Active Travel Academy

Active Travel Academy

@active-ata.bsky.social

Research & knowledge exchange centre at the University of Westminster with expertise in active travel, micro-mobilities, & reducing car use. Email: activetravelacademy@westminster.ac.uk. Web: blog.westminster.ac.uk/ata. Journal: activetravelstudies.org.

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Active Travel Academy
@active-ata.bsky.social

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods - 'more research need'.. Well from 2022 to 2025, funded by the NIHR, we (& colleagues) did that research. And we have 10(!!) peer reviewed articles so far, with more on the way. Here's a summary of our papers so far (all open access so get reading):

Active Travel Academy reposted

Disability Rights UK
@disrightsuk.bsky.social

📢Being active does not mean we are no longer Disabled. Swimming, cycling, walking or going to the gym should not put someone's financial security at risk, yet many fear losing benefits if they do. Join us to #DismantleTheActivityTrap on 22nd October👇 tinyurl.com/4ba7n9cz

tinyurl.comDismantling the Activity Trap: A call for actionSharing new Activity Trap research and action needed so disabled people can be active without risking social security

Active Travel Academy reposted

Dr Harrie Larrington-Spencer
@tricyclemayor.bsky.social

Ten peer-reviewed articles published so far from the NIHR-funded LTNs in London project. Quantitative and qualitative findings, all open access.

Active Travel Academy@active-ata.bsky.social

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods - 'more research need'.. Well from 2022 to 2025, funded by the NIHR, we (& colleagues) did that research. And we have 10(!!) peer reviewed articles so far, with more on the way. Here's a summary of our papers so far (all open access so get reading):

Active Travel Academy
@active-ata.bsky.social

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods - 'more research need'.. Well from 2022 to 2025, funded by the NIHR, we (& colleagues) did that research. And we have 10(!!) peer reviewed articles so far, with more on the way. Here's a summary of our papers so far (all open access so get reading):

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Active Travel Academy
@active-ata.bsky.social

#10 Larrington-Spencer et al - Troubling go-alongs through the lens of care journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/... - Go-alongs can expose marginalised researchers to abuse - Care within go-alongs is a relationally produced, shared accomplishment involving both the researcher and the participant

journals.sagepub.comSage Journals: Discover world-class researchSubscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
Active Travel Academy
@active-ata.bsky.social

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods - 'more research need'.. Well from 2022 to 2025, funded by the NIHR, we (& colleagues) did that research. And we have 10(!!) peer reviewed articles so far, with more on the way. Here's a summary of our papers so far (all open access so get reading):

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Active Travel Academy
@active-ata.bsky.social

#8 Verlinghieri et al - Can mixed-methods help us better understand congestion on LTN boundary roads? www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... - Concerns about congestion influenced not only by changes in traffic volumes, but also by how these changes are framed in public discourse

sciencedirect.comCan mixed-methods help us better understand congestion on Low Traffic Neighbourhood boundary roads?Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) aim to improve conditions for walking, wheeling and cycling by restricting motor vehicle movements on residential st…
Active Travel Academy
@active-ata.bsky.social

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods - 'more research need'.. Well from 2022 to 2025, funded by the NIHR, we (& colleagues) did that research. And we have 10(!!) peer reviewed articles so far, with more on the way. Here's a summary of our papers so far (all open access so get reading):

View full thread
Active Travel Academy
@active-ata.bsky.social

#5 Velinghieri et al - Street space reallocation under austerity: the case of LTNs in the UK www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... - Austerity-driven funding approach - Significant investment of staff time necessary - Impacts of austerity & projectification exacerbated across uneven geographies

sciencedirect.comStreet space reallocation under austerity: The case of low traffic neighbourhoods in the UKStreet space reallocation measures, such as Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs), have attracted substantial controversy in the UK and elsewhere, for ins…
Active Travel Academy
@active-ata.bsky.social

#6 Furlong et al - LTNs in London reduce road traffic injuries: a controlled before-and-after analysis (2012–2024) injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/earl... - Reduced RTIs for all road users inside LTNs - No evidence of overall impact (for cyclists & motorcyclists a benefit) on boundary roads

injuryprevention.bmj.comLow Traffic Neighbourhoods in London reduce road traffic injuries: a controlled before-and-after analysis (2012–2024)Background Between 2015 and 2024, 113 Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) were implemented across Greater London, with 27 subsequently removed. We investigated their impacts on road traffic injuries ins...
Active Travel Academy
@active-ata.bsky.social

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods - 'more research need'.. Well from 2022 to 2025, funded by the NIHR, we (& colleagues) did that research. And we have 10(!!) peer reviewed articles so far, with more on the way. Here's a summary of our papers so far (all open access so get reading):

View full thread
Active Travel Academy
@active-ata.bsky.social

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods - 'more research need'.. Well from 2022 to 2025, funded by the NIHR, we (& colleagues) did that research. And we have 10(!!) peer reviewed articles so far, with more on the way. Here's a summary of our papers so far (all open access so get reading):

Active Travel Academy
@active-ata.bsky.social

#1 Khreis al - The modelled impact of LTNs on air pollution: findings from 5 schemes in London www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... - Inside LTNs, NO2 & PM2.5 levels fell - No pollution increase on average on boundary roads - Estimated number of deaths fell 0.01% area-wide, or 0.05% inside LTNs

sciencedirect.comThe modelled impact of low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) on air pollution: findings from 5 schemes in LondonLow traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) are area-wide schemes that remove through motor traffic from residential streets. These schemes are controversial, a…
Active Travel Academy
@active-ata.bsky.social

#2 Laverty et al - Impact of LTNs in London on the duration of local car trips www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... - Most increases in journey times under 10 mins - Impacts concentrated within LTNs rather than nearby areas - Year-2 journey time impacts substantially smaller

sciencedirect.comImpact of low traffic neighbourhoods in London on the duration of local car tripsLow traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) are area-wide schemes that remove through motor traffic from residential streets. They aim to make active travel saf…

Active Travel Academy reposted

Jamie Furlong
@jwfurlong.bsky.social

Our paper (@davefev.bsky.social + others) out today shows London LTNs have led to est. 613 fewer road injuries (-100 Killed or Seriously Injured). No significant impact (with benefits for cyclists/motorcyclists) on boundary roads. injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/earl... (Open access soon!)

injuryprevention.bmj.comLow Traffic Neighbourhoods in London reduce road traffic injuries: a controlled before-and-after analysis (2012–2024)Background Between 2015 and 2024, 113 Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) were implemented across Greater London, with 27 subsequently removed. We investigated their impacts on road traffic injuries ins...
Peter Walker@peterwalker99.bsky.social

NEW: Big study of low-traffic neighbourhoods in London suggest they cut road injuries and deaths by more than a third within their boundaries with no apparent negative safety effect on nearby roads. This feels a *major* boost for proponents of such schemes. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

theguardian.comLondon’s low-traffic zones ‘cut deaths and injuries by more than a third’Exclusive: Study also finds no change in number of casualties on roads just outside low-traffic neighbourhoods

Active Travel Academy reposted

Transport Action Network
@transportaction.bsky.social

Unable to drive because of a health condition, this couple in Wales ended up paying £81 on taxis to/from the hospital because the bus journey would take 2hours and multiple changes. This is why we are so passionate about everyone having good travel options www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/2512365...

southwalesargus.co.ukPoor public transport putting people at risk, says Caerphilly womanA Caerphilly couple are concerned that poor public transport is putting vulnerable people at risk.

Active Travel Academy reposted

Alison Stenning
@alisonstenning.bsky.social

This is just a selection of the photos I’ve taken on Tyneside. It’s clear to see the kinds of spaces they are erected in - green & grey spaces on post-war estates, spaces that afford easy doorstep playing & hanging out, in communities experiencing disinvestment with few other accessible facilities.

Alison Stenning@alisonstenning.bsky.social

“Children … play right outside where they live … It’s a completely different way of playing than going to a park with an adult.” “No ball games signs” deter doorstep play, of all kinds, indicating that play is not welcome in these spaces. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

theguardian.comYes, ball games: drive to take down signs warning against play begins in LondonCharity says thousands of signs on capital’s estates deter children from being active, and is covering some of them up

Active Travel Academy reposted

Wheels for Wellbeing
@wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk

Our last info sheet on dropped kerbs raised a whole lot of questions - thanks everyone who asked! To answer some of those questions, here's a new sheet on common kerb profiles, including how they can affect #Disabled people when walking/wheeling & #Cycling: wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk/common-kerb-...

wheelsforwellbeing.org.ukCommon kerb profilesWheels for Wellbeing is an award-winning charity supporting disabled people of all ages and abilities to enjoy the benefits of cycling.

Active Travel Academy reposted

Peter Walker
@peterwalker99.bsky.social

NEW: chief executive of Citizen's Advice warns that cutting benefits for disabled people will push more people into poverty and make it harder for them to get into work, in a rare intervention for the organisation. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

theguardian.comBenefit cuts will push more people into poverty, warns Citizens Advice bossExclusive: Clare Moriarty hits out at Labour’s plan as ‘short-term action’ with ‘long-term consequences’ in rare intervention
Active Travel Academy
@active-ata.bsky.social

Join the @activetravelcaf.bsky.social tomorrow evening as two of our Research Fellows present qualitative findings from our NİHR-funded 'LTNs in London' project.

