Alistair Ford
@alistaircford.bsky.social
Geospatial lecturer, climate/sustainability researcher, rail enthusiast, music lover, Green activist, beekeeper, lower league footy fan, grower of tiny vegetables, bike rider. Views my own etc.
Reposted by Alistair Ford
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 24, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
Reposted by Alistair Ford
"It’s ludicrous that aviation doesn’t pay fuel tax, especially now that Rachel Reeves is making noises about a tax on electric vehicles. If we’re looking for easy wins for revenue, just look to the skies."
~ Flight Free UK Director Anna Hughes in the Guardian today 👇
~ Flight Free UK Director Anna Hughes in the Guardian today 👇
End the tax break that makes flying cheaper than trains | Letters
Letters: Airlines benefit from a tax system that helps them keep fares low, writes Anna Hughes
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:15 AM
"It’s ludicrous that aviation doesn’t pay fuel tax, especially now that Rachel Reeves is making noises about a tax on electric vehicles. If we’re looking for easy wins for revenue, just look to the skies."
~ Flight Free UK Director Anna Hughes in the Guardian today 👇
~ Flight Free UK Director Anna Hughes in the Guardian today 👇
On a chilly (and now very grey!) day, I'm very much enjoying the sunshine this little beauty from Bongo Joe Records is bringing into my office. There are some great releases on their Bandcamp page if you fancy paying for some lovely and uplifting music.
madalitsoband.bandcamp.com/album/ma-git...
madalitsoband.bandcamp.com/album/ma-git...
Ma Gitala, by Madalitso Band
8 track album
madalitsoband.bandcamp.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:29 PM
On a chilly (and now very grey!) day, I'm very much enjoying the sunshine this little beauty from Bongo Joe Records is bringing into my office. There are some great releases on their Bandcamp page if you fancy paying for some lovely and uplifting music.
madalitsoband.bandcamp.com/album/ma-git...
madalitsoband.bandcamp.com/album/ma-git...
New paper alert! Our paper coupling together urban flood modelling and agent-based transport modelling to explore the impacts of flooding on road transport in Beijing is now published. Next we'll be testing adaptation responses (hard/soft/green)...
Link: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Link: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Flood impact on urban transport networks considering the flooding propagation
Urban flooding significantly impacts transport networks and the mobility of people and associated air quality. This paper introduces a new dynamic fra…
www.sciencedirect.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:26 PM
New paper alert! Our paper coupling together urban flood modelling and agent-based transport modelling to explore the impacts of flooding on road transport in Beijing is now published. Next we'll be testing adaptation responses (hard/soft/green)...
Link: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Link: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Attn Newcastle City Council!
“Helsinki hasn’t registered a single traffic-related fatality in the past year…Citing data that shows the risk of pedestrian fatality is cut in half by reducing a car’s speed from 40 to 30km/hr, city officials imposed the lower limit in most of Helsinki’s residential areas & city center in 2021.”
Helsinki just went a full year without a single traffic death
The capital city is Finnish’ed with car-related fatalities.
www.politico.eu
November 17, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Attn Newcastle City Council!
Reposted by Alistair Ford
With the world heating up [and more pedestrians being killed], why are more SUVs being sold?
“It’s the industry that has driven the demand through huge marketing & advertising campaigns in recent years. SUVs offered the industry a simple way of charging more for a vehicle that does the same thing.”
“It’s the industry that has driven the demand through huge marketing & advertising campaigns in recent years. SUVs offered the industry a simple way of charging more for a vehicle that does the same thing.”
With the world heating up, why are more SUVs being sold?
Despite dire predictions of climate breakdown, more Sports Utility Vehicles are being spotted on, and off, the roads.
www.bbc.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:09 AM
With the world heating up [and more pedestrians being killed], why are more SUVs being sold?
“It’s the industry that has driven the demand through huge marketing & advertising campaigns in recent years. SUVs offered the industry a simple way of charging more for a vehicle that does the same thing.”
“It’s the industry that has driven the demand through huge marketing & advertising campaigns in recent years. SUVs offered the industry a simple way of charging more for a vehicle that does the same thing.”
Reposted by Alistair Ford
All (climate) COPs are bastards.
I've been threatening to write this for years. Here it finally is.
