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owlernook.bsky.social
Owler Nook
@owlernook.bsky.social
1.7K followers 700 following 7K posts
Award-winning active travel campaigner

Stockport and Manchester
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owlernook.bsky.social
Owler Nook @owlernook.bsky.social · Dec 2
Deeply chuffed to have won People's Active Travel Champion at the 2025 Walk Ride GM Awards.

Thank you to everyone who voted for me!
An award from the 2025 Walk Ride GM Awards for People's Active Travel Champion
owlernook.bsky.social
2025 annual summary for the Oxford Road Cycleway

*drum roll*

Another record-breaking year! Overall 3% growth, with new monthly records for six months, and a new daily record (7,527).

Total recorded trips: 1,403,829!

We're going to need a new scale for the counter displays.
A bar chart showing annual totals for the Oxford Road Cycleway, by year and with separate direction given for each year. 2025 was the biggest year on record. The northbound counter on the Oxford Road Cycleway, 25 December 2025. The 'Cyclists this year' bar, which has a maximum total of 750,000, is almost full.
January 4, 2026 at 9:38 AM
owlernook.bsky.social
December 2025 on the Oxford Road Cycleway:

• 5.5% growth
• New daily records

A strong end to the year.
Growth Northbound 5.7% Southbound 5.3% Combined 5.5% Best day Northbound 2901 New record Southbound 2554 New record Combined 5355 New record A chart showing December cycle counts from 2017 to 2025. The highest figures for both directions occurred in 2025. The 2025 counts are up 5.5% on the previous year. In 2023 the sensors were recalibrated, which means northbound undercounting has been corrected. December southbound cumulative counts. The 2025 total was 87.879, which is the highest December total. December 2025 was ahead of previous Decembers for most of the month.
January 4, 2026 at 9:20 AM
owlernook.bsky.social
Today seems as good a time as any to remind ourselves that our social media profile is what we make it, and it doesn't have to be dominated by the news.

Curate your feeds.

Happy new year, folks. Let's do what we can to get through it.
January 3, 2026 at 7:12 PM
Reposted by Owler Nook
slowbikeiain.bsky.social
After cycle infrastructure improvements were introduced, cycle counters were installed on Oxford Road, Manchester that went up to 500,000 trips a year. That was fine for a few years, but then they had to recalibrate it to 750,000. Now cycling figures have blown past that, and they need 1,000,000.
oxrdcyclebot.bsky.social Oxford Road Cycle Bot @oxrdcyclebot.bsky.social · 12d
On Monday 22nd December 2025 there were 999 cyclists northbound and 829 cyclists southbound.
A plot showing daily cycle traffic data over a two week period ending Monday 22nd December 2025. There were 23,176 cyclists northbound and 20,284 cyclists southbound in total over this period, with an average of 1,619 cyclists northbound and 1,380 cyclists southbound per day. The busiest day was Thursday 11th December 2025 with 2,659 northbound and 2,345 southbound cyclists.
December 23, 2025 at 2:46 PM
owlernook.bsky.social
1,700 followers! Plus some numerological symmetry.

Thank you to everyone this year who has chatted, liked, reposted and generally made my time here enjoyable.

Merry Christmas!
Owler Nook's profile page. 1.7K followers 700 following 7K posts
December 22, 2025 at 3:08 PM
owlernook.bsky.social
A slight return, to correct @manchestermill.bsky.social on their festive newsletter. The period described in the screengrab is called Christmas. There's even a famous song about all 12 days of it.
Christmas To-Dos 👻 I imagine you know what you’re doing over Christmas by now, but do you know what you’re doing in that awful period between Boxing Day and New Years Eve? If you’re at a loss from the 26th to the 30th – often known as Climbo, Twixmas, and another name that I shall not let taint this newsletter – then you should head to the Octagon Theatre in Bolton, who are putting on a production of A Christmas Carol from now until 10 January.
December 22, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Reposted by Owler Nook
walkridesalford.bsky.social
We have today submitted our formal support for the Peel Green Active Travel Scheme.

