@rafe-s.bsky.social
Climate, infrastructure(s), nature, interdisciplinary, radical pragmatism, solutions Based in London, UK. Don't see DMs.
It wasn't just about TfL not helping enough, at times it was actively hostile to car sharing.
bsky.app/profile/rich...
Zipcar's UK closure is devastating loss to shared economy, and to those of us who used it to avoid ever owning a car.
UK's low VED (annual car tax), hidden subsidies for residential parking and TfL's ambivalence to car sharing all take share of blame.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Our information space is dominated by a system that demands and rewards continous and immediate emotional gratification, so you can't even begin to have a discussion about complex issues. It's a bright cancer that spreads and multiplies with every interaction.
28.11.2025 07:02 — 👍 420 🔁 98 💬 12 📌 3I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
We're only just learning that Ultra Processed Foods harm all human organs: how long to work out full costs of AI?
"AI could be for human relationships what junk food is to nourishment"
observer.co.uk/news/opinion...
The deeper problem isn’t just misinformation, its the collapse of shared verification environments and the rise of influencer-led moral-epistemic systems that feel more authentic than institutions.
22.11.2025 11:59 — 👍 154 🔁 25 💬 3 📌 5
Here is Trump's full 28 point plan for Ukraine. It would destroy Ukraine as a sovereign state and leave it helpless to face a Russian attack in the future. It would also give Putin full vindication and immunity from prosecution.
www.axios.com/2025/11/20/t...
Was Indonesia moving its capital the first climate migration at the state level? Pretty wild that we’re already at the point of multiple governments moving due to climate conditions making their capitals unlivable.
#COP30
Is Oxford Street pedestrianisation a missed opportunity to cut car use and improve cycling in surrounding streets?
Despite Mayor Khan's rhetoric for a greener and cleaner London, the proposals have "no material effect on air quality" and cut CO2 by just 2%.
haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/oxford-stree...
From https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-looks-to-slash-red-tape-to-make-charging-electric-vehicles-at-home-easier Screenshot of text saying "The reforms would give more people access to domestic electricity rates, enabling families to run their EVs for as little as 2p per mile – the equivalent of London to Birmingham for £2.50."
Labour's plans for rail nationalisation and bus franchising may at best slow accelerating pace of decline.
Radical changes to the way road space allocated and charged for, along with radical innovation to the way services run (e.g. metroisation) needed for modal shift in the right direction.
Though TfL making Oxford Street a red route questions even that logic.
Not keen on that, as Ox St for shopping & ambling than moving on foot. But yes surely TfL targets for modal shift & less driving require fundamental rethink of the what, why & where of TfL roads (i.e red routes).
Careful what you say now, or Living Streets will be next in line to be called out as blockers...
(of homes that is, they don't seem to care about pavement obstructions!)
I've tried to argue why I think the cut to affordable housing targets in London is a really terrible idea in a considered, rather than shouty, way here.
A clumsy patching up of a broken status quo:
open.substack.com/pub/peteapps...
Photograph of cycle racks inside building, with a man putting his bicycle on a rack.
Residential cycle parking standards in London are being slashed, as Labour's war on blockers to new housing takes an unexpected turn.
This deregulation was justified by the rise in e-scooters & dockless bikes. But planning rules don't yet require making space for them.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
How could it be pragmatic if there is *zero* consideration of current or future cycling flows, contrary to guidance they claim to follow?
We've seen this type of failure on many other key cycle routes. There isn't the funding now to keep making the same mistakes then having to dig up and rebuild.
Image of wide cycle tracks and ample pavements in Bedford Square
Photo of narrow George Street showing constrained width.
As explained it's *not* the "minimum", especially for busy routes. Compare the image promoted by @westminster-lcc.bsky.social with the narrower reality.
Either filter George Street or make 1-way for cars like popular Tavistock Place: imagine how unpleasant that would be if 1.5m tracks on each side.
As for taking decision weeks before Ox St plans (likely to require major changes to adjacent roads), that is clear breach of statutory duties, e.g. Network Management Duty, Best Value Duty etc.
Perverse that City of Westminster only considered increase in driving, but no increase in cycling!
Geometric requirements tables 5-2 and 5-3 from DfT LTN cycle infrastructure design. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5ffa1f96d3bf7f65d9e35825/cycle-infrastructure-design-ltn-1-20.pdf
No they have either lied and/or are incompetent:
- misapplied minimum width at constraint (e.g. tree) to significant section of George St route
- ignored reduction in effective width due to kerbs
- no cycling flow data, allowance for background growth, let alone diversion from pedestrianisation
Not just usual guff, this is wrong scheme at wrong time.
A blocker not just to cycling growth but also a wider vision of car lite West End.
bsky.app/profile/rafe...
Absolutely bonkers to proceed with this, weeks before wider traffic changes needed for Oxford Street pedestrianisation are published.
This scheme doesn't comply with DfT minimum width standards for any cycle route. Let alone provide adequate capacity to grow cycling on key east-west corridor.
First offsetting was found wanting, now CCS. What will they come up with next to avoid cleaning up emissions?
Carbon Capture & Storage has less than 4% of the potential previously assumed says new study. on.ft.com/4nigq4Z
Washington, DC under military occupation in last August 2025, with banners proclaiming the absolute power of the primus inter pares
This is a real photograph of Washington, DC this week, where the United States president has ordered military occupation in peacetime, and ordered the display of colossal portraits of himself.
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Insightful & important reporting by @carltonreid.com
Surely begs another question: whether sharing footage of what are now decriminalised traffic & parking contraventions is lawful? These are now enforced by councils rathern than the police.
A number of politicians, "news" outlets and social media influencers have been actively trying to promote violent protest and an assault on law and order.
We shouldn't be complacent - they'll keep pouring petrol & lighting matches - but so far they have singularly failed.
That's a good news story.
Also worth remembering the UK's concept of "Generalised Journey Time". This includes train frequency, so supporting your argument. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Still wonder though if an unexpected consequence of "delay repay" is timetable padding to reduce risk of payments.
It is very hard to see how the UK government can sign this statement, which makes it absolutely clear that it recognises that Israel is committing - as a matter of state policy - deliberate and systematic war crimes, without at a minimum cutting all military cooperation with Israel.
21.07.2025 16:34 — 👍 590 🔁 164 💬 18 📌 15
Good statement that makes clear Israel is deliberately massacring starving civilians.
"We condemn the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food. "
www.gov.uk/government/n...
“If the world is to be healed through human efforts, I am convinced it will be by ordinary people, people whose love for this life is even greater than their fear.”
RIP, Joanna R. Macy (May 2, 1929 – July 19, 2025)
Schedule 8 on key route networks.
Can't remember ever seeing a bill where so much of the key content is buried at the back.
Photo of English mayors taking selfie of themselves
High occupancy vehicle lane sign with cars and buses around it
Another 1990s revival! In the depths of today's Devolution Bill, Mayors in England are to be given a duty to consider setting traffic reduction targets for key routes.
This is resuscitates the Road Traffic Reduction Act 1997: its congestion & climate aims are surely more relevant than ever.
