James Gleave
@jamesgleave1.bsky.social
🚌 Transport geek. 🐦⬛ Nature lover. 🤪 Occasional idiot. Write about transport policy stuff @ www.mobilitymatters.io.
In Wokingham today. Their station building is quite new. And I like it in a functional kind of way.
February 25, 2025 at 8:49 AM
In Wokingham today. Their station building is quite new. And I like it in a functional kind of way.
Last week I submitted a response to the Government’s INTS consultation.
While everyone talked about inclusivity and people-centered approaches (rightly), I just went with “FFS just get on with it.” With suggestions on changing transport governance to boot.
mobilitymatters.io/2025/02/21/%...
While everyone talked about inclusivity and people-centered approaches (rightly), I just went with “FFS just get on with it.” With suggestions on changing transport governance to boot.
mobilitymatters.io/2025/02/21/%...
💪 There Is No Try
By downloading this file, you can listen to this newsletter on the go, or as an alternative to your screen reader. And it’s in my voice! 😊 Good day my good friend. Today’s newsletter is a bre…
https://mobilitymatters.io/2025/02/21/💪-there-is-no-try/
February 25, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Last week I submitted a response to the Government’s INTS consultation.
While everyone talked about inclusivity and people-centered approaches (rightly), I just went with “FFS just get on with it.” With suggestions on changing transport governance to boot.
mobilitymatters.io/2025/02/21/%...
While everyone talked about inclusivity and people-centered approaches (rightly), I just went with “FFS just get on with it.” With suggestions on changing transport governance to boot.
mobilitymatters.io/2025/02/21/%...
It’s always funny to me how Freiburg, the poster child city of sustainability and inclusivity, is twinned with…Guildford.
February 24, 2025 at 8:37 AM
It’s always funny to me how Freiburg, the poster child city of sustainability and inclusivity, is twinned with…Guildford.
Bluesky, show me an image that perfectly encapsulates car centricity in old English cities…
February 14, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Bluesky, show me an image that perfectly encapsulates car centricity in old English cities…
Not been on here in ages because, well, I’ve had a life.
I understand someone said something like lots of planes are good for the economy. Here are some words I wrote that say “mmm…more complicated than that.”
mobilitymatters.io/2025/01/31/%...
I understand someone said something like lots of planes are good for the economy. Here are some words I wrote that say “mmm…more complicated than that.”
mobilitymatters.io/2025/01/31/%...
✈ A Primer on Airport Expansion Economics
By downloading this file, you can listen to this newsletter on the go, or as an alternative to your screen reader. And it’s in my voice! 😊 Good day my good friend. This week has been a flurry of tr…
https://mobilitymatters.io/2025/01/31/✈-a-primer-on-airport-expansion-economics/
February 14, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Not been on here in ages because, well, I’ve had a life.
I understand someone said something like lots of planes are good for the economy. Here are some words I wrote that say “mmm…more complicated than that.”
mobilitymatters.io/2025/01/31/%...
I understand someone said something like lots of planes are good for the economy. Here are some words I wrote that say “mmm…more complicated than that.”
mobilitymatters.io/2025/01/31/%...
Starting my 43rd year on this God-forsaken rock by reading this bit of brilliance by @hannahritchie.bsky.social. A timely reminder that while things are a bit rubbish, they are a lot better than they have been.
Here’s to the stubborn optimists of the world, whose work make life less shit. 🍻
Here’s to the stubborn optimists of the world, whose work make life less shit. 🍻
December 31, 2024 at 9:58 PM
Starting my 43rd year on this God-forsaken rock by reading this bit of brilliance by @hannahritchie.bsky.social. A timely reminder that while things are a bit rubbish, they are a lot better than they have been.
Here’s to the stubborn optimists of the world, whose work make life less shit. 🍻
Here’s to the stubborn optimists of the world, whose work make life less shit. 🍻
Two Jags from the top rope.
Tidying up my office, I came across this fabulous letter from the sadly demised John Prescott. They don't make em like that any more..
December 31, 2024 at 9:53 PM
Two Jags from the top rope.
I don’t make predictions, but here is mine:
This will be a one-term Labour Government. And it has felt like it since Day 1.
The one area where some good was happening (transport) had the SoS binned off.
This will be a one-term Labour Government. And it has felt like it since Day 1.
The one area where some good was happening (transport) had the SoS binned off.
Starmer is going to bring back more washed New Labour grandees because he wants to convey that his government’s inertia up til now is down to current personnel not “knowing the ropes” . The reality is they had virtually nothing in their manifesto so the civil service cannot be compelled into action
December 31, 2024 at 12:37 AM
I don’t make predictions, but here is mine:
This will be a one-term Labour Government. And it has felt like it since Day 1.
