Simon Munk

buff.lyThe future of cycling near Oxford Street - London Cycling CampaignGood news: Oxford Street ditches motor traffic! Bad news: Where’s the cycling? Take action to demand parallel cycle routes from Westminster today.

21h

🚧 With cycling on Oxford Street now a thing of the past, what should be done? For us the answer is clear; safe, alternative routes! 🤔 With that in mind, our campaigns team set out our vision for the area, and how you can support it: buff.ly/MOwwT7E

theguardian.comEvery Briton should stockpile water and food supplies, government advisesBe Ready campaign aims to prepare UK for impact of climate crisis, technological dependency and threats by hostile state

There is more than a touch of 'security theatre' and 'shock doctrine' about this all. Panic serfs. That's far more important than our government doing anything about the climate crisis or wealth inequality or food security...

George Monbiot@georgemonbiot.bsky.social

Sure, we should, if we can (many cannot). But as I keep pointing out, the government itself is making no provision at all. No stockpiles, no back-up, no alternative sources. It's individuating the response to a collective problem, and that never ends well. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

theguardian.comFour years ago countries made a historic deal to save nature. Is it dead in the water?So far not a single target of the plan has been met. As negotiators convene for Cop17, the pressure is on to find a way to honour the commitments made at previous summits

This cheery little @theguardian.com piece about basically every country including UK talking up climate action targets then doing diddly squat reminds me of how London politicians are too often fine words on climate, active travel, car use, but just words. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

youtube.comBike Kill 2025YouTube video by Chris Palermo

1. I cannot endorse people dangerously misusing cycles, but secretely gutted I missed this absolute idiocy & also dream of the day Bike Kill goes NYC to LDN: www.youtube.com/shorts/nmNnO... 2. Lime PR response is 👌: "While we appreciate the medieval spirit... Lime bikes are... not for jousting".

Jo Kibble (Political Animal)@politicanimal.bsky.social

Sounds great, but I do feel it would have been improved by the challengers being on competing companies’ hire bikes. Sir Gawain the Green Knight on a Forest bike, Señor Espada on his Santander cycle, etc. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.ukOur bikes are 'not for jousting,' says Lime after Hackney duelFootage emerged on social media of hundreds of people gathered in east London to watch a bike joust.

Simon Munk reposted

TfL announces new plans for dangerous Monument junction: haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/monument-jun... "Safety is our highest priority" says TfL. First looks says: safer, but not truly safe enough & not built with enough capacity for existing cycling levels, let alone years from now. More from us soon...

Very happy to be in such exalted company. Tx @brenttoderian.bsky.social for the add! Click through to the pack to mass follow or get great recommendations on global urbanists from outside North America including me...

Brent Toderian@brenttoderian.bsky.social

STARTER PACKS from credible sources are still a key way to find great accounts to follow, and also to BUILD GREAT COMMUNITIES here on Bluesky. They’ve been key for the Urbanist community here. This one supported global urbanists from OUTSIDE North America. I hope you’ll follow them, and SHARE IT.

If you've just started following me then tx! And by way of intro: I'm a senior staffer at @londoncycling.bsky.social & my stuff here tends to be cycle tracks, London schemes, Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs), being angry with UK politics + a side order of being a dad, hiphop & role-playing games.

Simon Munk reposted

🚴‍♀️ We're asking supporters to share their views on cycling in London, and we'd love to hear from you! The survey takes around 10 minutes, and as a thank you, you'll be entered to win a Bryton Rider S510 GPS bike computer and Bryton Gardia radar light. 👨‍💻 Take the survey today: buff.ly/B2VEjB5

theguardian.comIn three years, Israel's war on Gaza hasn't just changed the Middle East, it's changed the world | Steve BloomfieldA whirlpool of violence has engulfed everywhere from Lebanon to Yemen. Meanwhile, the west has destroyed any political authority it once had, says Steve Bloomfield, former international editor of the ...

This by @stevebloomfield.bsky.social in @theguardian.com is blisteringly good. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... Genocide unfolds before us while leaders keep enabling weapons that kill kids to be sold, used. Guzzling dwindling resources on a planet in crisis more important than morals or future.

Simon Munk reposted

cyclingelectric.comUnder pressure Deliveroo calls for ban on ‘e-bike’ conversion kitsFood delivery giant Deliveroo has called on the Government to ban the sale of so-called unsafe 'e-bike' conversion kits as

Good to see gig economy companies calling for bans on dodgy conversion kits which turn cycles into street illegal electric motorbikes that go over ebike max assist speed of 15.5mph and/or don't need pedalling. Excellent piece for @cyclingelectric.bsky.social by @marksuttonbike.bsky.social...

Mark Sutton@marksuttonbike.bsky.social

Under pressure Deliveroo calls for a ban on ‘e-bike’ conversion kits - will run speed checks on vehicles through its app and ban regular offenders. Good to see the heat being applied is having an effect on bringing about some responsibility: www.cyclingelectric.com/news/deliver...

