Adam Tranter
@adamtranter.bsky.social
Active travel advocate. Founder Fusion Media, co-host Streets Ahead Podcast. Was West Midlands Cycling & Walking Commissioner. Views all mine. Substack: https://www.bikeis.best/
This kind of car-centric infrastructure in a city centre is a relic of an experiment that went wrong. Big roads and mega junctions have no place in busy cities.
A good step is making crossing them in one go much easier.
But a better one is to remove them altogether.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
A good step is making crossing them in one go much easier.
But a better one is to remove them altogether.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Birmingham City centre road transformation plans unveiled
A public consultation has been launched into the proposed road changes by Birmingham City Council.
www.bbc.com
February 18, 2026 at 9:52 PM
This kind of car-centric infrastructure in a city centre is a relic of an experiment that went wrong. Big roads and mega junctions have no place in busy cities.
A good step is making crossing them in one go much easier.
But a better one is to remove them altogether.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
A good step is making crossing them in one go much easier.
But a better one is to remove them altogether.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Adam Tranter
Got something you'd like to ask Ned, Adam and Laura for a future podcast? They would love to (try to) answer them! Post said questions below, or you can email them to streetsahead@fusion-media.co.uk. Get in touch!
NEW POD EPISODE! 🚨 2026: the Journey so Far. @adamtranter.bsky.social @nedboulting.bsky.social and @lauralaker.bsky.social discuss local politics in the run up to the May elections, Ned's trip to India, and learnings from New York mayor Zohran Mamdani (& other mayors) shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
2026: The Journey So Far | Streets Ahead
Free Parking, “Stalinist” Cities, and India’s First UCI Stage Race
shows.acast.com
February 5, 2026 at 12:13 PM
Got something you'd like to ask Ned, Adam and Laura for a future podcast? They would love to (try to) answer them! Post said questions below, or you can email them to streetsahead@fusion-media.co.uk. Get in touch!
Reposted by Adam Tranter
NEW POD EPISODE! 🚨 2026: the Journey so Far. @adamtranter.bsky.social @nedboulting.bsky.social and @lauralaker.bsky.social discuss local politics in the run up to the May elections, Ned's trip to India, and learnings from New York mayor Zohran Mamdani (& other mayors) shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
2026: The Journey So Far | Streets Ahead
Free Parking, “Stalinist” Cities, and India’s First UCI Stage Race
shows.acast.com
February 4, 2026 at 1:42 PM
NEW POD EPISODE! 🚨 2026: the Journey so Far. @adamtranter.bsky.social @nedboulting.bsky.social and @lauralaker.bsky.social discuss local politics in the run up to the May elections, Ned's trip to India, and learnings from New York mayor Zohran Mamdani (& other mayors) shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
The only thing I would add to this debunking is to acknowledge that it is unusual to provide permits that can be used to bypass filters a certain number of times.
It sends out an odd message. Would have been better to have normal bus gates and fully stand behind the decision.
It sends out an odd message. Would have been better to have normal bus gates and fully stand behind the decision.
Ok, let’s do this🙄
We’ll start with an explainer covering:
🕒What is a 15-minute city
🏫What on Earth is going on with Oxford
👽Where the conspiracy theories have come from
And then we’ll look at the Telegraph article
🧵
1/25
We’ll start with an explainer covering:
🕒What is a 15-minute city
🏫What on Earth is going on with Oxford
👽Where the conspiracy theories have come from
And then we’ll look at the Telegraph article
🧵
1/25
February 2, 2026 at 12:01 AM
The only thing I would add to this debunking is to acknowledge that it is unusual to provide permits that can be used to bypass filters a certain number of times.
It sends out an odd message. Would have been better to have normal bus gates and fully stand behind the decision.
It sends out an odd message. Would have been better to have normal bus gates and fully stand behind the decision.
Police in Birmingham held a roads policing operation, supported by volunteer Special Constables.
In one evening on one road, they pulled over 166 vehicles and took action in a staggering 1 in 3 stops.
Imagine if Roads Policing was properly funded!
In one evening on one road, they pulled over 166 vehicles and took action in a staggering 1 in 3 stops.
Imagine if Roads Policing was properly funded!
February 1, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Police in Birmingham held a roads policing operation, supported by volunteer Special Constables.
In one evening on one road, they pulled over 166 vehicles and took action in a staggering 1 in 3 stops.
Imagine if Roads Policing was properly funded!
In one evening on one road, they pulled over 166 vehicles and took action in a staggering 1 in 3 stops.
Imagine if Roads Policing was properly funded!
