Tim on two wheels

A portrait of Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo.

A portrait of Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante.

A portrait of Barcelona Deputy Mayor Janet Sanz.

A portrait of Brussels Mobility Minister Elke van den Brandt.

What do Paris, Montreal, Barcelona and Brussels have in common?

“If you look at the cities doing the most to reclaim public streets from the automobile and give it to people, they often have one thing in common, and that's strong female leadership.” @thewaroncars.bsky.social

LISTEN: bit.ly/3MdP82L

A new place doesn’t feel like home overnight.

For Gail and Katherine, cycling helped stitch Blindwells together. Weekly rides, quieter roads, growing confidence, and neighbours who became familiar faces.

👉 cyclinguk.org/cc-east-lothian

You’d need to be. They’re too tart for me.

It is taking the oranges off the trees time in Valencia.

And dangerous for others

So annoying.

Sorry to hear that, Kirsten. Pedestrian Refuges are like magnets to the reckless.
That’s why I report this behaviour. Next time they may injure someone or worse.

Garmin just quietly launched its 'most powerful and precise' rearview radar and tail light ever www.cyclingnews.com/cycling-tech...

There’s one successful way to stop close-passing: police action. West Midlands Police’s commitment to taking action has reduced close passing in Birmingham. I used to report 2 or 3 offences a ride. Now weeks go by with only wide passes.

A friend in Bath just sent me this. I'm totally going to be claiming this as research impact!

UK manufacturing growth accelerates as export orders rise Greater optimism in PMI survey, adding to signs Bank of England will keep interest rates on hold this week

www.theguardian.com/business/202... Is that a @bromptonbicycle.bsky.social I see before me. The politicians’ and media’s go to local example of British manufacturing. Great bikes of course. Hope I’ve got the punctuation right.

Getting the impression that ICE is gearing up for a pogrom in Springfield, Ohio, which was ground zero of Vance’s lies about Haitians during the campaign. Haitians lose temporary protected status on February 3rd. Reporters, lawyers, neighbors — please get ready.

The weather looks much improved for tomorrow’s cycle training class. It’s a real joy to teach the next generation of cyclists, even on a winter’s day.

Reassuring news: www.saveoursaferstreets.org/news.html?ut...

YouTube video by BicycleDutch Rethinking the Role of the Car – Time to Let Go

Here’s the essential case for making our cities better places to cycle. And Dutch examples of doing that successfully. youtu.be/gFPbKP6lM9I?...

Thanks for the reminder Bike is Best.

It’s not in money terms. It’s the emphasis on all age accessibility that caught my eye, Paul.

‘Freedom is a city where you can breathe’: four experts on Europe’s most liveable major cities From Copenhagen’s cycle lanes and Vienna’s shared parks to Barcelona and London’s unfulfilled potential, better living is close at hand

“Are safe and healthy cities just a distant fantasy? Here are four environmental health experts on life in some of Europe’s greenest metropolises.”
www.theguardian.com/cities/2025/...

England’s councils given £626m for walking, wheeling and cycling schemes Funding for councils, enough for 500 miles of new walking and cycling routes and 170,000 more active trips per day

“We are not just building infrastructure — together, we are creating communities: places where parents feel confident letting children travel independently, and where older people can reach local shops with ease. We are building life back into our streets.”

Remember that comical phase as smoking inside was ending, when bars spent time and money installing those enclosed smoking rooms because they couldn't imagine the step needed to deal with the issue?

Painted bike lanes and other half-measures to deal with the problem of cars seem like that now.

Cycling is changing at speed – but is Britain keeping pace? Emulating the bike-friendly highways enjoyed by our continental neighbours will take a lot more money and political will

www.theguardian.com/news/2025/de...

YouTube video by Nic Laporte One Week With a Bakfiets

Thinking of buying an eCargobike?
Great video on One Week With a Bakfiets youtu.be/u8Yx7ZebXuo?... via @YouTube

Tory transport culture wars risked making roads less safe, says minister Lilian Greenwood condemns Conservative ‘mixed messages’ and promises a system that works for everybody

“Last year, roughly 1,600 people were killed on our roads, and 29,500 seriously injured, and that has been flatlining pretty much for the last decade,” she said. “That is unacceptable”.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

There's a bike sale this Saturday at Four Oaks Baptist Church, Grange Lane, Sutton Coldfield, B75 5JX. Children’s bikes, adult bikes, all serviced and great prices. The fair is from 10am - 2pm. Cakes, food coffee, bikes what more could you need!!

Wood-burning stoves to face partial ban in Labour’s updated environment plan Exclusive: Pollution targets set out alongside nature recovery projects to allay concerns over housebuilding

“Exposure to PM2.5s, which bury deep into the lungs, is linked to numerous health conditions including asthma, lung disease, heart disease, cancer and strokes. Domestic combustion accounted for 20% of PM2.5 emissions in 2023”
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Tim on two wheels
It was lovely cycling round Sutton Park this morning.
Cold and low sun, but that makes for great shadow photos.

Access to bikes is also important. But it’s the ability to ride and feel safe that’s vital. Imagine what rates of cycling will become as the network becomes more consistent.

That’s exactly what the evidence says would happen.
Do you have another explanation for the rise in cycling in the area with improved infrastructure, Steve?
You do, though, seem to misunderstand my post.

Oh. Reading the story is always a good start, Steven.