Issy Howie
@issyhowie.bsky.social
Sings, swims, bikes and wrangles life as best as I can. Mostly interested in how people tick and making the world a nicer place.
Reposted by Issy Howie
Sheffield will be the UK’s biggest city to trial side-road zebra crossings — simple, low-cost changes to make streets safer. We’re already leading Yorkshire on School Streets. This is the next step.
Thanks @maxsullivan.bsky.social for the inspiration
nowthenmagazine.com/articles/she...
Thanks @maxsullivan.bsky.social for the inspiration
nowthenmagazine.com/articles/she...
Sheffield set to become UK's biggest city to trial new zebra crossings, hoping to boost active travel and cut road deaths
The new crossings are a hundred times cheaper than traditional zebras, but are not currently recommended by the Department for Transport.
nowthenmagazine.com
July 8, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Sheffield will be the UK’s biggest city to trial side-road zebra crossings — simple, low-cost changes to make streets safer. We’re already leading Yorkshire on School Streets. This is the next step.
Thanks @maxsullivan.bsky.social for the inspiration
nowthenmagazine.com/articles/she...
Thanks @maxsullivan.bsky.social for the inspiration
nowthenmagazine.com/articles/she...
Reposted by Issy Howie
NEW: 12 of England’s 13 regional mayors* have signed up to develop a “national active travel network”, based initially on safer routes to schools. This includes Labour mayors, and two Tories *and* Reform’s Luke Campbell. Are the transport culture wars over?
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Twelve of England’s regional mayors back plan to create ‘national active travel network’
Exclusive: Unprecedented move to focus initially on helping children to walk, cycle or scoot to school safely
www.theguardian.com
July 2, 2025 at 6:01 AM
NEW: 12 of England’s 13 regional mayors* have signed up to develop a “national active travel network”, based initially on safer routes to schools. This includes Labour mayors, and two Tories *and* Reform’s Luke Campbell. Are the transport culture wars over?
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Issy Howie
Today I joined Right to Roam and 400 people today in a mass swim trespass at Kinder Reservoir in the Peak District. The event was in commemoration of the anniversary of the Kinder Scout Mass Trespass, but with a very modern & pressing issue of access.
April 27, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Today I joined Right to Roam and 400 people today in a mass swim trespass at Kinder Reservoir in the Peak District. The event was in commemoration of the anniversary of the Kinder Scout Mass Trespass, but with a very modern & pressing issue of access.
Reposted by Issy Howie
Amazing KINDER RISING swim trespass today attended by hundreds - remembering the unfinished business started by the Kinder Scout Mass Trespass in 1932, & calling on Labour to make history again by passing a Right to Roam Act. Great speech too by Labour MP @philbrickellmp.bsky.social!
April 27, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Amazing KINDER RISING swim trespass today attended by hundreds - remembering the unfinished business started by the Kinder Scout Mass Trespass in 1932, & calling on Labour to make history again by passing a Right to Roam Act. Great speech too by Labour MP @philbrickellmp.bsky.social!
Human geo politics is frankly terrifying currently- Here is a vision of hope and renewal from our natural world. They will if allowed to, continue untaxed by human travails, to tread lightly and continue to thrive.
This is happening, right now.
The great "arribada" (arrival) of mother Olive Ridley sea turtles on the Odisha coast, where they dig sand-nests & lay their eggs, driven by ancient instinct.
Heart-lifting, magnificent, moving: part of a geography of hope.
🎞️ by Bivash Pandav via my friend Yuvan Aves.
The great "arribada" (arrival) of mother Olive Ridley sea turtles on the Odisha coast, where they dig sand-nests & lay their eggs, driven by ancient instinct.
Heart-lifting, magnificent, moving: part of a geography of hope.
🎞️ by Bivash Pandav via my friend Yuvan Aves.
February 20, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Human geo politics is frankly terrifying currently- Here is a vision of hope and renewal from our natural world. They will if allowed to, continue untaxed by human travails, to tread lightly and continue to thrive.
Another great, thoughtful, thought provoking poddy from the Streets Ahead team 👌
Had a great chat with @adamtranter.bsky.social and @lauralaker.bsky.social on the Streets Ahead podcast. All things transport, economics, growth, and yes, sorry, the 'Green Book'! Have a listen here: shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...
