Category Archives: Uncategorized

A question of justice

If Chris Huhne’s alleged act perverts the course of justice, does non-discretionary traffic regulation pervert the cause of justice?

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Chris Huhne

A reminder of my post last year (18 May): Whether or not Chris Huhne tried to pass the buck, his saga reveals the contortions to which citizens can be driven to escape the tentacles of a system that values the … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Exhibition Road

I’ve said as much before, but in response to this Observer piece about Exhibition Road, I’ll say it again. Is streetscape redesign enough on its own? Not in my view. People need to unlearn the bad habits of a lifetime instilled … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Shared space pedestrian casualty

I’ve always said that to achieve Equality Streets (or Roads FiT for People), deregulation is not enough on its own. Nor, in my view, is streetscape redesign enough on its own. News of a serious pedestrian casualty at one of Coventry’s … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

AUTOcracy v DEMOcracy

Most traffic regulation is a vicious circle incorporating a dead end. It champions AUTOcracy over DEMOcracy. Most urban and suburban junctions could be thriving civilised spaces, but they are dehumanised by traffic regulation which imposes unequal rights and discriminates against vulnerable … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

19th v 21st century resistance to rail

PM (Radio 4) had an item about Victorian resistance to railway development, implying there was a parallel with today’s opposition to HS2. Seems a narrow comparison, because in the 19th century, there were no telephones, cars or Internet.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

HS2

(Update of 2011 post at Free to Choose): Apart from the likelihood that the £32bn estimate for HS2 will increase to at least twice that sum, the trade-off, whichever way you cut it, is negative. HS2 would shave minutes off … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Gulliver’s travails

Congestion caused by volume of traffic is acceptable. We’re in the same boat. No problem. But congestion caused or aggravated by unnecessary traffic control – you know, making us stop for no reason other than the light is red – is … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Red tape, red lights

According to today’s news, NHS red tape is being cut to release nurses from the burden of form-filling so they can devote more time to patient care. As we know, there are moves to cut police red tape too, presumably … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Crocodile tears

Yet another cyclist is killed at traffic lights in London (story here). These “tragedies” are a direct consequence of the infamous rules and design of the road. It means yet more blood on the hands of the authorities who adhere … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment