Laura's new book

Laura's got a book out and we're here to plug it, 1) because it's brilliant and 2) because it'd be awkward if we didn't. Potholes and Pavements: A Bumpy Ride on Britain’s National Cycle Network is the story of the UK's fitful, sometimes painful transformation from a car-dependent nation of villages, towns and cities into a connected, bikeable network of communities. It's out on 9th May at all good bookstores. Go and get a copy! Buy: <a href="https://linktr.ee/lauralakerpotholesandpavements" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://linktr.ee/lauralakerpotholesandpavements</a> For in-person events, head to <a href="http://www.laura-laker.com/book" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">laura-laker.com/book</a>. - By the way, if you want ad-free listening, behind-the-scenes and bonus content and to help support the podcast - head to (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/StreetsAheadPodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/StreetsAheadPodcast</a>). We’ll even send you some stickers!&nbsp; We’re also on Twitter and welcome your feedback on our episode:&nbsp;https://twitter.com/podstreetsahead If you're reading this, please can you take 1 minute to give us a rating and write a review? It helps us more than you probably think. Episode edited by Clare Mansell.

Potholes and Pavements

In a special emergency episode, Ned and Adam try to make sense of the Plan for Drivers announcement. What does it mean for active travel and public transport? Will it actually change anything? What are the politics behind the announcement? You can read the Low Traffic Neighbourhood review here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/low-traffic-neighbourhood-review" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/low-traffic-neighbourhood-review</a> In the episode, Adam mentioned there wasn't reference to air quality on boundary roads. The report actually said the view is mixed: "LTNs have succeeded in improving air quality on internal roads but this benefit has not always been shared with boundary locations which show a mix of minimal reductions, no reductions and some increases in emissions of air pollutants." The fourth location for the LTN review was Wigan, in addition to London, Birmingham and York. By the way, if you want ad-free listening, behind-the-scenes and bonus content and to help support the podcast - head to (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/StreetsAheadPodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/StreetsAheadPodcast</a>). We’ll even send you some stickers!&nbsp; We’re also on Twitter and welcome your feedback on our episode:&nbsp;https://twitter.com/podstreetsahead If you're reading this, please can you take 1 minute to give us a rating and write a review? It helps us more than you probably think. Episode edited by Clare Mansell.

The Plan for Drivers

Lost panniers, stolen bikes and HS2

From lost panniers, stolen bikes and a proposed HS2 cycleway - this is our podcast without portfolio (our favourite kind) where we chew the fat on active travel. By the way, if you want ad-free listening, behind-the-scenes and bonus content and to help support the podcast - head to (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/StreetsAheadPodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/StreetsAheadPodcast</a>). We’ll even send you some stickers!&nbsp; We’re also on Twitter and welcome your feedback on our episode:&nbsp;https://twitter.com/podstreetsahead If you're reading this, please can you take 1 minute to give us a rating and write a review? It helps us more than you probably think. Episode edited by Clare Mansell.

Podcast Without Portfolio

Okay, it's not strictly active travel - but it is walking, sort of. In this short bonus episode, Laura and Adam go Mudlarking on the Thame's foreshore and find Medieval pottery, clay tobacco pipes, a Boris bike and a traffic cone. Thanks to Chris from the <a href="https://thames-explorer.org.uk/guided-tours/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Thames Explorer Trust</a> for being our guide. There’s also some extra bonus content on our new Patreon. That’s right - if you want ad-free listening, behind-the-scenes and bonus content and to help support the podcast - head to (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/StreetsAheadPodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/StreetsAheadPodcast</a>). We’ll even send you some stickers!&nbsp; We’re also on Twitter and welcome your feedback on our episode:&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/podstreetsahead" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/podstreetsahead</a> If you're reading this, please can you take 1 minute to give us a rating and write a review? It helps us more than you probably think. Episode edited by Clare Mansell.