We are encouraging all our followers to submit their own support (see following post), as drivers are objecting to this scheme based on it adding a mere 70 seconds to their morning drive.
walk ride GM This submission is on behalf of Walk Ride GM, the campaign for active travel in Greater Manchester. Walk Ride GM strongly support this traffic order to enable delivery of the Peel Green Active Travel scheme. Importance to network This scheme is a strategically important part of the emerging active travel network, as it is the only highway route connecting communities in the Cadishead and Lower Irlam, Higher Irlam and Peel Green neighbourhood area with the rest of Salford, providing a continuation of the existing A57 shared use route which runs as far as the community stadium. The proposed scheme provides those wanting to walk/cycle to major trip generators in the area with a safe way to do this, including: - Visitors to Salford Community Stadium and Barton airport - Current and future employees at Port Salford's employers, which are planned to expand significantly in coming years as one of GM's designated growth locations -Children walking/cycling to Barton Moss primary school and Salford City Academy (~15 min cycle from Higher Irlam) - Any future Metrolink stop(s) at Port Salford / community stadium 38.4% of households in Peel Green have no cars or vans (2021 Census - Peel Green MSOA), so providing safe alternatives to driving is essential. Current safety issues The scheme will resolve a number of safety issues issues for those currently walking/cycling along this section of highway, with a number of the below issues classed as 'critical' by Active Travel England and in the GM Streets for all design check: - speed and volume of traffic cyclists are expected to mix with, including proportion of that made up of large vehicles - areas of inconsistent lane widths throughout the section which don't dissuade close passes - Narrow sections of shared use path along northern side with lack of marked priority across side roads - Lack of tactile paving at side roads Cyclists heading west have to rejoin carriageway immediately after M60 roundabout exit on left han… Unsuitable alternatives At a recent community meeting and on social media, objectors to this scheme have suggested alternative off-road routes via a recently improved path alongside Peel Green cemetery and Eccles definitive footpath 28. While this would provide a useful additional leisure route for some, it should be considered a complimentary route rather than an alternative to delivering the scheme along Liverpool Rd. Aside from the fact only the new section of path is actually passable on a cycle, routing those walking and cycling through an unlit isolated area with a lack of passive surveillance will render this route unusable for many, particularly women, especially at night, and would undermine the scheme's objectives of enabling modal shift for everyday trips: - In 2024, only 44% of women (vs 67% of men) were satisfied with their personal safety at night while walking. (draft 2050 GM Transport Strategy, 2025) - In 2024, only 48% of GM residents were satisfied with their personal security while cycling at night (GMA active travel annual report, 2024) - "Targets for increased numbers of sustainable journeys on our public transport network and through active travel are non-achievable if the fundamental issue of feeling safe is not addressed." (In Her Shoes, GMCA 2025) Validity of petition We are also aware that a change.org petition is being circulated as part of objections to this scheme. We would like to highlight that there is no validation that the signatures on this petition are from those within Salford or even Greater Manchester. The petition was circulated on a number of anti-cycling social media accounts and it is clear that it will include signatures from those who have no connection to the local area, with some even openly declaring they live as far afield as Scotland.
December 19, 2025 at 4:36 PM
owlernook.bsky.social
Starting my Christmas internet break early.

Enjoy yourselves - and see you in January!
December 16, 2025 at 6:36 AM
Reposted by Owler Nook
walkridestocky.bsky.social
Deadline for all three consultations is tonight!

We recommend 'strongly agree' to all questions.
walkridestocky.bsky.social Walk Ride Stockport @walkridestocky.bsky.social · Nov 28
Three more consultations!

First: in Davenport, the cut-through between Frewland Avenue and Beechfield Road is proposed to be lit and widened.

Deadline 14 December.

consultation.stockport.gov.uk/highways-and...
A CAD diagram showing the planned widening and lighting of a footpath between two roads. The route would be made shared use. A Google Streetview image of the path as it is currently. There is good through-visibility and the route is wide, making it suitable as a route.
December 14, 2025 at 7:21 PM
owlernook.bsky.social
What is the true meaning of Christmas? Could it be, perhaps, further subsidising drivers and saying sod off to those who don't have cars?

