Active travel

Years after the bonfire of the quangos when cycling England was dissolved Active Travel England has now been set up :
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/active-travel-england-framework-document

Saint Chris Boardman is at the helm

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chris-boardman-named-permanent-national-active-travel-commissioner-alongside-other-senior-active-travel-england-appointments

I'm wondering what active travel means.
Is bus and tube travel active? You walk a lot if you do these.

What about escooters?
Ebikes even.

What is AT's definition?
Is there any data comparing modes for activeness? - surely some wellness app can compare all the modes for:
Calories burned
Cardio benefits
Etc.

Active travel means cycling and walking. At least when it comes to traffic management.

I'm conflicted on ebikes. I don't like that they don't require any real physical effort and they are sub optimal from a sustainability pov. But the infrastructure they need is the same as for regular bikes so we might get improved infrastructure quicker if e-bike use increases and if they do replace car use then that's worthwhile. Surprisingly decent video by the FT even includes comments about how cities should be for humans not cars and how the era of motor car dominance will hopefully be seen as a blip in history.

https://youtu.be/_GOSzFc0_GQ

Here, I think since ebike have become affordable I've seen a lot more people on bikes. Living near a major bike route, t's not uncommon to see groups of people who, being uncharitable, I think would never go on a bike normally, riding for enjoyment, to get to friends places etc. My boss leaves his car behind and rides to work in all weathers with the exception of deep winter as he's had some crashes previous years.

That said, even though our building has showers and changing rooms, they only designed it to have 3 lockers so you need to take sweaty kit with you into the office. Strangely, they have about 20 spaces on the bike rack..

There's a question to be asked about sustainability/maintainability of ebikes but I think they're a net positive.

they are sub optimal from a sustainability pov

I personally think this is a millenial thought flaw that wants everything holier than thou.

They are no where near ANY car, 30 year old ULEZ exempt banger that has paid of its production carbon debt and fuming NOx, a new and efficient Petrol ICE or hybrid or even an EV. And thats just looking at emissions.

I dont understand when bike bros diss electric bikes because they use batteries and then buy Patagonia/Rapha/Wahoo every year.

ANY consumption is bad but if its a consumption that will replace something like a car that just makes cities horrible to live in, maybe we need to find a way to live with it.

Electric bikes are transformational tools, one trip to any western European city will change your thinking.

I firmly believe that UK is a lost cause and in a complete downward spiral towards self destruction in every aspect, so there is no point. At least we are not America.

e-bikes are really great. love renting the lime/humanforest ones to get round when in london for work

Wise post. Perfect is the enemy of good etc

At least we are not America.

yet...

but...

Electric bikes are transformational tools, one trip to any western European city will change your thinking.

They're definitely becoming ubiquitous in most mainland Europe cities

I basically agree with this. Maybe 'conflicted' is too strong. They're definitely a good thing. My main worry is whether they remove some of the health benefits and lessen the idea of cycling as a 'silver bullet' for solving a range of issues. I guess there's still exercise involved, and if their existence facilitates growth in cycling in general, then more people will be healthier.

i actually look then in exact opp way, like a gateway drug to ‘real’ cycling

Even for those who don’t get into “real” cycling, the “one less car” thing is true. As I said my boss leaves his car home most days and rides in so whether or not the ebike is perfect it’s better than the car.

If it makes the difference between cycling and not cycling for someone then E-bikes are a good thing.

I think they are better than cars to get the lazy on board but will further shift focus away from
active travel and bikes because people will just expect that any distance needs to be travelled assisted in some way.
I had to be in the office for a few weeks and was surprised that none of the younger people cycle. Even during the tube strike, only one tried to cycle in and was amazed to manage 10 miles or something.

Not sure if more electric bike will create better infrastructure in the UK. There are plenty of pedestrians on Oxford Street and it hasn't been pedestrianized because having a row of empty buses is more important. Streets in Soho for restaurants and street life have also been reversed for cars.

lets not talk about the UK, the country needs to be nuked

look at recent changes in Paris for example; extremely bold

If you can get people on ebikes it will end up with more cycling infrastructure. In part because more people means more popular. Also a lot of the “first wave” ebike people (other than delivery riders) are people with a bit more money and/or time and will be attractive to politicians.

Did they need ebikes for that or just brains?

I firmly believe that UK is a lost cause and in a complete downward spiral towards self destruction in every aspect, so there is no point. At least we are not America.

You ok there?

Lol, he's had a taste of civilization.

I had to be in the office for a few weeks and was surprised that none of the younger people cycle

In Bristol, I've colleagues who live in the city a short distance from work who drive in. The decision doesn't make sense on any level. One of the best cities for cycling in the UK, tons of hire ebikes and escooters, expensive parking, it takes longer and is more hassle. Changing the culture is going to be hard.

i want this as a tattoo.

sadly, this, paid €60-something one way tolls on French motorways and road charging just makes sense, arrived in the UK and M20 closed with 1hr delays, this island is cursed

sadly, this, paid €60-something one way tolls on French motorways and road charging just makes sense, arrived in the UK and M20 closed with 1hr delays, this island is cursed

Feeling this, just came back on a similar route and driving here makes you realise how glacially slow road upgrades are, how bumpy the motorways are and worst of all, how bad Brits are at lane discipline.

Back to active travel, love it but somone sort out the bike/train situation on the tunnel. Seems you can get a night train direct to the Alps, if you ski.
https://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/train/france/ski-train

I feel like you are giving france far too much credit :) @amey
Not everything is rosy with parisian cycle lanes. It was a massive political choice that far from everyone supports and could be reversed. Yes cycle journeys have increased by 50% in the past years but owning a car in paris is masochist at best, the buses unless you are a toddler or a senior are useless during work hours.

If you were living in paris and commuting 7-14km each way you'd be the first to not use them.

Not everything is rosy with parisian cycle lanes.

cycle journeys have increased by 50% in the past years

does not compute ;)

If you were living in paris and commuting 7-14km each way you'd be the first to not use them.

when I commute I am an upright nodder

I hate the roadies who dont take Q1 knowing full well that it exists and bang OKR because "its faster" (its not).

I hate the roadies who dont take Q1 knowing full well that it exists and bang OKR because "its faster" (its not).

I feel seen. Although having ridden both, Q1 is categorically slower than OKR, and your chances of being mugged are higher.