"Just as communities, acting together in concert for common security, can make the cops obsolete, a globe of communities acting in concert for the climate can make the COPs obsolete."
I've been threatening to write this for years. Here it finally is.
"Just as communities, acting together in concert for common security, can make the cops obsolete, a globe of communities acting in concert for the climate can make the COPs obsolete."
All (climate) COPs Are B*stards
On the need to "Defund the COPs"
The ACAB slogan has always jarred with me somewhat.
I understand (and respect) it as a systemic critique, intended to reveal that it's impossible for any individual,...
in-between-days.ghost.io
November 17, 2025 at 7:00 AM
All (climate) COPs are bastards.
I've been threatening to write this for years. Here it finally is.
"Just as communities, acting together in concert for common security, can make the cops obsolete, a globe of communities acting in concert for the climate can make the COPs obsolete."
I've been threatening to write this for years. Here it finally is.
"Just as communities, acting together in concert for common security, can make the cops obsolete, a globe of communities acting in concert for the climate can make the COPs obsolete."
Reposted by Alistair Ford
Widespread flooding is expected across England.
Flood risk is a critical issues for planners, but applying flood risk considerations in practice can be hard.
The Environment Agency & the TCPA have developed free online training for planners & flood risk professionals.
🖇️ learning.tcpa.org.uk
Flood risk is a critical issues for planners, but applying flood risk considerations in practice can be hard.
The Environment Agency & the TCPA have developed free online training for planners & flood risk professionals.
🖇️ learning.tcpa.org.uk
November 14, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Widespread flooding is expected across England.
Flood risk is a critical issues for planners, but applying flood risk considerations in practice can be hard.
The Environment Agency & the TCPA have developed free online training for planners & flood risk professionals.
🖇️ learning.tcpa.org.uk
Flood risk is a critical issues for planners, but applying flood risk considerations in practice can be hard.
The Environment Agency & the TCPA have developed free online training for planners & flood risk professionals.
🖇️ learning.tcpa.org.uk
Reposted by Alistair Ford
Clean energy: "It's the economy of tomorrow"
🎧 Listen from 54:11 mins to hear Prof. Corinne Le Quéré discuss the latest Global Carbon Budget: the rise in fossil fuel emissions but also the extraordinary growth in renewable energy in China/India, along with progress elsewhere.
🎧 Listen from 54:11 mins to hear Prof. Corinne Le Quéré discuss the latest Global Carbon Budget: the rise in fossil fuel emissions but also the extraordinary growth in renewable energy in China/India, along with progress elsewhere.
Today - 13/11/2025 - BBC Sounds
News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Clean energy: "It's the economy of tomorrow"
🎧 Listen from 54:11 mins to hear Prof. Corinne Le Quéré discuss the latest Global Carbon Budget: the rise in fossil fuel emissions but also the extraordinary growth in renewable energy in China/India, along with progress elsewhere.
🎧 Listen from 54:11 mins to hear Prof. Corinne Le Quéré discuss the latest Global Carbon Budget: the rise in fossil fuel emissions but also the extraordinary growth in renewable energy in China/India, along with progress elsewhere.
Can we have these outside of London, please @royal-mail.bsky.social ?
⚡📮Nice work @royal-mail.bsky.social, who have just announced the launch of a new fleet of over 100 micro electric vehicles, replacing 52 vans.
Better for the climate and for deliveries. This is exactly the kind of move we need to see for cities free of diesel vans!
#ElectrifyLondon
Better for the climate and for deliveries. This is exactly the kind of move we need to see for cities free of diesel vans!
#ElectrifyLondon
November 13, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Can we have these outside of London, please @royal-mail.bsky.social ?
Reposted by Alistair Ford
Thanks to open data, it's possible to look at what the spending on the cycle to work scheme is compared to other similar schemes, say vehicle salary sacrifice.
Both involve buying things before tax on wages so reducing your tax bill, giving an idea of the tax raising potential from each.
Both involve buying things before tax on wages so reducing your tax bill, giving an idea of the tax raising potential from each.
November 13, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Thanks to open data, it's possible to look at what the spending on the cycle to work scheme is compared to other similar schemes, say vehicle salary sacrifice.
Both involve buying things before tax on wages so reducing your tax bill, giving an idea of the tax raising potential from each.
