Streets Ahead

We're talking with Dr Gemma Briggs, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the Open University, about distracted driving.

Dr Gemma Briggs’ research found mobile phone conversations, as opposed to conversations with a passenger, encourage a driver to create mental images - using the same cognitive resources we need for accurate visual perception of the driving environment. This means competition in drivers’ brains for limited resources.

It’s not just the responsibility of individual drivers to change, argues Gemma, it’s about changing public acceptability of mobile phone use. She says mobile phone legislation has been inadequate from its inception, despite the evidence that hands-free is as dangerous as handheld phone use. This, she says, is partly due to pressure from fleet operators to keep drivers available by phone, and motor vehicle manufacturers aren’t helping matters with in-car entertainment and interactivity.

We hope you enjoy this episode of Streets Ahead, a podcast dedicated to the world of active travel, liveable streets and people-focused urban design.

We’re on Twitter and welcome your feedback on our episode: http://www.twitter.com/podstreetsahead

If you're reading this, please can you take 1 minute to give us a rating and write a review? It helps us more than you probably think.

Thanks for listening!

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Alexei Sayle is an English stand-up comedian, actor, television presenter, author and former recording artist. He is also a cyclist with a surprising interest in active travel.

Ned pops for a coffee with Alexei to talk about his cycling history, his return to bike riding in the capital and - of course - Low Traffic Neighbourhoods.

You can listen to Alexei Sayle's new podcast here: https://audioboom.com/channels/5038428 - and his YouTube videos here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDNNsx1x7YDiV8JEysO3DmA

We hope you enjoy this episode of Streets Ahead, a podcast dedicated to the world of active travel, liveable streets and people-focused urban design.

We’re on Twitter and welcome your feedback on our episode: http://www.twitter.com/podstreetsahead

If you're reading this, please can you take 1 minute to give us a rating and write a review? It helps us more than you probably think.

Thanks for listening!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are elections up and down the country this Thursday 6th May 2021, but how do you vote for better active travel provision? There are a plethora of political positions up for grabs - from Metro Mayors to Police & Crime Commissioners, but who does what when it comes to cycling and walking?

We're not going to review the candidates' ambitions - you can get that elsewhere and should read the Manifestos of the candidates where you live - but we will explain how it all works and some of the big battles taking place.

Update: Ned managed to get a proxy vote after all - hooray! Find out where to vote here: https://www.gov.uk/how-to-vote

We hope you enjoy this episode of Streets Ahead, a podcast dedicated to the world of active travel, liveable streets and people-focused urban design.

We’re on Twitter and welcome your feedback on our episode: http://www.twitter.com/podstreetsahead

If you're reading this, please can you take 1 minute to give us a rating and write a review? It helps us more than you probably think.

Thanks for listening!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Advertising is everywhere and while most people think it doesn’t affect them, research shows it undoubtedly impacts the decisions we make. Tobacco advertising has been banned - will car advertising be the new smoking?

This week we have Leo Murray from climate action charity Possible. Leo is one of the people behind Badvertising, a campaign to put a stop to the promotion of highly polluting Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs).

We hope you enjoy this episode of Streets Ahead, a podcast dedicated to the world of active travel, liveable streets and people-focused urban design.

We’re on Twitter and welcome your feedback on our episode: http://www.twitter.com/podstreetsahead

If you're reading this, please can you take 1 minute to give us a rating and write a review? It helps us more than you probably think.

Thanks for listening!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The rapid changes in our towns and cities are providing new access to active travel for some people, but are they excluding some disabled people in the process? That's the topic we're discussing with Katie Pennick, Campaigns Lead at Transport For All.

Why are disabled people seemingly ignored when it comes to some consultations? What needs to change? Is that status quo a better option? These are all questions you'll get the answers to in our latest episode.

You can read Transport For All's report, Pave The Way, here.

We hope you enjoy this episode of Streets Ahead, a podcast dedicated to the world of active travel, liveable streets and people-focused urban design.

We’re on Twitter and welcome your feedback on our episode: http://www.twitter.com/podstreetsahead

If you're reading this, please can you take 1 minute to give us a rating and write a review? It helps us more than you probably think.

Thanks for listening!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For episode 23, Ned, Adam and Laura chew the fat with London's Walking & Cycling Commissioner, Will Norman, on the capital's active travel revolution. Four years ago, Laura wrote In The Guardian: "Is London's new cycling tsar too nice to face down the bike-haters?"

It turns out being nice can be effective. London has built nearly 100 miles of protected cycle lanes in the last year alone with 4% of Londoners also now living within a Low Traffic Neighbourhood.

But it hasn't all been plain sailing. We chat to Will about bikelash, the importance of consultation, e-scooters and, of course, the Kensington High Street debacle. Adam also humblebrags about the time he cycled up Holland Park Avenue at "up to 9mph".

We hope you enjoy this episode of Streets Ahead, a podcast dedicated to the world of active travel, liveable streets and people-focused urban design.

We’re on Twitter and welcome your feedback on our episode: http://www.twitter.com/podstreetsahead

If you're reading this, please can you take 1 minute to give us a rating and write a review? It helps us more than you probably think.

Thanks for listening!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The pace of change in some of our towns and cities has been designed to prevent a car-based recovery from COVID-19, but it hasn't all been positive. As Councils moved quickly to make changes under national government guidance, many of them neglected the basics of engagement and impact assessments. On this subject, we talk to Isabelle Clement, director of Wheels for Wellbeing, a charity that helps everyone enjoy cycling regardless of disability, health or age.

Laura's interview with Isabelle explores the importance of cycling for all and some of the barriers society puts in the way that prevents access for many disabled people.

We hope you enjoy this episode of Streets Ahead, a podcast dedicated to the world of active travel, liveable streets and people-focused urban design.

We’re on Twitter and welcome your feedback on our episode: http://www.twitter.com/podstreetsahead

If you're reading this, please can you take 1 minute to give us a rating and write a review? It helps us more than you probably think.

Thanks for listening!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's our 21st episode! How did that happen? Ned, Laura & Adam are discussing the government's £27 billion road building plan and its recent legal challenge. What are the merits of road building? How does active travel fit in? Is it compatible with the necessities of protecting our climate (Spoiler: probably not)? We'll discuss all this and more (including a new feature, er, LTN News).

We hope you enjoy this episode of Streets Ahead, a podcast dedicated to the world of active travel, liveable streets and people-focused urban design.

We’re on Twitter and welcome your feedback on our episode: http://www.twitter.com/podstreetsahead

If you're reading this, please can you take 1 minute to give us a rating and write a review? It helps us more than you probably think.

Thanks for listening!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For Episode 20, we team up with Doug Gordon, co-host of The War on Cars podcast and one of the USA's foremost cycling advocates. Our very special virtual guest speaks to us all the way from New York City, a city adapting in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We compare how our two nations are faring in terms of active travel. Who is better at failing, or succeeding, when it comes to cycling and walking? Is the grass always greener on the other side?

We hope you enjoy this episode of Streets Ahead, a podcast dedicated to the world of active travel, liveable streets and people-focused urban design.

We’re on Twitter and welcome your feedback on our episode: http://www.twitter.com/podstreetsahead

If you're reading this, please can you take 1 minute to give us a rating and write a review? It helps us more than you probably think.

Thanks for listening!

PS: You should definitely go and listen to The War on Cars podcast if you haven't already.

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Episode 19 rounds up the year that was, er, pretty well awful - but you can count on us to look at the positives and so we’ve collated all the things we can be thankful for in active travel. Now, if there is a small silver lining to the year 2020, it came in the form of progress on cycling, walking and electric scooters.

We're joined by renowned urban planner Brian Deegan, who is Chris Boardman's technical advisor in Greater Manchester, to review 2020 and what interesting things we have to look forward to in active travel in 2021.

We hope you enjoy this episode of Streets Ahead, a podcast dedicated to the world of active travel, liveable streets and people-focused urban design.

We’re on Twitter and welcome your feedback on our episode: http://www.twitter.com/podstreetsahead

If you're reading this, please can you take 1 minute to give us a rating and write a review? It helps us more than you probably think.

Thanks for listening!

PS: Here's what a Cyclops junction looks like.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.