Active Travel Cafe@activetravelcaf.bsky.social

Join us tomorrow at 5pm to hear @tricyclemayor.bsky.social and @ersiliav.bsky.social from @active-ata.bsky.social share research into disabled people’s experiences of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods. New sign ups via our website activetravelcafe.org.uk

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Active Travel Academy
@active-ata.bsky.social

Hire cycles in London are remarkably popular and the use and numbers of bikes has grown hugely in recent years. But they are creating problems, notably the clutter of parked bikes on pavements. The solution being proposed by TfL and many boroughs is dedicated parking bays. But will this work? 2/

Active Travel Academy
@active-ata.bsky.social

Speakers: Cllr James McAsh, Cabinet Member for Clean Air, Streets & Waste in Southwark. Jeremy Leach, Chair at London Living Streets and will give us the pedestrian's perspective Alex Berwin is Head of Policy and interim Head of Communications at Forest Hopefully a TfL colleague 3/

Active Travel Academy
@active-ata.bsky.social

Always fantastic to see our work being used to support policy and practice on active travel. Work led by @eleanorroaf.bsky.social, PhD Researcher at the University of Manchester, with @tricyclemayor.bsky.social from the ATA, and Emma Lawlor from the University of Glasgow.

Dr Harrie Larrington-Spencer@tricyclemayor.bsky.social

Delighted @activetraveleng.bsky.social used our systematic review of AT interventions to highlight centrality of infrastructure, with additional behavioural interventions, to increase levels of walking, wheeling, & cycling. Article: doi.org/10.1016/j.jt... @eleanorroaf.bsky.social Emma Lawlor

Active Travel Academy
@active-ata.bsky.social

Deadline for abstracts 31/01/2025 For those in and beyond academia, working and volunteering on or having experience of, disability and cycling.

Dr Harrie Larrington-Spencer@tricyclemayor.bsky.social

Deadline approaching for our call for papers on 'Disability and Cycling' in Active Travel Studies activetravelstudies.org 200 word abstracts for proposed submissions due 31/01/2025 More info in thread & on google docs: shorturl.at/XAzGZ @wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk @active-ata.bsky.social 1/

Active Travel Academy reposted

Stephen Frost
@sfrost.bsky.social

“A process evaluation of the UK Department for Transport’s Active Travel Fund has identified insufficient funding and short implementation timeframes as key challenges limiting the delivery of walking and cycling schemes in England.” 💯

cittimagazine.co.ukInsufficient funding and timeframes undermine England's active travel schemes, says evaluation | CiTTi MagazineA process evaluation of the UK Department for Transport’s (DfT) Active Travel Fund (ATF) has identified insufficient funding and short implementation timeframes as key challenges limiting the delive
Active Travel Academy
@active-ata.bsky.social

Process evaluation of the UK DfT Active Travel Fund (ATF) by us @active-ata.bsky.social has identified insufficient funding and short implementation timeframes as key challenges limiting the delivery of walking and cycling schemes in England. www.cittimagazine.co.uk/news/active-...

cittimagazine.co.ukInsufficient funding and timeframes undermine England's active travel schemes, says evaluation | CiTTi MagazineA process evaluation of the UK Department for Transport’s (DfT) Active Travel Fund (ATF) has identified insufficient funding and short implementation timeframes as key challenges limiting the delive
Active Travel Academy
@active-ata.bsky.social

Please consider submitting your work for this special issue on 'Disability and Cycling' in our open-access, peer-reviewed journal, Active Travel Studies. Open to academics and researchers as well as non-academics, recognising disabled people as experts by experience on the topic.

Dr Harrie Larrington-Spencer@tricyclemayor.bsky.social

Call for papers for our Special Issue on 'Disability and Cycling' in Active Travel Studies activetravelstudies.org 200 word abstracts for proposed submissions due 31/01/2025 More info in thread & on google docs: shorturl.at/XAzGZ @wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk @active-ata.bsky.social 1/

Active Travel Academy reposted

Wheels for Wellbeing
@wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk

Rare and exciting opportunity to submit a paper for consideration to an Active Travel Studies Journal special issue on 'Disability and Cycling'. Submissions are warmly welcomed in academic and non-traditional formats. Deadline: 31/01/2025

Dr Harrie Larrington-Spencer@tricyclemayor.bsky.social

Call for papers for our Special Issue on 'Disability and Cycling' in Active Travel Studies activetravelstudies.org 200 word abstracts for proposed submissions due 31/01/2025 More info in thread & on google docs: shorturl.at/XAzGZ @wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk @active-ata.bsky.social 1/

Active Travel Academy reposted

TandemKate
@tandemkate.bsky.social

Already looking forwards to reading this special Active Travel Studies issue on #Disability and #Cycling and it’s not even been written yet! - Call for submissions below:

Dr Harrie Larrington-Spencer@tricyclemayor.bsky.social

Call for papers for our Special Issue on 'Disability and Cycling' in Active Travel Studies activetravelstudies.org 200 word abstracts for proposed submissions due 31/01/2025 More info in thread & on google docs: shorturl.at/XAzGZ @wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk @active-ata.bsky.social 1/

Active Travel Academy reposted

Maya SH
@msingerhobbs.bsky.social

Replying to @msingerhobbs.bsky.social

On how children experience streets & why play is important, I suggest this piece by @alisonstenning.bsky.social & @salawatson.bsky.social (I think about this a lot - I used to play on streets that are now completely full of cars) onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... bsky.app/profile/sala...

Sally Watson@salawatson.bsky.social

‘Children see streets differently: Making space for children’s play and mobility’ - pleased to see this new article by @alisonstenning.bsky.social and I out today in the IPPR Progressive Review onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

onlinelibrary.wiley.com“Children see streets differently”Click on the article title to read more.

Active Travel Academy reposted

Stephen Frost
@sfrost.bsky.social

This article covers: 🚌 the crucial role of bus networks, particularly to those on a low income who don’t have access to a car 🏥 how lack of access to local services can leave people isolated and lonely 😷the impact of poor air quality 👨‍🦽🚶‍♀️🚲 active travel’s role in improving physical & mental health

Stephen Frost@sfrost.bsky.social

Dr Angela Donkin, senior consultant at the UCL Institute of Health Equity (IHE), Mike Childs, Friends of the Earth, and Sir Michael Marmot (@michaelmarmot.bsky.social), director of IHE: Transport's role in creating a fairer, healthier country - A social determinants of health perspective

onlinelibrary.wiley.comTransport's role in creating a fairer, healthier countryClick on the article title to read more.

Active Travel Academy reposted

Stephen Frost
@sfrost.bsky.social

📣 Delighted to launch @ippr.bsky.social's transport issue of Progressive Review today Many thanks to the authors who have provided such diverse and timely perspectives on transport's impact on our lives, the places we live and the environment The below 🧵 has the direct links to the articles

onlinelibrary.wiley.comThe great enabler: Transport’s role in tackling environmental crises and delivering progressive change: IPPR Progressive Review: Vol 31, No 3Click on the title to browse this issue

Active Travel Academy reposted

Maya SH
@msingerhobbs.bsky.social

Our transport issue of Progressive Review went live today! We've got an amazing array of authors who've covered everything from transport decarb, to the impact of transport on wildlife, to how finance is holding back a just transition The full issue is here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/2573...

Institute for Public Policy Research@ippr.org

🚴 How can we build a transport system that's healthier, greener, and more inclusive? Our latest issue of the Progressive Review brings together leading voices to reimagine Britain’s transport for a sustainable future. 📖 Read it for free: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/2573...

Active Travel Academy reposted

A Playful City
@aplayfulcity.bsky.social

"Proximity is a feature of all these plans, but it is not the sole principle at work: care, equity, representation & justice are central. It is these principles that have the potential to create a truly feminist city." - Leslie Kern genderpolicyreport.umn.edu/are-15-minut...

genderpolicyreport.umn.eduAre 15-Minute Cities Feminist Cities? - Gender Policy ReportCan the “15-minute city” solve the challenges faced by women? Feminist urban planning interventions offer a wealth of solutions to contemporary urban problems.

Active Travel Academy reposted

Stephen Frost
@sfrost.bsky.social

Attempted to make a starter pack that captures the breadth of ways people are talking about transport / mobility (and related design of places) on Bluesky. An eclectic mix reflecting my interests. Some criminally under followed accounts in here that you all really should follow go.bsky.app/GobsdFY

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Active Travel Academy
@active-ata.bsky.social

What can the kerb drop teach us about addressing access frictions between disabled people in new active travel infrastructure like bus stop bypasses? New article by our Research Fellow @tricyclemayor.bsky.social. Worth a read @chrisboardman.bsky.social as a challenge faced by all in AT delivery

Dr Harrie Larrington-Spencer@tricyclemayor.bsky.social

What should we do when access frictions between disabled people emerge with new active travel infrastructure like bus stop bypasses? Is removing them really the best solution? I propose collective access making instead. Available open access here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....