Growth, but at what cost? | Streets Ahead
shows.acast.com
February 20, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Another great, thoughtful, thought provoking poddy from the Streets Ahead team 👌
Reposted by Issy Howie
HOT RESEARCH NEWS!
Motonormativity ("car brain") is a bias that stops people making rational judgements about driving en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motonor...
Our new study shows where this bias comes from AND how it makes people think they're odd for supporting changes to the transport system 🧵
Motonormativity ("car brain") is a bias that stops people making rational judgements about driving en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motonor...
Our new study shows where this bias comes from AND how it makes people think they're odd for supporting changes to the transport system 🧵
February 17, 2025 at 7:45 AM
HOT RESEARCH NEWS!
Motonormativity ("car brain") is a bias that stops people making rational judgements about driving en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motonor...
Our new study shows where this bias comes from AND how it makes people think they're odd for supporting changes to the transport system 🧵
Motonormativity ("car brain") is a bias that stops people making rational judgements about driving en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motonor...
Our new study shows where this bias comes from AND how it makes people think they're odd for supporting changes to the transport system 🧵
Reposted by Issy Howie
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Life expectancy growth stalls across Europe as England sees sharpest decline, say researchers
Poor diet, obesity and inactivity blamed on decline with Norway the only country seeing a rise
Life expectancy growth stalls across Europe as England sees sharpest decline, say researchers
Poor diet, obesity and inactivity blamed on decline with Norway the only country seeing a rise
Life expectancy growth stalls across Europe as England sees sharpest decline, say researchers
Poor diet, obesity and inactivity blamed on decline with Norway the only country seeing a rise
www.theguardian.com
February 19, 2025 at 8:56 PM
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Life expectancy growth stalls across Europe as England sees sharpest decline, say researchers
Poor diet, obesity and inactivity blamed on decline with Norway the only country seeing a rise
Life expectancy growth stalls across Europe as England sees sharpest decline, say researchers
Poor diet, obesity and inactivity blamed on decline with Norway the only country seeing a rise
Reposted by Issy Howie
“Believe it or not, electric bikes offer more exercise than pedal bikes on average. That might sound strange, but the science is clear.”
Why e-bikes give more exercise than “acoustic” bikes. (but both are excellent for better cities, and both are a LOT cheaper than cars, especially after tariffs!)
Why e-bikes give more exercise than “acoustic” bikes. (but both are excellent for better cities, and both are a LOT cheaper than cars, especially after tariffs!)
Why electric bikes actually give more exercise than pedal bikes
Believe it or not, electric bikes offer more exercise than pedal bikes on average. That fact might sound strange (and...
electrek.co
February 3, 2025 at 4:52 AM
“Believe it or not, electric bikes offer more exercise than pedal bikes on average. That might sound strange, but the science is clear.”
Why e-bikes give more exercise than “acoustic” bikes. (but both are excellent for better cities, and both are a LOT cheaper than cars, especially after tariffs!)
Why e-bikes give more exercise than “acoustic” bikes. (but both are excellent for better cities, and both are a LOT cheaper than cars, especially after tariffs!)
Reposted by Issy Howie
This is amazing re: 20mph impact in Wales - collisions on Welsh roads at their lowest level for that quarter since records began, and 100 fewer people killed on 20mph and 30mph roads. That's 100 people alive today who potentially wouldn't otherwise be here...
“Living Streets Cymru is delighted that the latest data indicates that 20mph speed limits have saved lives and reduced casualties on our roads," says our @charitycat.bsky.social in response to @welshgovernment.bsky.social statistics published today.
www.livingstreets.org.uk/press-media/...
www.livingstreets.org.uk/press-media/...
Living Streets Cymru applauds safer roads thanks to 20mph speed limits
Living Streets Cymru applauds new statistics published today (30 January 2025) that show that there have been fewer deaths and casualties as a result of 20mph speed limits.
www.livingstreets.org.uk
January 30, 2025 at 1:29 PM
This is amazing re: 20mph impact in Wales - collisions on Welsh roads at their lowest level for that quarter since records began, and 100 fewer people killed on 20mph and 30mph roads. That's 100 people alive today who potentially wouldn't otherwise be here...