Stockport motornormativity strikes again.
Free parking in the district centres this Christmas Available in participating Stockport Council owned pay and display car parks on: Saturday 6 December Saturday 13 December Saturday 20 December 25 December: Christmas Day 26 December: Boxing Day 1 January: New years Day Available at: Bramhall, Cheadle, Cheadle Hulme, Edgeley (except Armoury Street), Hazel Grove, Heaton Moor, Marple, Marple Bridge and Romiley (excluding the Country Parks).
December 14, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Reposted by Owler Nook
peaksandpuddles.com
Not again, New Mills! 🎄🚲

(Fond memories of the Christmas I got verbally abused by former local cllr on Twitter for daring to suggest putting pointless metal barriers around the only cycle stands when local businesses need supporting is A Bit Bloody Stupid. These are unfixed and can be moved, but…🤷‍♂️)
Grey metal barriers surround both a small town Christmas tree and two Sheffield cycle stands with high street shops in the background.
December 14, 2025 at 11:34 AM
owlernook.bsky.social
Spreadsheet hubris -> spreadsheet headache.
December 13, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Reposted by Owler Nook
rantyhighwayman.bsky.social
Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads!

In my latest blog post, I go back to the future in East Oxford.

therantyhighwayman.blogspot.com/2025/12/back...
Back To The Future In East Oxford
I have been doing some work in Oxford, and on a recent visit, I had the chance to look at some historic traffic calming in East Oxford which...
therantyhighwayman.blogspot.com
December 13, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Reposted by Owler Nook
robinince.bsky.social
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
This is the saddest day of my professional life. Today is not only the final recording of the latest series of The Infinite Monkey Cage, it is my last ever Monkey Cage. I never thought that I would have to leave the show. I always imagined going on until | dropped dead under the studio lights due to a brain aneurysm caused by my final attempt to understand notions of quantum gravity or the shock of being told about fly maggot infestations in the sacks of macaque monkeys. I resigned in September, after sixteen years of dedication to the show, A show that I named and helped develop over all those years. Unfortunately, my opinions outside the BBC have been considered problematic for sometime, whether it has been voicing support for the trans community, criticism of Donald Trump, numerous other outlandish opinions, including once gently criticising Stephen Fry. These things were considered to conflict with being a freelance BBC science presenter In a recent meeting where BBC Studio executives again voiced problems with me, I realised my choices. Obedience and being quieter to remain making Monkey Cage, or 'Resign and have the freedom to speak out against what I believe are injustices'. • I chose the latter. It broke my heart. I love this show and I love the audience, and it is because of the audience in particular, that this decision was so difficult to make. I kept thinking about all the extremist voices promoting hate and division. They are being given so many platforms, while voices that represent kindness, open mindedness, empathy seem to be scarcer and scarcer. I felt I couldn't pamper myself with the luxury of silence. One of my many privileges is that I am able to resign and I can speak out even if it is to the detriment of my career. I have thought a lot about my heroes, Sinead O Connor, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and so many more. I think of Sinead's words, "the job of an artist is to be themselves at any cost". James Baldwin said prejudice was really just a word for cowardice. Audre Lorde, viewing her life, wrote that her only regrets were her silences. I think of my father as I resign, he brought me up to believe in fairness , justice and kindness. Though my heart is broken, it is also full of fire. I apologise to our incredible listeners for my departure, your love of the show means a great deal. I am so sorry to let you down. I hope that you can understand my reasoning. I have to accept that I am not what the current BBC expects of their freelance presenters. Despite this I should add that I have always worked far more than my contracted hours to try and ensure the show was always the best it could be, as well as making myself accessible and responsive to the audience wherever and whenever I met them. Every night, we have recorded, I have been filled with determination to make the best show possible. This was not "just a job" I hope that with my departure I can be a better ally to the LGBTQ community, to the neurodivergent community, to activists fighting against those who aim to brutalise society, to those currently in prison on hunger strike, and to all those who fight for a more inclusive world. From many conversations, I know there are many Monkey Cage listeners who support these communities and activists too. The strawberry is dead. Long live the strawberry. B
December 13, 2025 at 12:02 AM
owlernook.bsky.social
What I don't understand is why Cheadle Railway Station isn't being built, regardless of current timetabling problems.
New train station could be years away from opening after 'scandalous' delays
Frustration is growing over the project.
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk
December 13, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Reposted by Owler Nook
phil-pja.bsky.social
DfT Road Safety Strategy next week, I understand. How supportive of 20mph limits will it be, I wonder? Will it lay the Plan for Drivers to rest? @20splenty.bsky.social
December 12, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Reposted by Owler Nook
jwfurlong.bsky.social
Debates on Low Traffic Neighbourhoods often focus on disabled people's experiences.

