Education
What to do with a much-loved - but worn out - bikeGuardian Unlimited | 08 Apr 2011When a bike's lasted you 18 years and thousands of miles you can't just throw it on a skip. Any better ideas? I try not to be sentimental about possessions. It would be tough to lose certain photographs, or one or two items tied particularly closely with certain people or times in my life, but I never really get too misty-eyed about most things. There's one big exception - bicycles. I'm not alone in this.
England | Public Transport | Transport All road users must be held accountableGuardian Unlimited | 01 Apr 2011We must bring equal protection and the potential for equal punishment to everyone on the road. Last week I presented a 10 minute rule bill in the House of Commons called "dangerous and reckless cycling (offences)". In 2007, Rhiannon Bennett was walking with friends on a pavement when a cyclist approached at speed yelling, "Move, because I'm not stopping." He hit Rhiannon who fell and smashed her head on the kerb. She was taken to hospital but died six days later.
United Kingdom | Access to Information | Health | Transport | Urban Environment | Urban Planning Longer lorries in UK will increase road deathsGuardian Unlimited | 31 Mar 2011Cyclist groups condemn plans to allow the length of articulated lorries to increase by 2.05m. Road safety groups are warning that government plans to allow longer lorries in the UK will increase the number of fatal road accidents. In a statement to parliament on Wednesday, the roads minister, Mike...
England | Health | Policy | Transport Cycling groups' petition against helmet lawGuardian Unlimited | 14 Mar 2011Campaigners say the law would deter cyclists which would affect public health, the environment and traffic levels. A petition has been launched in a bid to thwart new laws which would make wearing a cycle helmet mandatory in Northern Ireland. The cyclists (protective headgear) bill was approved by the Northern Ireland assembly in January, albeit it by a narrow margin, and will now go before the Environment Committee.
England | Environmental Awareness | Education Government's air travel tax pledge in doubtGuardian Unlimited | 10 Mar 2011Sources admit 'questions marks' over key manifesto pledge, which flouts European Union laws. The government is preparing to reverse a key coalition pledge to bring in an environmental tax on air travel after finding that European Union laws would prevent it. Last year's coalition manifesto contained a pledge to reform air passenger duty (APD), a tax imposed on all passengers on planes leaving the UK except those who are on transfer, to curtail greenhouse gas emissions.
England | Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Traditional Fuel Use | Transport High speed rail could be so much betterGuardian Unlimited | 04 Mar 2011The HS2 rail project is expensive, environmentally damaging, and badly thought through. The government has finally launched its long awaited consultation on the high speed rail link between London and Birmingham known as HS2. This is a brand new railway line that is designed to run at 250mph and the proposal has already caused consternation in the shires through which it would run on its first leg - from Euston to Birmingham.
England | Transport Battle in Tory heartlands over £30bn north-south rail link enters new phaseGuardian Unlimited | 27 Feb 2011Transport secretary Philip Hammond launches consultation citing poll showing public support for network. A battle between the government and voters in the Tory heartlands over a £30bn north-south rail link enters a new phase as transport secretary Philip Hammond launches a consultation on the 250mph route. Hammond will cite a poll showing five times as many people support the High Speed Two network as oppose it.
England | Policy | Transport Council plans to remove cycle highwayGuardian Unlimited | 23 Feb 2011Brighton and Hove city council appears determined to abolish its cycle highway despite the fact that demolition will cost £1.1m. Mary Mears, council leader, said the decision to remove the cycle lane which connects South Downs national park with Hove's seafront was a response to "concerns" from residents and users. She said: "We remain committed to the safety of the cycling fraternity. Unlike some other cycle lanes in the city, the Grand Avenue/Drive scheme is not well used or appreciated.
England | Public Transport | Transport | Urban Areas | Urban Environment