Reposted by Issy Howie
LOVE CITIES? Whether you’re new to Bluesky or been around for a while, if you’re interested in how cities change and get better (or worse), consider my starter packs (including team-ups with @katharinehayhoe.com & @tomflood.bsky.social) full of smart people & organizations championing better cities!
January 21, 2025 at 12:06 AM
LOVE CITIES? Whether you’re new to Bluesky or been around for a while, if you’re interested in how cities change and get better (or worse), consider my starter packs (including team-ups with @katharinehayhoe.com & @tomflood.bsky.social) full of smart people & organizations championing better cities!
Reposted by Issy Howie
One of the most important things to remember about very smart financial, public heath, transportation, public space, equity, economic development and climate policy like this is that it SAVES AND MAKES PUBLIC MONEY AND IS A SMART INVESTMENT WITH A PROVEN ROI.
Stop seeing it as a cost.
Stop seeing it as a cost.
Commuting by bicycle in Belgium pays off as employees earn compensation for every km they ride. 1 in 6 employees commute by bike and get a bicycle allowance of €0.28/km. People cycling to work in 2024 earned an average of around €460 net per year (some as high as €810), up 20% over the past year.
Belgian commutes pay off: Employees earn up to €810 for cycling to work
One in five people in Flanders commuted by bike and received compensation last year, but this figure is significantly lower in Brussels and Wallonia.
www.brusselstimes.com
January 29, 2025 at 12:33 AM
One of the most important things to remember about very smart financial, public heath, transportation, public space, equity, economic development and climate policy like this is that it SAVES AND MAKES PUBLIC MONEY AND IS A SMART INVESTMENT WITH A PROVEN ROI.
Stop seeing it as a cost.
Stop seeing it as a cost.
Reposted by Issy Howie
There can be lots of gatekeeping in the cycling community so just remember that when it comes to biking there are only two rules: Wear what you want. Ride what you want.
Content done with @thebikinglawyer.bsky.social
Content done with @thebikinglawyer.bsky.social
January 29, 2025 at 3:13 PM
There can be lots of gatekeeping in the cycling community so just remember that when it comes to biking there are only two rules: Wear what you want. Ride what you want.
Content done with @thebikinglawyer.bsky.social
Content done with @thebikinglawyer.bsky.social
Reposted by Issy Howie
www.bmj.com/content/388/...
Ending gambling adverts could prevent harm to millions of adults and children in the UK
Very much this
Tell me why this isn't the most no brainer of no brainers!!
@profkevinfenton.bsky.social @endgamblingads.bsky.social
Ending gambling adverts could prevent harm to millions of adults and children in the UK
Very much this
Tell me why this isn't the most no brainer of no brainers!!
@profkevinfenton.bsky.social @endgamblingads.bsky.social
Ending gambling adverts could prevent harm to millions of adults and children in the UK
A phased approach to ending gambling advertising could reduce the damage caused by this health harming industry, write Kevin Fenton and Will Prochaska
The harm caused by gambling in the UK is alarmi...
www.bmj.com
January 28, 2025 at 9:42 PM
www.bmj.com/content/388/...
Ending gambling adverts could prevent harm to millions of adults and children in the UK
Very much this
Tell me why this isn't the most no brainer of no brainers!!
@profkevinfenton.bsky.social @endgamblingads.bsky.social
Ending gambling adverts could prevent harm to millions of adults and children in the UK
Very much this
Tell me why this isn't the most no brainer of no brainers!!
@profkevinfenton.bsky.social @endgamblingads.bsky.social
Reposted by Issy Howie
Goodbye to the lost children of Gaza. You were loved, you are remembered, you did not deserve it | Nesrine Malik
Goodbye to the lost children of Gaza. You were loved, you are remembered, you did not deserve it | Nesrine Malik
There is no way to rationalise the horrors inflicted on Gaza’s innocent children. Now is the time to mourn them fully
For the past week, Palestinians in Gaza have been returning to their homes, now mostly reduced to rubble – and to their dead who still…
www.theguardian.com
January 27, 2025 at 6:20 AM
Goodbye to the lost children of Gaza. You were loved, you are remembered, you did not deserve it | Nesrine Malik
Reposted by Issy Howie
In 2024 esure were the first insurance company to reveal that default 20mph limits in Wales had reduced damage claims by 20% with a £50 reduction in premiums than otherwise would have been the case. Now others are showing 20mph = fewer crashes = lower premiums. See 24:30 mins in to BBC R4 Today.
Today - 15/01/25 - Emma Barnett and Justin Webb - BBC Sounds
News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
bbc.in
January 16, 2025 at 7:22 AM
In 2024 esure were the first insurance company to reveal that default 20mph limits in Wales had reduced damage claims by 20% with a £50 reduction in premiums than otherwise would have been the case. Now others are showing 20mph = fewer crashes = lower premiums. See 24:30 mins in to BBC R4 Today.
Reposted by Issy Howie
Remember this one? Before & after of a brain after a 20 minute walk — why walking to work, or school, or just to get the intellectual juices flowing, is linked to better creative & intellectual performance. Among MANY other benefits to you and to society.
Design and build more walkable cities.
Design and build more walkable cities.
January 13, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Remember this one? Before & after of a brain after a 20 minute walk — why walking to work, or school, or just to get the intellectual juices flowing, is linked to better creative & intellectual performance. Among MANY other benefits to you and to society.
Design and build more walkable cities.
Design and build more walkable cities.
Reposted by Issy Howie
If you’re interested in better cities but haven’t read much about it, here are some starter books I’d recommend:
Walkable City by @jeffspeck.bsky.social
Human Transit (new edition) by @humantransit.bsky.social
Road to Nowhere by @parismarx.com
Curbing Traffic by @modacitylife.com
#UrbanismBookClub
Walkable City by @jeffspeck.bsky.social
Human Transit (new edition) by @humantransit.bsky.social
Road to Nowhere by @parismarx.com
Curbing Traffic by @modacitylife.com
#UrbanismBookClub
January 12, 2025 at 6:48 AM
If you’re interested in better cities but haven’t read much about it, here are some starter books I’d recommend:
Walkable City by @jeffspeck.bsky.social
Human Transit (new edition) by @humantransit.bsky.social
Road to Nowhere by @parismarx.com
Curbing Traffic by @modacitylife.com
#UrbanismBookClub
Walkable City by @jeffspeck.bsky.social
Human Transit (new edition) by @humantransit.bsky.social
Road to Nowhere by @parismarx.com
Curbing Traffic by @modacitylife.com
#UrbanismBookClub
Reposted by Issy Howie
Of course, the question is what underpins the insufficient funding and short timeframes, and the answer surely is that government has simply never seen active travel as important
“A process evaluation of the UK Department for Transport’s Active Travel Fund has identified insufficient funding and short implementation timeframes as key challenges limiting the delivery of walking and cycling schemes in England.” 💯
Insufficient funding and timeframes undermine England's active travel schemes, says evaluation | CiTTi Magazine
A process evaluation of the UK Department for Transport’s (DfT) Active Travel Fund (ATF) has identified insufficient funding and short implementation timeframes as key challenges limiting the delive
www.cittimagazine.co.uk
January 12, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Of course, the question is what underpins the insufficient funding and short timeframes, and the answer surely is that government has simply never seen active travel as important
Reposted by Issy Howie
Since Mark Zuckerberg announced today that is ending third party fact-checking on Facebook, I thought it would be relevant to reshare our study about the long-term, causal impact of exposure to hyperpartisan/low-quality content on social media:
Unfollowing toxic social media influencers makes people less hostile!
In 2 experiments, we found that unfollowing extreme influencers:
-Reduced partisan animosity by 24%
-Increased satisfaction with X
-Led people to share higher-quality news
Effects lasted for 6+ months.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
In 2 experiments, we found that unfollowing extreme influencers:
-Reduced partisan animosity by 24%
-Increased satisfaction with X
-Led people to share higher-quality news
Effects lasted for 6+ months.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
January 7, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Since Mark Zuckerberg announced today that is ending third party fact-checking on Facebook, I thought it would be relevant to reshare our study about the long-term, causal impact of exposure to hyperpartisan/low-quality content on social media:
Reposted by Issy Howie
IMPORTANT: The Dutch invest €595 million annually on urban biking, resulting in €19 BILLION saved in public health care costs alone. That’s how smart govts do the math on investing in better mobility.
Let’s be clear— it wastes public money to NOT do it.
#CityMakingMath HT @modacitylife.bsky.social
Let’s be clear— it wastes public money to NOT do it.