In a new paper led by @ersiliav.bsky.social and @tricyclemayor.bsky.social, we use videos/interviews to explore the impacts on disabled people's everyday walking and wheeling.

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Walking and wheeling in Low Traffic Neighbourhoods: A mixed methods study of mobility aid users’ interactions with changing public spaces
Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) seek to discourage car use by making vehicle journeys more circuitous, and to make active travel journeys safer and more pleasant, thus improving public health. LT...
www.tandfonline.com
December 12, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Reposted by Owler Nook
fhvjhvgvb.bsky.social
Earlier in the year I had a chat to the Ranger up at Teggs Nose Country Park. This resulted in me sending him an email with design and siting ideas for better bike stands. He's just emailed me with photos of what he's installed. Cracking job! @owlernook.bsky.social more good news!
December 12, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Reposted by Owler Nook
tpgroberts.bsky.social
Again, quite a good example of how the slow erosion of the right's firewall against explicit far right bigotry has wider cultural impacts.

This soft soap profile of a noted football hooligan who died whilst participating in an intimidation campaign is part of accepting "well, they have concerns."
December 12, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Reposted by Owler Nook
walkridesalford.bsky.social
38% of Peel Green households have no access to a car or van. They must be given safe alternatives.

Please email your support for this scheme before the deadline of 22nd December.
Census 2021 map showing 38.4% of households in Peel Green MSOA have no cars or vans
December 12, 2025 at 1:23 PM
owlernook.bsky.social
Some delicious spin here from Cheshire East. But welcome to Capability Score 2!
11/12/2025 - Cheshire East becomes North West's only authority to improve Active Travel rating
The rating shows we are delivering high-quality schemes that provide safe, accessible and attractive routes
www.cheshireeast.gov.uk
December 12, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Reposted by Owler Nook
shivajishivalaw.bsky.social
#EvilCyclingLobby assemble!?
slipknotted.bsky.social slipknotted @slipknotted.bsky.social · 23d
Decided to come back to the evil cycling lobby after deleting my account on the other platform. I've been cycling on and off, mostly time dependent as there's a fetish for long hours in the transport industry *sigh*.

I've got a new job that's close enough to cycle to, so that's cool.
December 12, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Reposted by Owler Nook
slowbikeiain.bsky.social
Network Rail is closing Manchester Piccadilly for all trains from the south and east from 14-22 February (half term). We now know what replaces the trains for that period - lots of buses.
Map of the region around Greater Manchester showing replacement bus services and train routes.
December 11, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Reposted by Owler Nook
walkridesalford.bsky.social
📣 Peel Green scheme needs your support 📣

The next stage of consultation for this scheme is happening now, and drivers are objecting to making this area safer for those walking and cycling, because traffic modelling shows it will add 70 seconds to their morning drive.
Visualisation of scheme showing cycle tracks and sustainable drainage
December 9, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Reposted by Owler Nook
groomb.bsky.social
Industrial Landscape 2 (Stockport), painting by Bill Smith, b.1948 in Motherwell, London-based artist.
December 11, 2025 at 8:06 AM