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/
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...
Trapped in traffic and stuck travelling long distances to work because of car-centric planning?
Be grateful, says Mercedes-Benz’s latest advert which aims to persuade us that spending two years of our lives stuck inside a car is somehow actually a good thing.
Be grateful, says Mercedes-Benz’s latest advert which aims to persuade us that spending two years of our lives stuck inside a car is somehow actually a good thing.
October 21, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Trapped in traffic and stuck travelling long distances to work because of car-centric planning?
Be grateful, says Mercedes-Benz’s latest advert which aims to persuade us that spending two years of our lives stuck inside a car is somehow actually a good thing.
Be grateful, says Mercedes-Benz’s latest advert which aims to persuade us that spending two years of our lives stuck inside a car is somehow actually a good thing.
A human on a bicycle is nature's most efficient traveller.
A version of this graph went on to inspire Steve Jobs of Apple, who used it in a 1980 presentation describing the personal computer as "the equivalent of a bicycle for our minds."
A version of this graph went on to inspire Steve Jobs of Apple, who used it in a 1980 presentation describing the personal computer as "the equivalent of a bicycle for our minds."
October 20, 2025 at 8:45 PM
A human on a bicycle is nature's most efficient traveller.
A version of this graph went on to inspire Steve Jobs of Apple, who used it in a 1980 presentation describing the personal computer as "the equivalent of a bicycle for our minds."
A version of this graph went on to inspire Steve Jobs of Apple, who used it in a 1980 presentation describing the personal computer as "the equivalent of a bicycle for our minds."
Your regular reminder that cities aren’t loud. Cars are loud.
September 21, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Your regular reminder that cities aren’t loud. Cars are loud.
The Embankment cycleway (CS3) in London was purposefully built to be wider than was usual in order to future proof it.
Some said it would hardly be used.
Now there’s a decent case for widening it further.
Induced demand is real.
Some said it would hardly be used.
Now there’s a decent case for widening it further.
Induced demand is real.
September 8, 2025 at 9:11 PM
The Embankment cycleway (CS3) in London was purposefully built to be wider than was usual in order to future proof it.
Some said it would hardly be used.
Now there’s a decent case for widening it further.
Induced demand is real.
Some said it would hardly be used.
Now there’s a decent case for widening it further.
Induced demand is real.
It’s never too late to give people transport choices.
September 8, 2025 at 6:17 PM
It’s never too late to give people transport choices.
This photo shows 58 cyclists and just two cars.
MPs looking out of their window today will see a steady flow of people cycling, some for the first time in a while, given confidence to do so with quality infrastructure.
Just over 10 years ago there wasn’t even a cycle lane here.
MPs looking out of their window today will see a steady flow of people cycling, some for the first time in a while, given confidence to do so with quality infrastructure.
Just over 10 years ago there wasn’t even a cycle lane here.
September 8, 2025 at 6:17 PM
This photo shows 58 cyclists and just two cars.
MPs looking out of their window today will see a steady flow of people cycling, some for the first time in a while, given confidence to do so with quality infrastructure.
Just over 10 years ago there wasn’t even a cycle lane here.
MPs looking out of their window today will see a steady flow of people cycling, some for the first time in a while, given confidence to do so with quality infrastructure.
Just over 10 years ago there wasn’t even a cycle lane here.
Campaign from Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
Agency: twotango.co
Agency: twotango.co
September 6, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Campaign from Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
Agency: twotango.co
Agency: twotango.co
Would you push someone off this 54-foot ladder?
Hitting them with your car at 40mph does the same damage.
Hitting them with your car at 40mph does the same damage.
September 6, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Would you push someone off this 54-foot ladder?
Hitting them with your car at 40mph does the same damage.
Hitting them with your car at 40mph does the same damage.
Not all local media treat road danger with the seriousness it deserves.
That’s why I’m grateful to @birminghamlive.bsky.social and @graeme-b.bsky.social for consistently giving victims and families a voice, holding politicians to account, and now campaigning to ban killer drivers for life.
That’s why I’m grateful to @birminghamlive.bsky.social and @graeme-b.bsky.social for consistently giving victims and families a voice, holding politicians to account, and now campaigning to ban killer drivers for life.