#CityMakingMath HT @modacitylife.bsky.social
January 7, 2025 at 7:21 PM
IMPORTANT: The Dutch invest €595 million annually on urban biking, resulting in €19 BILLION saved in public health care costs alone. That’s how smart govts do the math on investing in better mobility.
Let’s be clear— it wastes public money to NOT do it.
#CityMakingMath HT @modacitylife.bsky.social
Let’s be clear— it wastes public money to NOT do it.
#CityMakingMath HT @modacitylife.bsky.social
Reposted by Issy Howie
www.frameworksinstitute.org/resources/sh...
1. Highlight Who Has Control and Why
2. Describe How This shapes outcomes for children
3. Describe disproportionate harms for specific groups
4. Suggest actionable, system-level changes or policies that would address the root problem
1. Highlight Who Has Control and Why
2. Describe How This shapes outcomes for children
3. Describe disproportionate harms for specific groups
4. Suggest actionable, system-level changes or policies that would address the root problem
Shifting the Narrative about Childhood Obesity
www.frameworksinstitute.org
January 7, 2025 at 5:31 PM
www.frameworksinstitute.org/resources/sh...
1. Highlight Who Has Control and Why
2. Describe How This shapes outcomes for children
3. Describe disproportionate harms for specific groups
4. Suggest actionable, system-level changes or policies that would address the root problem
1. Highlight Who Has Control and Why
2. Describe How This shapes outcomes for children
3. Describe disproportionate harms for specific groups
4. Suggest actionable, system-level changes or policies that would address the root problem
Reposted by Issy Howie
The junk food crisis harming Britain’s children
www.ft.com/content/b503...
A. It'll not be solved by
Celeb Chefs in Schools
Self regulation
Cookery classes
Campaigns
B. It'll be solved by
govt regulation
With interventions focused on price, advertising, reformulation, availability
www.ft.com/content/b503...
A. It'll not be solved by
Celeb Chefs in Schools
Self regulation
Cookery classes
Campaigns
B. It'll be solved by
govt regulation
With interventions focused on price, advertising, reformulation, availability
The junk food crisis harming Britain’s children
As their diets worsen, young people are suffering increasing levels of malnutrition and obesity. Can the UK turn the tide?
www.ft.com
January 2, 2025 at 11:00 PM
The junk food crisis harming Britain’s children
www.ft.com/content/b503...
A. It'll not be solved by
Celeb Chefs in Schools
Self regulation
Cookery classes
Campaigns
B. It'll be solved by
govt regulation
With interventions focused on price, advertising, reformulation, availability
www.ft.com/content/b503...
A. It'll not be solved by
Celeb Chefs in Schools
Self regulation
Cookery classes
Campaigns
B. It'll be solved by
govt regulation
With interventions focused on price, advertising, reformulation, availability
Reposted by Issy Howie
Do people who buy e-bikes cycle more
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Yes
⬆️ their bicycle use from 2.1 km to 9.2 km on average per day; a 340% ⬆️.
The e-bike's share of all their transportation increased dramatically - 17% to 49%, where they e-biked instead of walking, public transit, & driving
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Yes
⬆️ their bicycle use from 2.1 km to 9.2 km on average per day; a 340% ⬆️.
The e-bike's share of all their transportation increased dramatically - 17% to 49%, where they e-biked instead of walking, public transit, & driving
Do people who buy e-bikes cycle more?
Previous research shows that e-bike owners use private cars less than other transport user groups, and also report to have changed from motorised to n…
www.sciencedirect.com
January 3, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Do people who buy e-bikes cycle more
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Yes
⬆️ their bicycle use from 2.1 km to 9.2 km on average per day; a 340% ⬆️.
The e-bike's share of all their transportation increased dramatically - 17% to 49%, where they e-biked instead of walking, public transit, & driving
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Yes
⬆️ their bicycle use from 2.1 km to 9.2 km on average per day; a 340% ⬆️.
The e-bike's share of all their transportation increased dramatically - 17% to 49%, where they e-biked instead of walking, public transit, & driving
Interference in democracy is everyone’s business-useful advice and above all - don’t amplify misinformation or disinformation.
January 5, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Interference in democracy is everyone’s business-useful advice and above all - don’t amplify misinformation or disinformation.