So a key cycle route which included schools was killed off by TWENTY EIGHT responses. That's right, a scheme which would have benefited thousands and ensured safety of children going to school was scuppered by a couple of dozen. I'll bet they were mostly about parking too. - ThreadSky

gazza-d.bsky.social • 4 days ago

So a key cycle route which included schools was killed off by TWENTY EIGHT responses.

That's right, a scheme which would have benefited thousands and ensured safety of children going to school was scuppered by a couple of dozen. I'll bet they were mostly about parking too.

Reposted from Street Life in North Tyneside

In a new blog, we suggest North Tyneside Council gave up on the Preston Rd, North Shields cycle path on the basis of 28 consultation responses which they say they could not reconcile with design issues, on which they sought no further expert design advice:
streetlifentyneside.org.uk/2025/02/19/m...

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fernsfeldflyer.bsky.social•4 days ago

Councillors don't want them, they will encourage complaints and protest by the motoring Taliban and the permanently offended.
It may put councillors future reelection at risk, and their access to the benefits of office.

So 1 objection equals 1000 supporters when considering cycling schemes

edwardpickering.bsky.social•4 days ago

Wait until you hear about the Exeter LTN that got kiboshed largely on the strength of affecting a single school, whose parental feedback consisted of *two* responses, one positive and one negative.

tallentire.bsky.social•4 days ago

We really need some way of properly representing the 99% who are fine with something happening.
Can't just take for granted anything they don't object to is totally fine, but at the same time assuming anything they don't support is totally terrible is also wrong.

gazza-d.bsky.social•4 days ago

The council will have spent a lot of time and money on this scheme.
As a society we really need to realise that these schemes offer overwhelming public benefit and not allow them to be derailed by a few angry locals.

ppushbike.bsky.social•4 days ago

I feel like this recently published research needs to be sent in to every council consultation. The silent majority want to increase cycling and walking, but also think they're the minority. Meanwhile the shouty minority spoil things for everyone else.

https://bsky.app/profile/ianwalker.bsky.social/post/3lieauoqcwc2e

ianwalker.bsky.social•4 days ago

I'm going to suggest that one reason local authorities assume a handful of objections represent the public mood is that the objections will often match the preconceptions of the planners

alisonstenning.bsky.social•4 days ago

And not just the planners, but also the councillors who amplify the handful of voices. In this case, we know nothing about who the 28 were or whether they were for/against. I know one was me (unless my response was discounted for being part of "the cycle lobby").

ianwalker.bsky.social•4 days ago

I'm sure people opposing the LTN were similarly described as the "Oil Lobby" 😐

andydrummond.bsky.social•4 days ago

Which gives me an excuse to dust off this https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/103087384

gazza-d.bsky.social•4 days ago

Would not surprise me, although I wounder how much leverage and pressure comes from anti-cycling councillors

andrenascotica.bsky.social•4 days ago

Very much so. In Heaton anyone who tried to contact the council to support our LTN trial was labelled "the cycle lobby" (the now ex-Cabinet member's very words), meaning that they could be safely ignored.

andrenascotica.bsky.social•4 days ago

And, despite the trial's removal, the fact that that Cabinet member is no longer a Cabinet member tells you all you need to know about how well their leadership on transport and sustainability was viewed by their colleagues.

spoquey.bsky.social•3 days ago

Reminds me of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital taking down an exhibition of Palestinian children's art because the UK Lawyers for Israel claimed that they had received two complaints about it. The hospital admitted they never even asked to see the complaints.

ianwalker.bsky.social•4 days ago

They'd be among the people I was thinking of...

andydrummond.bsky.social•4 days ago

Possibly so, certainly a lot of anecdote that even supportive councillors wilt when personally threatened by the drivist mob.

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