(Much) cheaper cargo bikes, too many potholes and a stunning local makeover
Story 217: Signals about the future, visible today
Another week with more stories about transport and infrastructure. To start though, the climate and back to the future. 1976 and all that. A year like no other, or so it seemed at the time. A BBC documentary returns to the legendary heatwave that dominated the summer.
Why this matters:
It is worth remembering, if the Met. Office long-term forecast for Richmond borough proves accurate, more challenging weather will become more common. Not exceptional. Not distant. Part of the pattern.
Climate - Scotland’s emissions fall but progress is slowing
Disappointing news from north of the border, reported by BBC News.
Welcome to Barnes2050, a place-based futures project asking: how do we make sure Barnes - the place and its people - is thriving and climate-ready by 2050?
Transport - UK Government wants more short journeys to be walked, wheeled or cycled
The ambition is the Third Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, published by Active Travel England.
Two targets stand out:
55% of short journeys or stages in towns and cities to be walked, wheeled or cycled by 2035
at least 60% of children in England to be walking or cycling to school within a decade.
The government has committed £4.5 billion of investment over the next five years to deliver 5,000 new routes and 10,000 safer crossings by 2030
The BBC has this useful summary.
Why this matters:
If those shorter journeys by car could be replaced with walking and cycling … well, everyone would be better off. Including other road users: there would be a huge reduction in congestion. In 50% of car journeys are under 3km
Barnes2050 has tried to calculate what percentage of current trips in Barnes under five miles are made by walking or cycling. This is an assessment, because there is no simple like-for-like dataset. The best estimate is 51%. That compares favourably with the current England average of 43%, but remains short of the UK Government’s 55% target for 2035. Barnes2050 will publish the calculation separately.
Transport - Council offering cargo bike vouchers
Residents and businesses in Richmond borough have been offered vouchers to make it easier to experience cargo bikes.
The Try Before You Bike vouchers - see what they’ve done there? - are generous.
Residents can receive £150 per month for 12 months, a total value of £1,800, towards the cost of purchasing a cargo bike.
Local businesses are being £300 per month for six months for cargo bikes, also worth £1,800, to support greener deliveries and operations.
Councillor Alexander Ehmann, Joint Deputy Leader of Richmond council and Chair of the Transport and Air Quality Committee described these new offers as ‘ .. the most generous in London’.
You can apply for a voucher can here.
Why this matters:
Richmond council wants the borough to be the country’s ‘ bike capital’
And progress is visible, at least from your correspondent’s saddle. Both private and communal bikes are a common sight now.
They are good for their owners and other cyclists. As the council says,
Cargo bikes offer a practical, low-cost and sustainable alternative to car travel, helping to reduce congestion and improve air quality across the borough.
But they are also expensive. New electric cargo bikes start from £2,500 and can rise to over £7,000. CycleSprog explains what the extra investment secures. The chance to reduce this cost by £1,800 is meaningful.
Transport - Richmond’s pothole problems
The Times (£ paywall) reported UK government data showed,
London councils make up many of the ten worst overall performers with Richmond upon Thames in second place, followed by Wandsworth and then Merton.
Transport - Induced demand still a thing? Yup
The core problem established… over 30 years ago still exists: building extra road capacity to solve congestion from increasing traffic is likely to induce extra road traffic, which receives benefits itself but causes additional delays and environmental costs to others.
Phil Goodwin discussing induced demand.
Why this matters:
Were vehicles to be restored to Hammersmith Bridge, it would be the same as building a new road. More road, more cars. Induced demand. More cars probably means more congestion.
Will this be reflected in the UK Government’s assessment of bids for the Stuctures Fund?
Transport - Robotaxis in London and lessons from California
London does not yet have a commercial robotaxi service operating without a safety driver.
The UK Government has been preparing the legal framework for autonomous vehicles. Limited commercial services are expected to begin during the second half of 2026.
Uber is already asking its customers in London through its App if they want to use driverless cabs. Aurelia Foster reports for BBC London News.
London is at least a year behind some American markets where driverless AV taxies are more established. Waymo for example operate in Phoenix, San Francisco and Los Angeles. That is why research from the USA matters.
The latest insight is not reassuring. BikeIsBest reports that a little over half of all miles travelled by driverless Waymo taxis in California - 54% - carried a passenger. That’s according to data from the first thousand days of the service’s operation, since August 2023.
Why this matters:
BikeIsBest explains,
With robotaxis coming to cities around the world, we should be asking: what are these vehicles adding to the transport mix, and do the benefits outweigh the disbenefits?
And,
This analysis, published in Transport Findings, used data submitted to Californian officials, underlining the importance of such data in cities’ ability to assess these services’ impact on congestion - rather than simply being beguiled by the tech.
Infrastructure - Another bridge, another council, another bid
This is not a story about Hammersmith & Fulham’s bid for UK Government funding to restore Hammersmith Bridge.
This, from myLondon, is about Richmond council’s bid for funding for Richmond Bridge in order
.. to prolong the life of London’s oldest surviving bridge over the River Thames.
This Grade 1 bridge was completed in 1777. London Museum is quoted as saying this is
the oldest surviving bridge in London.
The council stressed the bridge is in ‘a reasonable state’. £2m is required to maintain its condition and extend its longevity.
Economy - This is how to do a makeover
Finally, this is captivating.
Olympic Studios are transforming their Club Room. Look at the attention to detail in this short film.
You can read back-issues of this take on the recent news relevant to future Barnes here.