to Global News that bike lane reversals is a “popular” measure, here are 5 cities we suggest Premier Ford visit and probably won't be stuck in that much traffic: 🇩🇰 Copenhagen, Denmark - With 41% of commutes being done by bike, the city saves up to $2.17M daily(!!!) in economic benefits from reduced traffic congestion 🇳🇱 Amsterdam, Netherlands - The city probably most known for being bike friendly and some really good fries. City locals ride about 2 million km every day according the city council, with about 58% of residents who cycle daily. 🇨🇦 Montréal, Canada - A city the Premier might be familiar with. has over a 1000km of bike lanes going through the city. 600,000 people cycled as a primary form of transportation, leading to significant environmental and health benefits. 🇳🇴 Oslo, Norway - Since 2015 implemented new bike lanes, removed parking spaces equivalent to 4,250 cars removed from the city streets, placed 500 speed humps, and lowered speed limits which led to zero or colse to non pedestrian and cyclist fatalities. 🇫🇷 Paris, France - Anyone visiting the city in recent years has probably seen the change. With over 1000km of bike lanes in the city, over 15% of city journeys are now made on bikes, leading to reductions in CO2 emissions and traffic congestion. While it's true that not everyone can cycle, visit any of the cities above and see how infrastructure, priority for bike lanes, not only makes it accessible for almost everyone, but saves traffic time, CO2 and benefits local businesses. See article for Global News by Colin D'Mello and Isaac Callan in the comments Doug Ford City of Toronto #Ontarioprovince #Paris #Amsterdam #Oslo #Copenhagen #Montréal #CO2 #carbonfootprint #Canada #bikelane #sustainble #commute #trafficjams Just to be clear and remove any doubt, The Sustainable Digest is a big fan of the Canadian outdoors, hockey, the wonderful people and Original Canadian maple syrup! Image credit for video - Danique Veldhuis

The Scenic Rim Regional Council is seeking community feedback 🙋♂️ ✍ and comments on experiences travelling across road 🛣 networks and using walking paths 🚶♀️, cycling routes 🚲 and transport connections 🚗 🛵 . This information will then be used to develop its Integrated Transport Plan (ITP). This feedback will focus on the strategic or 'big picture' of the community's travel around the region and highlight issues such as connections between roads or footpaths, areas of concern when travelling, or even suggestions about introducing new services or active transport 🚵♂️ options across different localities. The Integrated Transport Plan (ITP) is integral to the Council's next Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP) amendment, ensuring that the Council can manage its future urban growth sustainably and effectively. The plan addresses various transport challenges in Scenic Rim, including: 🌿 Sustainability: Efficient transport options. 🚗 Connectivity: Enhancements to road networks and #publictransport 🚌 . 🚴 Accessibility: Solutions for cyclists 🚴♀️ and pedestrians 🚶♀️ . The Council encourages community members and professionals like you to review the plan and provide feedback. Your input is invaluable in shaping our future #tranportnetwork, making it more sustainable, efficient, and accessible. Please click on the link below to learn more and share your thoughts. #Transport #Infrastructure #CommunityEngagement #SustainableTransport #ScenicRim #LGIP

When I've been delivering Net Zero or carbon training I have often heard that the main thing that stops more people cycling instead of driving is not feeling safe on the road. Here's the proof that if you sort that out, active travel works! As a long-term supporter and regular monthly donor to Sustrans I was delighted to read this article which Alex Russell-Bates (who is also passionate about active travel and decarbonised transport)shared with me. It highlights that if you make it easy and safe for people to cycle instead of drive, they would genuinely prefer to do that. It's not about our weather (some of the countries in Europe with the highest proportion of cycling have at least as bad weather as us), it's about putting in suitable infrastructure. This is something many of our European neighbours have understood for a long while and are consequently streets (excuse the pun) ahead of us in cutting down car journeys. Meanwhile here in the UK, somehow we have turned any encouragement of cycling into being perceived as anti-motorist and anti-freedom. Ask any cyclist and they will tell you that to experience safe cycling on purpose-built tracks is to experience far more freedom than you will generally ever feel driving a car. Of course there is a cost to putting in the infrastructure, but it is a fraction of the millions put into road-building every year. It would appear that a bigger barrier is having the people with the experience and will-power to help make it all happen. In the meantime I am in awe of what is being achieved just down the road in the Mendips. Instead of just pointing at the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark and saying how cool it is that they cycle so much, let's just get on and do it! https://lnkd.in/exBmUBWg #ActiveTravel #GreenTransport #CuttingCarbon

Research from Canada: “e-bike incentives are more cost-effective in reducing emissions compared to electric car incentives, and that’s without including a range of cycling-related benefits such as increased physical activity, reduced local air pollutants and decreased travel costs” “Low-income households reduced their car trips and decreased carbon emissions the most,” the UBC statement added. “Incentives are a cost-effective way of reducing carbon emissions.” Cost-effective emissions reduction! Where are you Transport for NSW, Jo Haylen, Jenny McAllister? This would be great for Western Sydney, to help with cost of living and access to public transport and jobs! Climate Council