The one area where some good was happening (transport) had the SoS binned off.
This will be a one-term Labour Government. And it has felt like it since Day 1.
The one area where some good was happening (transport) had the SoS binned off.
Jimmy Carter was a brilliant reminder that public service is not just for people who get elected or work for the public sector. It’s about devoting your life to helping others.
There have been better Presidents. But no better men have been President.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024...
There have been better Presidents. But no better men have been President.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024...
Jimmy Carter, longest-lived US president, dies aged 100
Former president faced series of economic and foreign policy crises, including Iran hostage affair and Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
www.theguardian.com
December 30, 2024 at 7:56 AM
Jimmy Carter was a brilliant reminder that public service is not just for people who get elected or work for the public sector. It’s about devoting your life to helping others.
There have been better Presidents. But no better men have been President.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024...
There have been better Presidents. But no better men have been President.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024...
This is good news.
This is great news! The deadline to record old footpaths has been scrapped 👍🏻💫❤️
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Deadline to record historic footpaths to be scrapped
Walking campaigners welcome the move, which the government says will help prevent paths from being lost.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 27, 2024 at 12:30 PM
This is good news.
This happens so much its depressing.
1. People warn about thing breaking.
2. Thing breaks. Politicians ride in to sort it.
3. A bodge job is made because Treasury says so.
4. Politicians say "this must never happen again."
5. Nothing gets done to prevent it happening again.
6. Go back to 1.
1. People warn about thing breaking.
2. Thing breaks. Politicians ride in to sort it.
3. A bodge job is made because Treasury says so.
4. Politicians say "this must never happen again."
5. Nothing gets done to prevent it happening again.
6. Go back to 1.
I do in a way feel a level of affection for the way the local government finance crisis in this country has played out because it fits into a grand tradition. X thing is broken, some ppl write about it for years on end and nothing much happens. Then it “suddenly” has a catastrophic conclusion
December 14, 2024 at 2:18 PM
This happens so much its depressing.
1. People warn about thing breaking.
2. Thing breaks. Politicians ride in to sort it.
3. A bodge job is made because Treasury says so.
4. Politicians say "this must never happen again."
5. Nothing gets done to prevent it happening again.
6. Go back to 1.
1. People warn about thing breaking.
2. Thing breaks. Politicians ride in to sort it.
3. A bodge job is made because Treasury says so.
4. Politicians say "this must never happen again."
5. Nothing gets done to prevent it happening again.
6. Go back to 1.
There is a lot of truth here. In my political experience, the left wins the argument, but the right wins the politics. And in politics, doing the latter means you win.
It never ceases to amaze me how those on the left do popular, correct things, but still lose elections.
It never ceases to amaze me how those on the left do popular, correct things, but still lose elections.
Y'days post: The politics of stupid mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2024/12/the-...
If believing that doing what right wing populists ask for will reduce populism’s appeal is dumb, then aping what they say is worse still. It misinforms the public in a way that helps the populist!
If believing that doing what right wing populists ask for will reduce populism’s appeal is dumb, then aping what they say is worse still. It misinforms the public in a way that helps the populist!
The politics of stupid
I had a conversation on social media recently that went a bit like this (and I’m paraphrasing): ‘I want massive reductions in immigrat...
mainlymacro.blogspot.com
December 11, 2024 at 12:27 PM
There is a lot of truth here. In my political experience, the left wins the argument, but the right wins the politics. And in politics, doing the latter means you win.
It never ceases to amaze me how those on the left do popular, correct things, but still lose elections.
It never ceases to amaze me how those on the left do popular, correct things, but still lose elections.
BREAKING NEWS: Department for Transport sensationally reverses the decision to cancel the Stonehenge Tunnel project.
A new artist's impression has been released showcasing a brand new design for the controversial scheme.
A new artist's impression has been released showcasing a brand new design for the controversial scheme.
December 11, 2024 at 12:21 PM
BREAKING NEWS: Department for Transport sensationally reverses the decision to cancel the Stonehenge Tunnel project.
A new artist's impression has been released showcasing a brand new design for the controversial scheme.
A new artist's impression has been released showcasing a brand new design for the controversial scheme.
Reposted by James Gleave
There has been lots on the (English?) planning system and how bad and slow it is.
My tuppence worth as someone who worked in a consultative department for over a decade and left in 2019 was that staffing was hollowed out even then, with high turnover, and that's the main problem.