Motonormativity is not clearing snow from the sidewalks and then doing an Instagram post telling pedestrians not to walk in the road.
January 29, 2026 at 11:35 PM
Motonormativity is not clearing snow from the sidewalks and then doing an Instagram post telling pedestrians not to walk in the road.
Reposted by Adam Tranter
According to David Frost, a road casualty toll which involves an average of 80+ people *every single day* either dying or suffering injuries which could change their life forever is an "utter non-problem".
January 9, 2026 at 11:11 AM
According to David Frost, a road casualty toll which involves an average of 80+ people *every single day* either dying or suffering injuries which could change their life forever is an "utter non-problem".
“Nobody will cycle in bad weather.”
The Netherlands:
The Netherlands:
January 8, 2026 at 8:40 PM
“Nobody will cycle in bad weather.”
The Netherlands:
The Netherlands:
Reposted by Adam Tranter
The strategic road network is managed by a charity and relies on the goodwill of land owners for access. Some motorways will be muddy and flooded each winter.
Also
The strategic road network stops randomly at council boundaries and investment is where councils are willing.
(UK edition).
Also
The strategic road network stops randomly at council boundaries and investment is where councils are willing.
(UK edition).
If car infrastructure was designed like bike infrastructure:
— motorists would have to end trip because “lane ends”
— they would have to give priority to airplanes
— they would have to drive longer because curvy road is more esthetic
— every time they drove, someone would say “you drove here”??
— motorists would have to end trip because “lane ends”
— they would have to give priority to airplanes
— they would have to drive longer because curvy road is more esthetic
— every time they drove, someone would say “you drove here”??
December 29, 2025 at 11:24 AM
The strategic road network is managed by a charity and relies on the goodwill of land owners for access. Some motorways will be muddy and flooded each winter.
Also
The strategic road network stops randomly at council boundaries and investment is where councils are willing.
(UK edition).
Also
The strategic road network stops randomly at council boundaries and investment is where councils are willing.
(UK edition).
Samson Leonard Biddle, 37, failed to stop for police, driving extremely dangerously. Eventually, tactical contact stopped him.
Upon being arrested, he refused to give a specimen.
You might not be terribly reassured to learn that he received just a 6-month suspended sentence and 4-year driving ban.
Upon being arrested, he refused to give a specimen.
You might not be terribly reassured to learn that he received just a 6-month suspended sentence and 4-year driving ban.
December 22, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Samson Leonard Biddle, 37, failed to stop for police, driving extremely dangerously. Eventually, tactical contact stopped him.
Upon being arrested, he refused to give a specimen.
You might not be terribly reassured to learn that he received just a 6-month suspended sentence and 4-year driving ban.
Upon being arrested, he refused to give a specimen.
You might not be terribly reassured to learn that he received just a 6-month suspended sentence and 4-year driving ban.
The Government's upcoming Cycling & Walking Investment Strategy 3 needs both investment and strategy. Seems like an obvious thing to say, but there's a risk it could lack both.
Talked about it here on @podstreetsahead.bsky.social 👇
Talked about it here on @podstreetsahead.bsky.social 👇
NEW POD EPISODE! 🚨This time, we're talking Outputs, not Outcomes and England's Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, with Xavier Brice of @walkwheelcyclet.bsky.social
Listen here, or wherever you get your podcasts: shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
Listen here, or wherever you get your podcasts: shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
Outputs not outcomes (CWIS3) | Streets Ahead
And why we need to start treating active travel like road and rail transport
shows.acast.com
December 22, 2025 at 2:54 PM
The Government's upcoming Cycling & Walking Investment Strategy 3 needs both investment and strategy. Seems like an obvious thing to say, but there's a risk it could lack both.
Talked about it here on @podstreetsahead.bsky.social 👇
Talked about it here on @podstreetsahead.bsky.social 👇
Germany shifts over 2 million e-bikes every year. France: over 500,000.
Britain? It will be lucky to get to 150,000. Why?
Because people need to feel safe to cycle, and that requires serious and sustained government support, which has not been forthcoming.
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/de...
Britain? It will be lucky to get to 150,000. Why?
Because people need to feel safe to cycle, and that requires serious and sustained government support, which has not been forthcoming.
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/de...
Cycling is changing at speed – but is Britain keeping pace?
Emulating the bike-friendly highways enjoyed by our continental neighbours will take a lot more money and political will
www.theguardian.com
December 21, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Germany shifts over 2 million e-bikes every year. France: over 500,000.
Britain? It will be lucky to get to 150,000. Why?
Because people need to feel safe to cycle, and that requires serious and sustained government support, which has not been forthcoming.
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/de...