September 5, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Not all local media treat road danger with the seriousness it deserves.
That’s why I’m grateful to @birminghamlive.bsky.social and @graeme-b.bsky.social for consistently giving victims and families a voice, holding politicians to account, and now campaigning to ban killer drivers for life.
That’s why I’m grateful to @birminghamlive.bsky.social and @graeme-b.bsky.social for consistently giving victims and families a voice, holding politicians to account, and now campaigning to ban killer drivers for life.
You may have heard about some car drivers telling cyclists to wear light colours to improve visibility, but perhaps they should be paying more attention to their impact of their colour choices...
September 1, 2025 at 12:09 PM
You may have heard about some car drivers telling cyclists to wear light colours to improve visibility, but perhaps they should be paying more attention to their impact of their colour choices...
There’s also a time-of-day effect:
Day: Streets heat up as cars are parked.
Night: Temperatures cool differently when those cars leave central areas.
Vehicles are changing the city’s surface albedo in real time.
Day: Streets heat up as cars are parked.
Night: Temperatures cool differently when those cars leave central areas.
Vehicles are changing the city’s surface albedo in real time.
September 1, 2025 at 12:09 PM
There’s also a time-of-day effect:
Day: Streets heat up as cars are parked.
Night: Temperatures cool differently when those cars leave central areas.
Vehicles are changing the city’s surface albedo in real time.
Day: Streets heat up as cars are parked.
Night: Temperatures cool differently when those cars leave central areas.
Vehicles are changing the city’s surface albedo in real time.
In Lisbon’s densest areas, a significant % of road space during the day is covered by parked vehicles.
That mass of dark surfaces absorbs and radiates heat, making walking and cycling less comfortable - and during extreme heat, downright unsafe.
That mass of dark surfaces absorbs and radiates heat, making walking and cycling less comfortable - and during extreme heat, downright unsafe.
September 1, 2025 at 12:09 PM
In Lisbon’s densest areas, a significant % of road space during the day is covered by parked vehicles.
That mass of dark surfaces absorbs and radiates heat, making walking and cycling less comfortable - and during extreme heat, downright unsafe.
That mass of dark surfaces absorbs and radiates heat, making walking and cycling less comfortable - and during extreme heat, downright unsafe.
Researchers measured air temps around parked vehicles and found:
Air above a black car = up to 3.8°C hotter than the asphalt.
Air above a white car = neutral or slightly cooler in some spots.
The colour of your car literally changes the microclimate.
Air above a black car = up to 3.8°C hotter than the asphalt.
Air above a white car = neutral or slightly cooler in some spots.
The colour of your car literally changes the microclimate.
September 1, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Researchers measured air temps around parked vehicles and found:
Air above a black car = up to 3.8°C hotter than the asphalt.
Air above a white car = neutral or slightly cooler in some spots.
The colour of your car literally changes the microclimate.
Air above a black car = up to 3.8°C hotter than the asphalt.
Air above a white car = neutral or slightly cooler in some spots.
The colour of your car literally changes the microclimate.
Bad news for cities. 🚨
Cars are parked 95% of the time, eating up valuable street space.
Now, new research from Lisbon shows parked cars are also intensifying urban heat: by as much as +3.8°C. 🌡️
🧵
Cars are parked 95% of the time, eating up valuable street space.
Now, new research from Lisbon shows parked cars are also intensifying urban heat: by as much as +3.8°C. 🌡️
🧵
September 1, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Bad news for cities. 🚨
Cars are parked 95% of the time, eating up valuable street space.
Now, new research from Lisbon shows parked cars are also intensifying urban heat: by as much as +3.8°C. 🌡️
🧵
Cars are parked 95% of the time, eating up valuable street space.
Now, new research from Lisbon shows parked cars are also intensifying urban heat: by as much as +3.8°C. 🌡️
🧵
Encouraging walking for short shopping trips can help boost trade in local neighbourhoods. Data from London shows pedestrians visit their high streets most frequently.
What's more, they spend up to 40% more over a month than people who drive to the high street.
What's more, they spend up to 40% more over a month than people who drive to the high street.
