A (small) victory!

Following the last post, RDRF supporter Professor John Parkin wrote to J Murphy and received the following reply: Read more »

Why should there be any “inconvenience” caused?

I noted this panel on the back of a J Murphy and Sons van:

 

 

Now, why should there be any “inconvenience” caused to a law-abiding motorist? Well, none of course, because they wouldn’t want to go over 70 mph as it’s the highest allowed on any UK road. Let’s consider this case in a bit more detail…. Read more »

The classic work of Donald Appleyard revisited

World Transport, Policy & Practice is always an interesting read: the current issue, however, excels in revisiting an important classic text: Donald Appleyard’s seminal work on Livable Streets and its application in the streets of Bristol. Read more »

Debate on causes of casualty decline in LTT

A debate on the reasons for declines in road traffic casualties continues in the practitioner’s fortnightly Local Transport Today. The current issue contains my weighing in as RDRF Chair   on the side of those recognising that risk compensation exists… Read more »

Sir Paul Stephenson and the national scandal

Sir Paul Stephenson has resigned because of his involvement in the phone hacking scandal. Here is another national scandal I believe he was implicated in as Metropolitan Police Commissioner. Read more »

Road Danger Reduction on “The Bike Show”

I was interviewed by Jack Thurston about Road Danger Reduction and cycling for the entire July 4th edition of the excellent “The Bike Show”  on Resonance FM. You can hear the interview here.

“Death on the Streets: cars and the mythology of road safety”

This book, one of the main sources of evidence for the road danger reduction approach, is now out of print.  A few copies are available from the author. Here are what reviewers have said: Read more »

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, the Nazis and “Road Safety”

   

No, I’m not saying Lewis Hamilton is a Nazi. Nor that Mercedes-Benz are (not now anyway). Nor that the “road safety” lobby is Nazi. I’m not, really I am not. I am not falling foul of  Godwin’s Law. I promise.   

There are just some interesting connections between the four of them which I noted after my eye fell on the following Press Release (from 2009) and which I think are revealing: “Lewis Hamilton has launched a new initiative at Mercedes-Benz World to give teenagers a greater understanding of road safety.”  Read more »

The London Cycling Campaign and what cyclists in London want

The continuing saga of Blackfriars Bridge has revealed a more high profile and combative London Cycling Campaign, preparing a new strategy for the organisation the year before the Mayoral elections. Will this be the way towards getting “the cyclised City”?

Consider LCC CEO Ashok Sinha’s approach as described in London Cyclist June-July 2011 (pp.16 – 18). Having stated that London is indisputably not a cyclised city, and not on a trajectory towards becoming one, how are we to remedy the situation (an issue we have addressed before here , here ,  and here ? The answer for him is “everythingRead more »

Of Slutwalks and Hi-Viz: The politics of victim-blaming

Hi-viz to walk to school in Hounslow, West London

 

   

ABOVE: West London car retailers cargiant have sponsored children wearing hi-viz to walk to school.   

A couple of bloggers have recently raised the issue of “road safety” professionals pushing hi-viz wear and devices for pedestrians as well as cyclists. The politics of the conspicuity con is dealt with in Chapter 9 of my “Death on the Streets: cars and the mythology of road safety” (1992). Here I discuss how this kind of “road safety” initiative is not just without an evidence base, but actually becomes part of the problem it is supposed to deal with. the reference to “slutwalks” should become clear. Read more »

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