My tuppence worth as someone who worked in a consultative department for over a decade and left in 2019 was that staffing was hollowed out even then, with high turnover, and that's the main problem.
December 10, 2024 at 8:45 AM
There has been lots on the (English?) planning system and how bad and slow it is.
My tuppence worth as someone who worked in a consultative department for over a decade and left in 2019 was that staffing was hollowed out even then, with high turnover, and that's the main problem.
My tuppence worth as someone who worked in a consultative department for over a decade and left in 2019 was that staffing was hollowed out even then, with high turnover, and that's the main problem.
In research that will probably shock nobody, you exert less physical effort riding an e-scooter compared to walking and cycling. And its not even close really.
So if you are in an area where people are subbing walking for e-scootering, that's not a good thing.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
So if you are in an area where people are subbing walking for e-scootering, that's not a good thing.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Are e-scooters active transport? Measured physical activity outputs of e-scooter riding vs walking
E-scooters have been adopted into the urban transportation network as a convenient, environmentally friendly, and low-cost mode of transportation inte…
www.sciencedirect.com
December 8, 2024 at 10:40 PM
In research that will probably shock nobody, you exert less physical effort riding an e-scooter compared to walking and cycling. And its not even close really.
So if you are in an area where people are subbing walking for e-scootering, that's not a good thing.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
So if you are in an area where people are subbing walking for e-scootering, that's not a good thing.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
This is one of those things that sounds good, but makes little difference.
Most applications don't get approved by committee. If they go to committee, there is little delay in the process, and committees usually go with the officer recommendation.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Most applications don't get approved by committee. If they go to committee, there is little delay in the process, and committees usually go with the officer recommendation.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Planning committees could be bypassed to speed up house building
The move is part of what ministers say will be a "sweeping overhaul" of England's local planning system.
www.bbc.com
December 8, 2024 at 9:42 AM
This is one of those things that sounds good, but makes little difference.
Most applications don't get approved by committee. If they go to committee, there is little delay in the process, and committees usually go with the officer recommendation.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Most applications don't get approved by committee. If they go to committee, there is little delay in the process, and committees usually go with the officer recommendation.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
One of the things I agree with Dominic Cummings on is how SW1 does not understand the extent to which the UK is broken.
This government needs to deliver nothing short of revolutionary change in powers, funding, and governance in a way that is visible every day.
This government needs to deliver nothing short of revolutionary change in powers, funding, and governance in a way that is visible every day.
Much of the time speaking to the public is a refreshing tonic to SW1 madness, but it's also true that focus groups during the election felt like being faced with a battering ram of disillusionment, that and i don't think people in Westminster grasp fully the extent of it.
December 7, 2024 at 7:32 PM
One of the things I agree with Dominic Cummings on is how SW1 does not understand the extent to which the UK is broken.
This government needs to deliver nothing short of revolutionary change in powers, funding, and governance in a way that is visible every day.
This government needs to deliver nothing short of revolutionary change in powers, funding, and governance in a way that is visible every day.
Car parks.
☀️ Make the heat worse.
🌧️ Provide almost no shelter when raining.
❄️ Either like sheet ice or full of grit when cold.
💨 Make you feel the full force of the wind.
No other land use make cities shit in so many different ways and in different weathers.
☀️ Make the heat worse.
🌧️ Provide almost no shelter when raining.
❄️ Either like sheet ice or full of grit when cold.
💨 Make you feel the full force of the wind.
No other land use make cities shit in so many different ways and in different weathers.
December 7, 2024 at 12:15 PM
Car parks.
☀️ Make the heat worse.
🌧️ Provide almost no shelter when raining.
❄️ Either like sheet ice or full of grit when cold.
💨 Make you feel the full force of the wind.
No other land use make cities shit in so many different ways and in different weathers.
☀️ Make the heat worse.
🌧️ Provide almost no shelter when raining.
❄️ Either like sheet ice or full of grit when cold.
💨 Make you feel the full force of the wind.
No other land use make cities shit in so many different ways and in different weathers.
This weekend will be spent working. So best to enjoy some tunes while I can.
December 6, 2024 at 11:43 PM
This weekend will be spent working. So best to enjoy some tunes while I can.
One of the lunatics (the white one) spent all night barking at the wind. He also spent most of the morning charging around the house because, having been up for 18 hours straight, he decided going to sleep was boring.
Finally he’s collapsed. I might just do the same.
Finally he’s collapsed. I might just do the same.
December 6, 2024 at 12:17 PM
One of the lunatics (the white one) spent all night barking at the wind. He also spent most of the morning charging around the house because, having been up for 18 hours straight, he decided going to sleep was boring.