August 31, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Encouraging walking for short shopping trips can help boost trade in local neighbourhoods. Data from London shows pedestrians visit their high streets most frequently.
What's more, they spend up to 40% more over a month than people who drive to the high street.
What's more, they spend up to 40% more over a month than people who drive to the high street.
From personal experience: owning one is a life hack.
Once you start using a trolley for errands and groceries... you wonder why everyone doesn’t use one.
Pictured: my trolley
Once you start using a trolley for errands and groceries... you wonder why everyone doesn’t use one.
Pictured: my trolley
August 31, 2025 at 4:54 PM
From personal experience: owning one is a life hack.
Once you start using a trolley for errands and groceries... you wonder why everyone doesn’t use one.
Pictured: my trolley
Once you start using a trolley for errands and groceries... you wonder why everyone doesn’t use one.
Pictured: my trolley
New designs are being marketed to younger audiences.
August 31, 2025 at 4:54 PM
New designs are being marketed to younger audiences.
Shopping trolleys have seen a resurgence in popularity as Generation Z shuns shouldering bags on the long walk home from the supermarket, reported The Telegraph.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/04...
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/04...
August 31, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Shopping trolleys have seen a resurgence in popularity as Generation Z shuns shouldering bags on the long walk home from the supermarket, reported The Telegraph.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/04...
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/04...
Why the shift?
More people living in city centres without cars
More short, local trips
People concerned about carrying heavy items
And a growing desire to walk when it’s safe and convenient
Design something simple well, and people embrace it.
More people living in city centres without cars
More short, local trips
People concerned about carrying heavy items
And a growing desire to walk when it’s safe and convenient
Design something simple well, and people embrace it.
August 31, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Why the shift?
More people living in city centres without cars
More short, local trips
People concerned about carrying heavy items
And a growing desire to walk when it’s safe and convenient
Design something simple well, and people embrace it.
More people living in city centres without cars
More short, local trips
People concerned about carrying heavy items
And a growing desire to walk when it’s safe and convenient
Design something simple well, and people embrace it.
They're on the front of this month's Monocle, for starters.
In Spain, a whopping 63% of households now own a Rolser shopping bag and they’re becoming popular with younger, urban audiences.
Monocle just covered this brilliantly:
🔗 monocle.com/the-weekend-...
In Spain, a whopping 63% of households now own a Rolser shopping bag and they’re becoming popular with younger, urban audiences.
Monocle just covered this brilliantly:
🔗 monocle.com/the-weekend-...
August 31, 2025 at 4:54 PM
They're on the front of this month's Monocle, for starters.
In Spain, a whopping 63% of households now own a Rolser shopping bag and they’re becoming popular with younger, urban audiences.
Monocle just covered this brilliantly:
🔗 monocle.com/the-weekend-...
In Spain, a whopping 63% of households now own a Rolser shopping bag and they’re becoming popular with younger, urban audiences.
Monocle just covered this brilliantly:
🔗 monocle.com/the-weekend-...
For years in the UK and US, they’ve had a PR problem. Seen as old-fashioned, uncool, a bit of a joke.
But that’s starting to change.
But that’s starting to change.
August 31, 2025 at 4:54 PM
For years in the UK and US, they’ve had a PR problem. Seen as old-fashioned, uncool, a bit of a joke.
But that’s starting to change.
But that’s starting to change.
I’m talking about the humble wheeled shopping trolley - or as they’ve been unfortunately branded almost everywhere: the “granny trolley.”
August 31, 2025 at 4:54 PM
I’m talking about the humble wheeled shopping trolley - or as they’ve been unfortunately branded almost everywhere: the “granny trolley.”
In case you were wondering the French for “Cyclists Dismount”.
🤷♂️
🤷♂️
August 25, 2025 at 7:21 PM
In case you were wondering the French for “Cyclists Dismount”.
🤷♂️
🤷♂️
Try explaining to someone outside the UK that this road, shared with walkers, cyclists and horse riders, legally has a 60mph speed limit. Madness, really.
August 23, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Try explaining to someone outside the UK that this road, shared with walkers, cyclists and horse riders, legally has a 60mph speed limit. Madness, really.