Britain? It will be lucky to get to 150,000. Why?
Because people need to feel safe to cycle, and that requires serious and sustained government support, which has not been forthcoming.
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/de...
Cycling and walking could help deliver almost everything Brits say they want to achieve in 2026 — if we design streets to support them.
Getting fitter, losing weight, being healthier, saving money; enabling active travel quietly does all of it. With no gym contracts.
Getting fitter, losing weight, being healthier, saving money; enabling active travel quietly does all of it. With no gym contracts.
December 17, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Cycling and walking could help deliver almost everything Brits say they want to achieve in 2026 — if we design streets to support them.
Getting fitter, losing weight, being healthier, saving money; enabling active travel quietly does all of it. With no gym contracts.
Getting fitter, losing weight, being healthier, saving money; enabling active travel quietly does all of it. With no gym contracts.
You might think that a man who drove into 100 people, using his car as a weapon, would NEVER be allowed to drive again.
It turns out he will be able to, around three years after leaving prison by taking an extended retest.
Why should he ever be able to get behind the wheel again?
It turns out he will be able to, around three years after leaving prison by taking an extended retest.
Why should he ever be able to get behind the wheel again?
December 16, 2025 at 1:25 PM
You might think that a man who drove into 100 people, using his car as a weapon, would NEVER be allowed to drive again.
It turns out he will be able to, around three years after leaving prison by taking an extended retest.
Why should he ever be able to get behind the wheel again?
It turns out he will be able to, around three years after leaving prison by taking an extended retest.
Why should he ever be able to get behind the wheel again?
NEW: 50+ transport and health groups have written to the Government calling for clear targets in the upcoming Cycling & Walking Investment Strategy 3, as well as a comprehensive plan for a national active travel network, matching the long-term strategic focus given to roads.
December 7, 2025 at 3:59 PM
NEW: 50+ transport and health groups have written to the Government calling for clear targets in the upcoming Cycling & Walking Investment Strategy 3, as well as a comprehensive plan for a national active travel network, matching the long-term strategic focus given to roads.
“Moving to a situation where cars are not considered the fastest and most convenient mode of transportation will take ambition and imagination. But the alternative is a very expensive dependency, which clogs up the UK economy.”
theconversation.com/how-the-uks-...
theconversation.com/how-the-uks-...
How the UK’s dependency on cars slows down the economy
Clogged up Britain
theconversation.com
December 6, 2025 at 4:14 PM
“Moving to a situation where cars are not considered the fastest and most convenient mode of transportation will take ambition and imagination. But the alternative is a very expensive dependency, which clogs up the UK economy.”
theconversation.com/how-the-uks-...
theconversation.com/how-the-uks-...
Reposted by Adam Tranter
Five years of inaction. Now what? 🤷
Living Streets' @tansbraun.bsky.social joined @adamtranter.bsky.social on @podstreetsahead.bsky.social to talk pavement parking https://www.linkedin.com/posts/adamtranter_pavement-parking-an-unhappy-fifth-birthday-activity-7400632118323863552-SYUU
Living Streets' @tansbraun.bsky.social joined @adamtranter.bsky.social on @podstreetsahead.bsky.social to talk pavement parking https://www.linkedin.com/posts/adamtranter_pavement-parking-an-unhappy-fifth-birthday-activity-7400632118323863552-SYUU
Pavement Parking: An Unhappy Fifth Birthday | Adam Tranter
Five years ago, the Government’s consultation into tackling the scourge of pavement parking closed.
Still, no action. In what is a very unhappy fifth birthday, I joined Ned Boulting, Laura Laker and ...
www.linkedin.com
December 1, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Five years of inaction. Now what? 🤷
Living Streets' @tansbraun.bsky.social joined @adamtranter.bsky.social on @podstreetsahead.bsky.social to talk pavement parking https://www.linkedin.com/posts/adamtranter_pavement-parking-an-unhappy-fifth-birthday-activity-7400632118323863552-SYUU
Living Streets' @tansbraun.bsky.social joined @adamtranter.bsky.social on @podstreetsahead.bsky.social to talk pavement parking https://www.linkedin.com/posts/adamtranter_pavement-parking-an-unhappy-fifth-birthday-activity-7400632118323863552-SYUU
Worst birthday ever.
NEW POD EPISODE! 🚨An unhappy fifth birthday. Five years and four prime ministers since the pavement parking consultation ended, and still no action.
What will it take to reclaim pavements?
shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
What will it take to reclaim pavements?
shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
Pavement Parking: An Unhappy Fifth Birthday | Streets Ahead
We wish the government's pavement parking consultation its unwanted fifth birthday
shows.acast.com
November 29, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Worst birthday ever.