Both involve buying things before tax on wages so reducing your tax bill, giving an idea of the tax raising potential from each.
Reposted by Alistair Ford
🧵/ How far does the public support net zero?
Support: 60%
Oppose: 25%
Net support by party
Green: +81
Lib Dem: +67
Lab: +64
Con: +11
Reform: -44
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
Support: 60%
Oppose: 25%
Net support by party
Green: +81
Lib Dem: +67
Lab: +64
Con: +11
Reform: -44
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
November 11, 2025 at 10:43 AM
🧵/ How far does the public support net zero?
Support: 60%
Oppose: 25%
Net support by party
Green: +81
Lib Dem: +67
Lab: +64
Con: +11
Reform: -44
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
Support: 60%
Oppose: 25%
Net support by party
Green: +81
Lib Dem: +67
Lab: +64
Con: +11
Reform: -44
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
Reposted by Alistair Ford
Excited to share that my first journal paper (w/ Dr Craig Robson & @alistaircford.bsky.social) has been published in the Journal of Cycling and Micromobility Research! Read more (open access) here: doi.org/10.1016/j.jc...
Thanks to @geospatialcdt.bsky.social and Craig and Ali for enabling this!
Thanks to @geospatialcdt.bsky.social and Craig and Ali for enabling this!
October 28, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Excited to share that my first journal paper (w/ Dr Craig Robson & @alistaircford.bsky.social) has been published in the Journal of Cycling and Micromobility Research! Read more (open access) here: doi.org/10.1016/j.jc...
Thanks to @geospatialcdt.bsky.social and Craig and Ali for enabling this!
Thanks to @geospatialcdt.bsky.social and Craig and Ali for enabling this!
Huge congrats to @chris-larkin.bsky.social for his first journal publication documenting his open data approach to identifying plausible LTNs. It's a really neat bit of work that should help LTN researchers and policymakers to identify where existing low-traffic neighbourhoods are. Well done, Chris!
Excited to share that my first journal paper (w/ Dr Craig Robson & @alistaircford.bsky.social) has been published in the Journal of Cycling and Micromobility Research! Read more (open access) here: doi.org/10.1016/j.jc...
Thanks to @geospatialcdt.bsky.social and Craig and Ali for enabling this!
Thanks to @geospatialcdt.bsky.social and Craig and Ali for enabling this!
October 28, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Huge congrats to @chris-larkin.bsky.social for his first journal publication documenting his open data approach to identifying plausible LTNs. It's a really neat bit of work that should help LTN researchers and policymakers to identify where existing low-traffic neighbourhoods are. Well done, Chris!
Reposted by Alistair Ford
Had a chat to Kate from Ubrix (ubrix.co.uk), about the research we've been doing on data-driven land-use planning in the UK, developing simple 'what if?' tools to demonstrate the outcomes of different planning decisions, and identify sustainable locations for new housing.
youtu.be/nCPz4Sz6a7s
youtu.be/nCPz4Sz6a7s
Ubrix Sessions: From Data to Decisions – Mapping the Future of Housing
YouTube video by Ubrix
youtu.be
October 15, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Had a chat to Kate from Ubrix (ubrix.co.uk), about the research we've been doing on data-driven land-use planning in the UK, developing simple 'what if?' tools to demonstrate the outcomes of different planning decisions, and identify sustainable locations for new housing.
youtu.be/nCPz4Sz6a7s
youtu.be/nCPz4Sz6a7s
The last of a long line of surveying and mapping graduates are on the final day of their geospatial field course. Over the years we've taken students to Alnmouth and Alston, Gilsland and Glaramara and, for the last 16 years, Kielder. Tonight they'll submit the last ever field course reports & maps!
September 23, 2025 at 2:17 PM
The last of a long line of surveying and mapping graduates are on the final day of their geospatial field course. Over the years we've taken students to Alnmouth and Alston, Gilsland and Glaramara and, for the last 16 years, Kielder. Tonight they'll submit the last ever field course reports & maps!
I might have missed out on the #WorldCarFreeDay activities in Newcastle today but I've enjoyed my own car-free afternoon visiting students on our last ever @nclengineering.bsky.social Geospatial fieldcourse in the North Tyne valley by bike. I'll miss this beautiful part of the world and its people.
September 22, 2025 at 5:01 PM
I might have missed out on the #WorldCarFreeDay activities in Newcastle today but I've enjoyed my own car-free afternoon visiting students on our last ever @nclengineering.bsky.social Geospatial fieldcourse in the North Tyne valley by bike. I'll miss this beautiful part of the world and its people.
Finished watching this last night and have been mulling on it all day. I can't remember a better piece of television that I've seen, and certainly nothing as powerful. Love, loss, grief, horror, injustice, guilt. It is incredibly well acted and painfully moving.
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
The Narrow Road to the Deep North
From the passion of forbidden love to the pain of life as a prisoner of war - the unforgettable story of one man’s reckoning with the echoes of guilt. Starring Jacob Elordi.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 12, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Finished watching this last night and have been mulling on it all day. I can't remember a better piece of television that I've seen, and certainly nothing as powerful. Love, loss, grief, horror, injustice, guilt. It is incredibly well acted and painfully moving.
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Reposted by Alistair Ford
How do we measure #transport #resilience?
Dr Wei Bei is working to address a gap in both academia and industry, developing a set performance metrics to assess the impacts of extreme #weather events.
Find out more 👀 www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uhS...
Dr Wei Bei is working to address a gap in both academia and industry, developing a set performance metrics to assess the impacts of extreme #weather events.
Find out more 👀 www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uhS...
Explainer: Developing Metrics for Assessing Resilience
www.youtube.com
September 12, 2025 at 11:03 AM
How do we measure #transport #resilience?
Dr Wei Bei is working to address a gap in both academia and industry, developing a set performance metrics to assess the impacts of extreme #weather events.
Find out more 👀 www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uhS...
Dr Wei Bei is working to address a gap in both academia and industry, developing a set performance metrics to assess the impacts of extreme #weather events.
Find out more 👀 www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uhS...
Final session of #Tyndall25UEA with reflections from former @tyndallcentre.bsky.social directors including @kevinclimate.bsky.social, and @cast-centre.bsky.social's @lwhitmarsh.bsky.social. Realism, the need for action, climate in a messy world, voices from the Global South, value of social science.
September 10, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Final session of #Tyndall25UEA with reflections from former @tyndallcentre.bsky.social directors including @kevinclimate.bsky.social, and @cast-centre.bsky.social's @lwhitmarsh.bsky.social. Realism, the need for action, climate in a messy world, voices from the Global South, value of social science.
Reposted by Alistair Ford
ICYMI: "Aviation now contributes a greater share of total UK emissions than the entire electricity supply sector. Continued emissions growth in this sector could put future targets at risk."
...said the Climate Change Committee (CCC) in their 2025 progress report
www.theccc.org.uk/publication/...
...said the Climate Change Committee (CCC) in their 2025 progress report
www.theccc.org.uk/publication/...
Progress in reducing emissions - 2025 report to Parliament - Climate Change Committee
Presented to Parliament pursuant to Section 36 (1) of the Climate Change Act 2008. This report was laid…
www.theccc.org.uk
July 23, 2025 at 1:37 PM
ICYMI: "Aviation now contributes a greater share of total UK emissions than the entire electricity supply sector. Continued emissions growth in this sector could put future targets at risk."
...said the Climate Change Committee (CCC) in their 2025 progress report
www.theccc.org.uk/publication/...
...said the Climate Change Committee (CCC) in their 2025 progress report
www.theccc.org.uk/publication/...
A pleasure to present at the @rtpiplanners.bsky.social North East event last week, demonstrating a data-driven approach to land-use planning and how we might balance competing sustainability objectives as we pursue challenging national housebuilding targets. Thanks for the invitation!
@alistaircford.bsky.social and Dr Jingyan Yu from @newcastleuni.bsky.social joined the RTPI event on #infrastructure in North East England.
Dr Ford shared insights from the #DAReNationalHub, highlighting the need for cross-sector collaboration in building climate-resilient, future-proof communities.
Dr Ford shared insights from the #DAReNationalHub, highlighting the need for cross-sector collaboration in building climate-resilient, future-proof communities.
September 9, 2025 at 3:23 PM
A pleasure to present at the @rtpiplanners.bsky.social North East event last week, demonstrating a data-driven approach to land-use planning and how we might balance competing sustainability objectives as we pursue challenging national housebuilding targets. Thanks for the invitation!