Nick Lester-Davis
@quinlet.bsky.social
Knows the odd thing about transport
I see that Kemi Badenoch would scrap the 2030 ban on the sale of new fossil fuelled cars - demonstrating, once again, the Tories’ mistaken belief that there are millions of car brained voters who will allow freedom to drive as you like to determine their votes.
December 14, 2025 at 5:51 PM
I see that Kemi Badenoch would scrap the 2030 ban on the sale of new fossil fuelled cars - demonstrating, once again, the Tories’ mistaken belief that there are millions of car brained voters who will allow freedom to drive as you like to determine their votes.
This is fascinating and I look forward to seeing what happens
Exciting road pricing news out of Denmark!
Today a new expert group for designing the future car taxation was announced, with a focus on the externalities from cars.
See the terms of reference below. I will soon follow up with a piece on why I think it actually can lead to GPS-based road pricing.
Today a new expert group for designing the future car taxation was announced, with a focus on the externalities from cars.
See the terms of reference below. I will soon follow up with a piece on why I think it actually can lead to GPS-based road pricing.
December 9, 2025 at 10:03 PM
This is fascinating and I look forward to seeing what happens
Reposted by Nick Lester-Davis
This is brilliant. Would any previous opponents of this policy like to respond? www.linkedin.com/redir/redire...
Wales Casualties 1st 18 months
We support those communities that want 20mph where people are
www.linkedin.com
December 2, 2025 at 3:00 PM
This is brilliant. Would any previous opponents of this policy like to respond? www.linkedin.com/redir/redire...
Reposted by Nick Lester-Davis
I really cannot recommend this excellent piece on Hammersmith Bridge highly enough
Hammersmith Bridge
Where did 25,000 vehicles go?
nickmaini.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:24 PM
I really cannot recommend this excellent piece on Hammersmith Bridge highly enough
Reposted by Nick Lester-Davis
Yet another evidence review argues very strongly that simply providing alternatives to driving doesn't reduce driving
This isn't surprising, if only thanks to habit. If I unthinkingly jump in my car for every trip (as many do), new buses won't change that
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
This isn't surprising, if only thanks to habit. If I unthinkingly jump in my car for every trip (as many do), new buses won't change that
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reducing traffic with “carrots”: A review of the evidence
Reducing traffic volumes is one way to reduce carbon emissions from the transport sector. Since increasing driving costs is often met with public resi…
www.sciencedirect.com
November 15, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Yet another evidence review argues very strongly that simply providing alternatives to driving doesn't reduce driving
This isn't surprising, if only thanks to habit. If I unthinkingly jump in my car for every trip (as many do), new buses won't change that
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
This isn't surprising, if only thanks to habit. If I unthinkingly jump in my car for every trip (as many do), new buses won't change that
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
An old moon over a frosty Loch Ard
November 16, 2025 at 7:33 AM
An old moon over a frosty Loch Ard
After two solid days of rain, a welcome dry spell on Loch Ard
November 6, 2025 at 4:56 PM
After two solid days of rain, a welcome dry spell on Loch Ard
I wondered how long it would be before a call for metal detectors surfaced It happened previously about 30 years ago and was considered un workable then (after lots of time and money spent) Justcas true now www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Metal detectors at train stations would ‘make life impossible’, says transport secretary
Heidi Alexander says security review after Cambridgeshire train stabbings will consider all other options
www.theguardian.com
November 3, 2025 at 8:28 AM
I wondered how long it would be before a call for metal detectors surfaced It happened previously about 30 years ago and was considered un workable then (after lots of time and money spent) Justcas true now www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
The mirror like reflection on Loch Ard on an admittedly not particularly pleasant day
October 20, 2025 at 3:03 PM
The mirror like reflection on Loch Ard on an admittedly not particularly pleasant day
It might be the sea shore rather than just a small loch
October 12, 2025 at 8:45 AM
It might be the sea shore rather than just a small loch
So robotaxis lead to more taxi trips, more expensive taxi trips, switch from private car ownership and use. So a pretty niche market but moving in the right direction
The economics of self-driving taxis
economist.com/finance-and-...
The economics of self-driving taxis
economist.com/finance-and-...
The economics of self-driving taxis
Waymo is a case study in automation
economist.com
September 28, 2025 at 6:18 PM
So robotaxis lead to more taxi trips, more expensive taxi trips, switch from private car ownership and use. So a pretty niche market but moving in the right direction
The economics of self-driving taxis
economist.com/finance-and-...
The economics of self-driving taxis
economist.com/finance-and-...
A very interesting analysis
British men are driving less, and a culture is vanishing
economist.com/britain/2025...
British men are driving less, and a culture is vanishing
economist.com/britain/2025...
British men are driving less, and a culture is vanishing
Farewell to the road warriors
economist.com
September 28, 2025 at 11:52 AM
A very interesting analysis
British men are driving less, and a culture is vanishing
economist.com/britain/2025...
British men are driving less, and a culture is vanishing
economist.com/britain/2025...
The most clearing on Loch Ard this morning. Pictures taken 30 minutes apart
September 28, 2025 at 8:31 AM
The most clearing on Loch Ard this morning. Pictures taken 30 minutes apart
Well I didn’t expect frost this morning.
