After a near hour-long debate on Tuesday with some interesting comments, #Warwickshire_CC has approved its new Local Transport Plan, putting a clear emphasis on #ActiveTravel at the top of the transport hierarchy:

https://fiets.uk/2023-07-26/council-approves-new-transport-plan/

#LTP4 #LocalTransportPlan #Warwickshire

Today is the last day of #WarwickshireCountyCouncil's consultation on the new #LocalTransportPlan.

If you're in #Warwickshire, please get your comments in. This is an important plan which should shape the direction of transport planning and policy over the coming years. It's especially important for #ActiveTravel and #PublicTransport as puts these firmly at the top of a transport hierarchy.

Take a view at my summary analysis and get your comments in today!

https://fiets.uk/2022-11-14/evaluating-warwickshires-local-transport-plan/

Lunchtime reading - #Warwickshire's #LocalTransportPlan has many positives such as shifting focus to #ActiveTravel and #PublicTransport, moving away from driving as the first choice for travel.

There are problems that need ironing out though, including a suggetion that road capacity for driving could be *increased* in certain situations.

Take a read of my summary, with links to my broader comments if you want them: https://fiets.uk/2022-11-14/evaluating-warwickshires-local-transport-plan/

#SustainableTravel #Cycling #Walking #Wheeling

My #cycling and #ActiveTravel #blog is on the #Fediverse and can be followed here on #Mastodon, and other services! I've done a test post (literally, "this is a test"), and it shows up for followers of @ben!

A proper post will be released later on today, with my analysis of the strengths/weaknesses of the county council's #LocalTransportPlan

I find this really exciting, that one thing can talk to another so seamlessly. This is how the web should work! You can even comment by reply! Amazing!

I will, of course, eventually publish all of my thoughts on the #LocalTransportPlan over on the blog (fiets.uk), for those who want to see them... Perhaps as a cure for insomnia maybe?

I'll also be testing the #ActivityPub plugin for the site which means the article should appear in the feeds of people following @ben That'll be quite exciting, in a tempered sort of way!

I'm on to the last little bits for reviewing the #LocalTransportPlan - then it's just tidying up the document, checking my summary points, and getting it sent in.

My last job before that is to look at the graphics used on the various documents. Have a look at this one. What does it say to you?

#Warwickshire #WarwickshireCountyCouncil

Getting towards the end of my review of the draft #LocalTransportPlan (at last). I wanted to highlight this paragraph as annother example of motor-centric language.

#WarwickshireCountyCouncil does (or should) have a direct influence on safety initiates for other forms or transport: providing high quality walking, cycling routes; using road design features to force drivers to slow and take care.

Roads are for everyone. Not just cars.

Still going through the #LocalTransportPlan - this is a big piece of work! I'm on to the Managing Space Strategy.

One statement which has jumped out at me suggests #WarwickshireCountyCouncil perhaps doesn't quite understand what #CarDependency is.

Car dependency *always* negatively affects people's lives and #WCC should work to reduce/eliminate it everywhere - rural and urban. There should always be another travel option besides driving.

#LTP #LTP4

There's a lot to like in #Warwickshire's #LocalTransportPlan - a lot of tweaks and adjustments that I think need to be made to remove some inconsistencies and strengthen commitments, but a lot of positives... but then there's this little nugget, tucked in at the end of the final policy of the Motor Vehicle Strategy.

I guess #CarAddiction is a hard habit to break.

And this is, frankly, an excellent statement:

"Over-reliance on cars and trucks for personal use and freight over the last fifty years has resulted in congestion, delay, pollution, economic loss, health consequences, isolation, less attractive public places and increasing costs to local authorities. All of these aspects can be improved by providing a road network that serves fewer vehicles overall and offers links to other forms of transport."

#Warwickshire #LocalTransportPlan

This bit is better though:

"A more balanced transport network throughout the county, including more use of sustainable travel options, will benefit all Warwickshire’s transport users, including drivers, through reducing congestion."

#LocalTransportPlan #Warwickshire #WarwickshireCountyCouncil

I'm beginning to look at the #MotorVehicle Strategy part of the #LocalTransportPlan - and I can feel my blood pressure rising.

Just how awful and #carCentric is this line?

"Roads also provide a vital connection for those less able to use forms of transport other than cars."

Where exactly do people walk, wheel, and cycle? What do buses use? 🤦‍♂️

#Warwickshire #WarwickshireCountyCouncil #LTP

Still working through #Warwickshire's draft #LocalTransportPlan, having read the Core Document, #ActiveTravel Strategy, & #PublicTransport Strategy.

Lots to like, but also a number of issues. Two things keep coming up:

1. "Encourage" appears too often when "enable" must be the primary focus.

2. Use of language like "we will seek to" and "we will strive" instead of the more powerful "we will". This devalues commitments to near meaningless.

#SustainableTravel #LTP #WarwickshireCountyCouncil