Just as you thought food delivery companies couldn't inflict any more misery on society:
Instead of using lowly-paid gig economy contractors to deliver groceries, they're replacing humans with robots, who, in turn, force humans off the pavement into road traffic.
Instead of using lowly-paid gig economy contractors to deliver groceries, they're replacing humans with robots, who, in turn, force humans off the pavement into road traffic.
November 28, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Just as you thought food delivery companies couldn't inflict any more misery on society:
Instead of using lowly-paid gig economy contractors to deliver groceries, they're replacing humans with robots, who, in turn, force humans off the pavement into road traffic.
Instead of using lowly-paid gig economy contractors to deliver groceries, they're replacing humans with robots, who, in turn, force humans off the pavement into road traffic.
Compare and contrast the Government language.
£3,750 EV grant on a £35k car: ‘helping families’.
Cycle to Work: ‘subsidising leisure’.
And yet cycling delivers TEN TIMES the impact of electric cars for reaching net zero. It’s almost like narrative, not data, is driving policy.
£3,750 EV grant on a £35k car: ‘helping families’.
Cycle to Work: ‘subsidising leisure’.
And yet cycling delivers TEN TIMES the impact of electric cars for reaching net zero. It’s almost like narrative, not data, is driving policy.
November 21, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Compare and contrast the Government language.
£3,750 EV grant on a £35k car: ‘helping families’.
Cycle to Work: ‘subsidising leisure’.
And yet cycling delivers TEN TIMES the impact of electric cars for reaching net zero. It’s almost like narrative, not data, is driving policy.
£3,750 EV grant on a £35k car: ‘helping families’.
Cycle to Work: ‘subsidising leisure’.
And yet cycling delivers TEN TIMES the impact of electric cars for reaching net zero. It’s almost like narrative, not data, is driving policy.
We are living in a real-life episode of Black Mirror: an app dispatches workers, monitors their every move, while riders - some using rented identities - risk abuse, exhaustion and invisibility.
“We are a very modern kind of slave.”
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
“We are a very modern kind of slave.”
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Life as a food delivery worker: ‘Sometimes men open the door naked’
To earn a living as a delivery rider, some work 10-12 hour days, contending with low pay, exhaustion, accidents, injuries and harassment. Is this a new form of modern slavery?
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 1:07 PM
We are living in a real-life episode of Black Mirror: an app dispatches workers, monitors their every move, while riders - some using rented identities - risk abuse, exhaustion and invisibility.
“We are a very modern kind of slave.”
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
“We are a very modern kind of slave.”
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Reposted by Adam Tranter
Bluesky hivemind: which topic(s) would you like to hear us at @podstreetsahead.bsky.social discuss next?
November 11, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Bluesky hivemind: which topic(s) would you like to hear us at @podstreetsahead.bsky.social discuss next?
Reposted by Adam Tranter
Unless there's an unbreakably valid safety reason why not, all button-operated pedestrian crossings should activate the lights in pedestrians' favour instantly when pressed.
November 8, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Unless there's an unbreakably valid safety reason why not, all button-operated pedestrian crossings should activate the lights in pedestrians' favour instantly when pressed.
Car brand BYD's new SUV ad pokes fun at people walking and cycling, comparing them to Horse & Carts.
It joins a long list of car ads that sell a false promise of convenience and aspiration while punching down at sustainable transport modes.
So I made it a bit more realistic...
It joins a long list of car ads that sell a false promise of convenience and aspiration while punching down at sustainable transport modes.
So I made it a bit more realistic...
November 7, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Car brand BYD's new SUV ad pokes fun at people walking and cycling, comparing them to Horse & Carts.
It joins a long list of car ads that sell a false promise of convenience and aspiration while punching down at sustainable transport modes.
So I made it a bit more realistic...
It joins a long list of car ads that sell a false promise of convenience and aspiration while punching down at sustainable transport modes.
So I made it a bit more realistic...
So much of the Left tries to replicate the Right when it comes to transport policies, carefully doing everything they can to avoid upsetting drivers.
Here's what happens when you focus on the majority of people who stand to benefit from improved transport options.
Here's what happens when you focus on the majority of people who stand to benefit from improved transport options.
The transit riders vs drivers election.
November 5, 2025 at 9:43 PM
So much of the Left tries to replicate the Right when it comes to transport policies, carefully doing everything they can to avoid upsetting drivers.
Here's what happens when you focus on the majority of people who stand to benefit from improved transport options.
Here's what happens when you focus on the majority of people who stand to benefit from improved transport options.