Finally he’s collapsed. I might just do the same.
Finally he’s collapsed. I might just do the same.
Spent the last couple of days at the Local Transport Summit.
Kind of feel similar to @gregmarsden-leeds.bsky.social. Feels like all of transport planning is resting on its laurels given the scale of the challenges. Almost like because there is a new government it will be sorted.
Kind of feel similar to @gregmarsden-leeds.bsky.social. Feels like all of transport planning is resting on its laurels given the scale of the challenges. Almost like because there is a new government it will be sorted.
December 5, 2024 at 5:58 PM
Spent the last couple of days at the Local Transport Summit.
Kind of feel similar to @gregmarsden-leeds.bsky.social. Feels like all of transport planning is resting on its laurels given the scale of the challenges. Almost like because there is a new government it will be sorted.
Kind of feel similar to @gregmarsden-leeds.bsky.social. Feels like all of transport planning is resting on its laurels given the scale of the challenges. Almost like because there is a new government it will be sorted.
The UK is a nation of animal lovers, right? 🦊
Until we get behind a wheel that is. We really don’t plan transport with all creatures great and small in mind. We kill millions of them each year.
(Blatant plug for my newsletter, BTW 😉)
mobilitymatters.io/2024/03/01/%...
Until we get behind a wheel that is. We really don’t plan transport with all creatures great and small in mind. We kill millions of them each year.
(Blatant plug for my newsletter, BTW 😉)
mobilitymatters.io/2024/03/01/%...
🦌 Wild Things
Good day my good friend. As I mentioned earlier this week, due to family commitments I will not be publishing newsletters next week. In the meantime, I have written this one on a matter that has be…
https://mobilitymatters.io/2024/03/01/🦌-wild-things/
December 5, 2024 at 8:22 AM
The UK is a nation of animal lovers, right? 🦊
Until we get behind a wheel that is. We really don’t plan transport with all creatures great and small in mind. We kill millions of them each year.
(Blatant plug for my newsletter, BTW 😉)
mobilitymatters.io/2024/03/01/%...
Until we get behind a wheel that is. We really don’t plan transport with all creatures great and small in mind. We kill millions of them each year.
(Blatant plug for my newsletter, BTW 😉)
mobilitymatters.io/2024/03/01/%...
Reposted by James Gleave
November was a BIG month for EV sales:
1️⃣ in 4️⃣ new cars sold were battery electric
📅 The highest fully electric share since 2023
📉 Petrol sales are going down - only 29% of sales in November
Ignore the noise. The ZEV mandate is working.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
1️⃣ in 4️⃣ new cars sold were battery electric
📅 The highest fully electric share since 2023
📉 Petrol sales are going down - only 29% of sales in November
Ignore the noise. The ZEV mandate is working.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
A Quarter of New Cars Sold in the UK Were Electric in November
One in four new cars registered in the UK last month were fully electric, a transportation research group said, touting the new figures as evidence that the country’s EV sales mandate is working.
www.bloomberg.com
December 5, 2024 at 7:32 AM
November was a BIG month for EV sales:
1️⃣ in 4️⃣ new cars sold were battery electric
📅 The highest fully electric share since 2023
📉 Petrol sales are going down - only 29% of sales in November
Ignore the noise. The ZEV mandate is working.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
1️⃣ in 4️⃣ new cars sold were battery electric
📅 The highest fully electric share since 2023
📉 Petrol sales are going down - only 29% of sales in November
Ignore the noise. The ZEV mandate is working.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Anyone who has read Private Eye for the last few years will not be shocked to hear this.
Auditors disclaim opinion on two years’ worth of South Tees Development Corporation accounts, while noting “significant weaknesses” in value for money arrangements
on.ft.com/4fXHkM2
on.ft.com/4fXHkM2
UK auditors refuse to sign off Tees Valley regeneration project’s accounts
[FREE TO READ] Accountants Mazars could not get sufficient assurance of Ben Houchen’s body before deadline
on.ft.com
December 3, 2024 at 7:40 PM
Anyone who has read Private Eye for the last few years will not be shocked to hear this.
Just to give you an idea quite how off this forecast is, in 2023 China ON IT’S OWN sold 8.1 million battery and plug in hybrid vehicles.
ourworldindata.org/electric-car...
ourworldindata.org/electric-car...
December 3, 2024 at 2:06 PM
Just to give you an idea quite how off this forecast is, in 2023 China ON IT’S OWN sold 8.1 million battery and plug in hybrid vehicles.
ourworldindata.org/electric-car...
ourworldindata.org/electric-car...