September 22, 2025 at 6:12 AM
Well I didn’t expect frost this morning.
As the march went past the Albert Halls
September 20, 2025 at 9:30 PM
As the march went past the Albert Halls
Another piece of evidence to show the importance and necessity of bringing urban speed limits down.
Simeon Brown, Chris Bishop, Trucking Lobby, Mike Hosking, NZME what do they all have in common?
Telling porkies that lower speed limits increases congestion when it does the opposite
New study looks at effects of 30 km/h speed limits
etsc.eu/new-study-lo...
Telling porkies that lower speed limits increases congestion when it does the opposite
New study looks at effects of 30 km/h speed limits
etsc.eu/new-study-lo...
New study looks at effects of 30 km/h speed limits
The claim that 30 km/h speed limits lead to increased traffic congestion and higher congestion costs is a myth, unsupported by evidence, according to a new paper by George Yannis and Eva Michelaraki…
etsc.eu
September 15, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Another piece of evidence to show the importance and necessity of bringing urban speed limits down.
Reposted by Nick Lester-Davis
*Our new LTN paper out today*
Do 'boundary road' junctions with minor roads get safer when minor roads are filtered (i.e. closed to through-traffic)?
We tested this using police-reported casualty data (2012–24) from 113 London Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) introduced between 2015–24.
1/
Do 'boundary road' junctions with minor roads get safer when minor roads are filtered (i.e. closed to through-traffic)?
We tested this using police-reported casualty data (2012–24) from 113 London Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) introduced between 2015–24.
1/
August 26, 2025 at 9:14 PM
*Our new LTN paper out today*
Do 'boundary road' junctions with minor roads get safer when minor roads are filtered (i.e. closed to through-traffic)?
We tested this using police-reported casualty data (2012–24) from 113 London Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) introduced between 2015–24.
1/
Do 'boundary road' junctions with minor roads get safer when minor roads are filtered (i.e. closed to through-traffic)?
We tested this using police-reported casualty data (2012–24) from 113 London Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) introduced between 2015–24.
1/
Looks like a great approach
Lambeth have updated their delivery framework for Healthy Neighbourhoods. Clearly sets out the project stages, how they consult, and simplifies formal reports to one for Design (pre trial) and one for Outcomes (after).
Also - very simple success criteria
Also - very simple success criteria
August 27, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Looks like a great approach
Amid all the furore about immigration, this story shows just how much Scotland needs more, tax-paying immigrants
August 26, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Amid all the furore about immigration, this story shows just how much Scotland needs more, tax-paying immigrants
Our walks are a bit slower at the moment as Otto insists on picking blackberries as we go.
August 25, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Our walks are a bit slower at the moment as Otto insists on picking blackberries as we go.
Indeed. And those politicians who vote to remove such schemes should be held liable for the extra deaths they will cause
It's not a 'war on motorists', it's a war against needless deaths.
It is perplexing to me that the same commentators who want a smaller state also want Whitehall to decide whether a few bollards can be placed in Birmingham.
Opinion piece by me in The Standard 👇
www.standard.co.uk/comment/low-...
It is perplexing to me that the same commentators who want a smaller state also want Whitehall to decide whether a few bollards can be placed in Birmingham.
Opinion piece by me in The Standard 👇
www.standard.co.uk/comment/low-...
Low Traffic Neighbourhoods save lives, it’s time to stop pretending otherwise
The news that Labour have decided not to proceed with the previous Conservative Government’s “Plan For Drivers” should be welcomed, but should also hardly be a surprise.
www.standard.co.uk
August 19, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Indeed. And those politicians who vote to remove such schemes should be held liable for the extra deaths they will cause
Double yellow lines don’t apply when the sun’s out - that’s right, isn’t it? (Our village is now inaccessible to fire engines or ambulances)
August 17, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Double yellow lines don’t apply when the sun’s out - that’s right, isn’t it? (Our village is now inaccessible to fire engines or ambulances)
Reposted by Nick Lester-Davis
Untruths about asylum-seekers exposed by @fullfact.org fullfact.org/immigration/... #asylum #migrants
Asylum seekers living in hotels do not receive £70 a week – Full Fact
Thousands of people have viewed a video supposedly featuring a former ‘migrant hotel employee’, who makes a number of incorrect claims about what government support asylum seekers receive.
fullfact.org
August 6, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Untruths about asylum-seekers exposed by @fullfact.org fullfact.org/immigration/... #asylum #migrants
Reposted by Nick Lester-Davis
Great piece on the Welsh government’s 20mph policy by @willhaycardiff.bsky.social
“What is great about evidence based policy is that it has a wonderful habit of working”
Inspiration for England as DfT work on the promised road safety strategy.
“What is great about evidence based policy is that it has a wonderful habit of working”
Inspiration for England as DfT work on the promised road safety strategy.
Turns out the 20mph limit was great idea!
Two years on from the controversial policy, it's becoming increasingly clear that the doubters were wrong
willhaywardwales.substack.com
August 3, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Great piece on the Welsh government’s 20mph policy by @willhaycardiff.bsky.social
“What is great about evidence based policy is that it has a wonderful habit of working”
Inspiration for England as DfT work on the promised road safety strategy.
“What is great about evidence based policy is that it has a wonderful habit of working”
Inspiration for England as DfT work on the promised road safety strategy.