Will Mitchell
@royalbluemersey.bsky.social
320 followers 1K following 67 posts
Public transport, active mobility, safe streets, liveable cities. And Trams!
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
royalbluemersey.bsky.social
Imagine this level of expenditure on public transport and active mobility. We’d have trains, subways, buses, trams and cycleways covering every city, town and village. Instead we have gridlock, pollution, environmental disaster, disease and traffic violence. Oh what a wonderful world.
royalbluemersey.bsky.social
If only we could have some of this type of thinking in the UK. I am 42 and I wonder whether I will live to see the day this country takes a civilised approach to urban design and mobility. Meanwhile, just across the water, the Dutch are apparently the only people actually living in the 21st century.
royalbluemersey.bsky.social
Absolutely god damn right. I must have missed the meeting where they decided cars were more important than people and children.
Reposted by Will Mitchell
cargobikeben.bsky.social
In addition to 20mph speed limits, the true way to unlock a massive network of safe cycle routes would be to prohibit overtaking of people on bikes on residential streets. While 20mph limits make streets feel safer, being closed passed remains as a barrier to many choosing to cycle instead of drive.
A variation of the official UK no overtaking sign, replacing the car on the left with a person on a bike to indicate that along this stretch of road, it would be illegal to overtake anyone on a pedal cycle or ebike.
Reposted by Will Mitchell
patrickwillcocks.bsky.social
The importance of protected cycle lanes.
hackneycyclist.bsky.social
In the five years leading up to the replacement of blue paint with segregated cycle tracks and floating bus stops 5 people were killed on CS2. In the ten years since they were constructed no cyclists had died and there have been no significant collisions between cycles and pedestrians at bus stops
A family cycles on CS2
royalbluemersey.bsky.social
Note to self : Remember never to read below the line in the Bristol Post.
royalbluemersey.bsky.social
Seeing more of this all around the country - the infantilisation of Britain. Our litigiousness and culture of ambulance chasing no doubt to blame.
royalbluemersey.bsky.social
Proud to live in this vibrant, outward-looking and tolerant place. Long may it continue to thrive.
royalbluemersey.bsky.social
Bit of bedtime reading for you
royalbluemersey.bsky.social
I hope the wall wasn’t damaged
royalbluemersey.bsky.social
bsky.app/profile/moda...

Here’s a great example of what can be achieved through pedestrianisation and low-car policies.
modacitylife.com
“Owning a car does not give you the right to take up public space.” When Pontevedra Mayor Miguel Lores was elected on a car-free platform in 1999, he wasted no time getting to work. The city was in severe decline, with pollution, health, safety, and quality-of-life all trending the wrong direction.🧵
People of all ages and abilities walk, cycle, sit, and socialise on the car-free streets of Pontevedra, which are lined with buildings, trees, benches, and patios. People of all ages and abilities walk, cycle, sit, and socialise on the car-free streets of Pontevedra, which are lined with buildings, trees, benches, and patios. People of all ages and abilities walk, cycle, sit, and socialise on the car-free streets of Pontevedra, which are lined with buildings, trees, benches, and patios. People of all ages and abilities walk, cycle, sit, and socialise on the car-free streets of Pontevedra, which are lined with buildings, trees, benches, and patios.
Reposted by Will Mitchell
modacitylife.com
“Owning a car does not give you the right to take up public space.” When Pontevedra Mayor Miguel Lores was elected on a car-free platform in 1999, he wasted no time getting to work. The city was in severe decline, with pollution, health, safety, and quality-of-life all trending the wrong direction.🧵
People of all ages and abilities walk, cycle, sit, and socialise on the car-free streets of Pontevedra, which are lined with buildings, trees, benches, and patios. People of all ages and abilities walk, cycle, sit, and socialise on the car-free streets of Pontevedra, which are lined with buildings, trees, benches, and patios. People of all ages and abilities walk, cycle, sit, and socialise on the car-free streets of Pontevedra, which are lined with buildings, trees, benches, and patios. People of all ages and abilities walk, cycle, sit, and socialise on the car-free streets of Pontevedra, which are lined with buildings, trees, benches, and patios.
royalbluemersey.bsky.social
Agreed. One further comment on this scheme : there should be provision made to enable the installation of a tramway in future. I don’t think they included this in the proposal, but segregated bus lanes are a start I guess.
royalbluemersey.bsky.social
Not sure how useful it is spending my time replying to this drivel. Have fun lobbying for the interests of the automative and fossil fuel industries. 👍
royalbluemersey.bsky.social
Removing cars will make Park Street more accessible to more people. There are examples of this from all over the world but the gold standard is the Netherlands where you frequently see disabled people using bicycle lanes and able to move around cities and neighbourhoods unimpeded by cars.
royalbluemersey.bsky.social
There is a vocal minority of car-brained pensioners who think they own the city and have a right to drive and park everywhere. Most people probably don’t care all that much. However, I confidently predict that, once the scheme is implemented, few people will want things to go back the way they were.
royalbluemersey.bsky.social
It’s because cars ruin Park Street, just like they ruin the rest of the city. Is there any place on Earth that hasn’t been improved by removing cars?
royalbluemersey.bsky.social
OK I think I want to move to Holland. Only downside I can see would be lack of cask ale, but I could probably get used to the fizzy stuff given the world class urbanism on offer.
Reposted by Will Mitchell
brenttoderian.bsky.social
“To reduce the road deaths toll, we need to tackle ‘Car Brain.’

Any perceived inconvenience ignites ‘Car Brain’ as we justify our right to behave in a manner that would not be tolerated in any other aspect of urban living.”
To reduce the road deaths toll, we need to tackle ‘Car Brain’
Any perceived inconvenience ignites ‘Car Brain’ as we justify our right to behave in a manner that would not be tolerated in any other aspect of ...
www.echolive.ie
Reposted by Will Mitchell
hackneycyclist.bsky.social
Cycling through Zwolle city centre this evening. Peaceful, vibrant, and car-free. In many cities, this would be a car park. Here, it’s for people walking, cycling, dining and enjoying life outdoors.
royalbluemersey.bsky.social
Agree with this. Whilst it’s commendable they’ve found a way to bring costs down, Coventry and other British cities need proper trams. You can get 400+ people on a modern tram vs. 50 on this VLR thing.
royalbluemersey.bsky.social
Yes, but only from the point of view of tailpipe emissions. The production, operation and ultimately disposal of billions of EVs over the coming decades is not compatible with mitigating our environmental emergency. We need fewer cars, fewer journeys by car and viable alternatives to driving.
Reposted by Will Mitchell
iandunt.bsky.social
That's not the only unchanged thing about him, of course. He's also a cunt and always has been.