BONUS: Mudlarking

London's first cargo bike hangar

Cycling is booming in London, and in cities around the world, as are cargo bikes. With prices ranging upwards of £2,000, theft is a real and present concern for owners, and a major barrier to more people experiencing the joy and convenience of owning a larger bike, whether for work, carrying children, or as a mobility aid. In this episode Laura travels to north London for a celebration of possibly the UK's first on-street dedicated secure cargo bike parking, joining about 50 other cargo bike fans. She talks to wanna-be cargo bike parents, disabled cyclists and those behind the new cycle hangar, to discuss why cities need more of this kind of thing - and what happens when it's not there. There’s also some extra bonus content on our new Patreon. That’s right - if you want ad-free listening, behind-the-scenes and bonus content and to help support the podcast - head to (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/StreetsAheadPodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/StreetsAheadPodcast</a>). We’ll even send you some stickers!&nbsp; We’re also on Twitter and welcome your feedback on our episode:&nbsp;https://twitter.com/podstreetsahead If you're reading this, please can you take 1 minute to give us a rating and write a review? It helps us more than you probably think. Episode edited by Clare Mansell.

Solving the problem of cargo bike storage

Urban planning and health

Welcome to this special episode, in which it’s just Laura, her suitcase and one amazing guest, sat on a bench in the middle of one of the city’s famous Superblocks. There’s also some extra bonus content on our new Patreon. That’s right - if you want ad-free listening, behind-the-scenes and bonus content and to help support the podcast - head to (<a href="https://www.patreon.com/StreetsAheadPodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/StreetsAheadPodcast</a>). We’ll even send you some stickers!&nbsp; In late 2023 Laura travelled to Barcelona by train from London. She was curious about the superblocks programme which involved some of the city’s streets being pedestrianised, leaving others as thoroughfares for motor traffic, and introducing things like greenspace and seating to the inner roads. Starting in 2022, streets in the Eixample district were transformed for walking and cycling, with a focus on cutting air pollution, overheating in summer and improving accessibility. On those streets, people can still drive in and out, but through traffic is discouraged. While I was there I met Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, a researcher and professor in urban and transport planning, environment and health, and Director of the Urban Planning, Environment and Health Initiative, and Head of the Climate, Air Pollution, Nature and Urban Health at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health. Mark has quantified, in his research, the toll poor urban and transport planning has on the environment and health - and some of it is pretty scary. Mark was a delight to interview and I’m excited to share this episode with you. You can find some of Mark Nieuwenhuijsen’s research here:Street pedestrianization in urban districts: Economic impacts in Spanish cities https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S026427512100367X&nbsp;&nbsp;Superblocks’ impact on health, local climate and economy https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412019315223?via%3Dihub&nbsp;PASTA research https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/6/1/e009924Mark's current research can be found here https://ubdpolicy.eu/About the current Superblocks https://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/superilles/es/content/asi-seran-las-nuevas-plaza-y-ejes-verdes-eixample&nbsp; We’re also on Twitter and welcome your feedback on our episode:&nbsp;https://twitter.com/podstreetsahead If you're reading this, please can you take 1 minute to give us a rating and write a review? It helps us more than you probably think. This episode was edited by Clare Mansell

Mark Nieuwenhuijsen in Barcelona

And we have reached the end of 2023! What a year that was: we had highs, we had lows, we had some culture wars, we did a podcast in a pub. How was 2023 for you? Ned, Laura and Adam give their perspective. &gt;&gt; Oh, and we're on Patreon! If you'd like to support Streets Ahead, get ad-free listening, behind-the-scenes content AND receive wonderful stickers, please head to:<a href="https://www.patreon.com/StreetsAheadPodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/StreetsAheadPodcast</a> &lt;&lt; We’re also on Twitter and welcome your feedback on our episode: https://twitter.com/podstreetsahead If you're reading this, please can you take 1 minute to give us a rating and write a review? It helps us more than you probably think. Episode edited by Clare Mansell.

Our Year in Review

Live from the Wanstead Tap with Clyde Loakes, who led Waltham Forest's walking and cycling transformation

For this episode, Ned, Adam and Laura navigated east London's cycle lanes and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods to speak in-person, in front of a live pub audience, to Councillor Clyde Loakes, at the Wanstead Tap in Waltham Forest. For the past decade Cllr Loakes has led his borough's transformation for walking and cycling.&nbsp;Waltham Forest is very much no longer a forest, in North-East London, but has become world famous for its Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, people-friendly high streets and for pioneering high-quality cycle lanes and transforming massive car-dominated junctions in outer London for active travel. During the podcast we talk about political courage, and what the borough has achieved since Clyde's team won an unprecedented £27m from Transport for London back in 2013 for its 'Mini Holland' programme. We discuss how ultimately this kind of transformation, while hard, is possible - even in the most car-centric of places. We discuss the role of a range of players, from campaigners on the outside, to the political and officer support within the council - and the importance of listening to genuine concerns from the public. In a speech in 2018, Cllr Loakes said: ‘I spent years talking about encouraging a shift to bikes and walking without actually doing the things that make a difference. If I am honest - I was tinkering with parking schemes and pandering to car owners. I was not delivering for our community. Then I got a chance to do something extraordinary. We won our Better Waltham Forest mini-Holland bid with low traffic neighbourhoods and protected bike lanes . We had signed up to deliver a huge public health implementation at pace.’ He added: ‘For too long we, in fact I, as a councillor had been focused on maintaining a status quo that did nothing for anyone. But now we have done something extraordinary, a radical intervention that puts people first.’ Thank you to Dan at the Wanstead Tap, to everyone who turned out on a rainy Monday night in December, to join us live, and to Pedal Me who cycled our equipment across London. The Healthy Streets Scorecard, which ranks London boroughs based on people-friendly measures, can be found here: https://www.healthystreetsscorecard.london/ *That* coffin picture is here: https://twitter.com/mthrel/status/1402221590167838722 Clyde Loakes is on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Labourstone We’re also on Twitter and welcome your feedback on our episode: https://twitter.com/podstreetsahead If you're reading this, please can you take 1 minute to give us a rating and write a review? It helps us more than you probably think. Episode edited by Clare Mansell.

Streets Ahead Live! From Waltham Forest

Streets Ahead talks to Shayoni Lynn, of Lynn Group, on the behavioural elements of mis- and disinformation

In the second of a two-part mini-series on online disinformation Laura, Ned and Adam talk to Shayoni Lynn, whose company specialises in the behavioural science of mis- and disinformation, and how to tackle it. After ministers admitted this autumn making decisions based on ‘online discussions’ that veered towards fringe conspiracy theories, around things like 15-minute cities, and as the climate conference COP28 approaches, our guest has some timely insight into the world of disinformation.&nbsp; Shayoni Lynn is founder of Lynn Group, a ‘communications consultancy, powered by behavioural science’. They specialise in helping organisations avoid their work being the subject of disinformation, including those involved in vaccine rollout and mental health services. She authored an article on why sometimes, engaging with disinformation online is the last thing we should be doing, and explains to Streets Ahead other ways of ensuring measures to improve our health and reduce our impact on the environment, aren't foundered by falsehoods. Lynn Global has worked with the Welsh government on the rollout of default 20mph speed limits in built-up areas, the biggest policy the Senedd has enacted so far, and one not without its share of disinformation. Shayoni Lynn explains how our very nature as humans make us susceptible to misinformation and what we can do about it as individuals, as organisations and as nations. This blog discusses why sometimes, engaging with disinformation online is the last thing you want to do: https://lynn.global/the-dangers-of-debating-misinformation/ We’re on Twitter and welcome your feedback on our episode:&nbsp;https://twitter.com/podstreetsahead If you're reading this, please can you take 1 minute to give us a rating and write a review? It helps us more than you probably think. Episode edited by Clare Mansell.

Disinformation in Active Travel Part 2

A podcast dedicated to the world of active travel, liveable streets and people-focused urban design

Cities around the world are finally discovering the pitfalls of a car-centric transport system, with the most progressive cities implementing protected cycle lanes, liveable streets and low traffic neighbourhoods for improved cycling and walking. Each episode, we discuss the news and views in the fast-paced world of active travel, cycling, walking and urban planning in a jargon-free safe space. Streets Ahead is co-hosted by Adam Tranter, Laura Laker and Ned Boulting. For all enquiries, please email <a href="mailto:streetsahead@fusion-media.co.uk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">streetsahead@fusion-media.co.uk</a>.

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