'Zionism' is more complicated than 'what horrors is Israel up to now'. The Green Party motion effectively mandates Israel disappearing. I can't be only one thinking that (also) won't end well. Either way this amendment once more demonstrates why @carolinerussell.bsky.social is such a superstar.

Caroline Russell@carolinerussell.bsky.social

I wanted to speak on an amendment to motion EO2 Zionism is racism at Green Party conference today, but was not called on. I’ve copied over what I would have said in the next posts. I was heartbroken this amendment fell and that the vote went against providing this protection for Jewish members.

Simon Munk reposted

youtube.comHas London’s e-bike situation gone too far?YouTube video by BBC London

🔋🚲 Dockless hire bikes are massively popular, but their sheer popularity and rapid expansion means they're causing some issues - particularly around over-full parking bays. Mayor is absolutely right that government & DfT need to hurry up to deliver a pan-London programme that works for everyone.

theguardian.comLondon buses in decline? Why public transport in global cities is slowing to a crawl – visualisedAs experts fear for future of UK capital’s bus network, some commuters are giving up entirely. London is not alone – with worrying implications for poorest in society

Possibly longest thread I've ever written. Once again, despite all evidence, some folks, closely related to the 'bus industry' want to blame cycling for slowing down London buses. tl;dr: this is a lie & it's cars wot done it. It is not buses v cycling v walking or wheeling. It's all of us v cars...

London Cycling Campaign@londoncycling.bsky.social

Buses v cycling? A 🧵... Too often, the bus 'industry' defaults to attack cycling as cause of buses (in London) getting slower & slower. Good to see that somewhat countered here: www.theguardian.com/uk-news/ng-i... by @theguardian.com data team. 1. Bus speeds dropping is a "global problem"... 1/13

Government & police seem fairly content to allow a far-right agitator to menace sea rescue boats, slash at a boat with a person on, endangering their life, while if you hold up a sign or say you would quite like a genocide to stop in Palestine, you risk the full force of the law & media attacks...

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This all seems a l-o-n-g way away from JSO and XR folks sitting in the street to disrupt drivers for a bit of time being punched, kicked & dragged out the way, then facing jail sentences for peaceful protest. And it very much seems like a politically motivated policing system & media.

Simon Munk reposted

21 Sept

📣🫶 A big shout out to everyone who joined the celebrations at the London Cycling Festival 2026! Thousands of you from across the capital took part, and made it an unforgettable day... 🚴‍♀️

Simon Munk reposted

Parody Nigel Farage

@parodypm.bsky.social

19 Sept

Man who supported Brexit then fucked off to Monaco to avoid contributing a penny of his £15 billion fortune to public services makes the mistake of thinking anyone gives a shit what he thinks.

Simon Munk reposted

Will Norman

@willnorman.co.uk

20 Sept

The sun is shining at the #LondonCycingFestival today ☀️ Great to see so many families enjoying themselves 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 Well done @londoncycling.bsky.social

Simon Munk reposted

18 Sept

📢 This weekend the London Cycling Festival is taking over the capitals streets, and we want you to be a part of it! 🛒 Grab your free tickets and we'll see you there: buff.ly/yrUmaHG

18 Sept

This thread will make you cry. Fair warning. That said, what's even more horrific than this thread? The idea that a significant minority of England would likely now baulk at the idea of the RNLI trying to rescue foreign sailors on a cargo boat, let alone brown or black refugees in a dinghy.

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theguardian.comDriving that’s too fast, too dangerous and utterly lawless: why do we tolerate this petro-masculinity? | George MonbiotIn towns and in the countryside, I see 4x4s and pick up trucks driven without care or consicence. It’s a Magafication of transport, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot

18 Sept

And now this bsky.app/profile/croo... The vitriol thrown at those who risk their life to save lives says a lot about racism & fascism brewed up post Brexit in UK. We have always had knuckle dragging BNP & EDL types. But Farage & other mainstream politicians have unleashed a torrent of vile idiocy.

Chris Bertram@crookedfootball.bsky.social

"RNLI crew members had been forced to take their permits off their cars after their tyres have been repeatedly slashed. Most of them have been pilloried at the school gates or turned away from local pubs. One man who worked in search and rescue had been beaten unconscious and hospitalised"

Simon Munk reposted

Prof. Ian Walker

@ianwalker.bsky.social

17 Sept

Good article by @georgemonbiot.bsky.social on widespread acceptance - including by the police - of antisocial driving. Lovely to see a link to our recent motonormativity paper in here too www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

independent.co.ukEd Sheeran in an ‘impossible position’ over Macklemore Gaza row, says Lisa Nandy

Our culture secretary. Says this: "The world is quite a difficult place at the moment, and I think a lot of people do also quite like to have a space where they can go, where they can leave all of that aside'. Yup, that's the purpose of art, music. A space to turn your brain off & wave a lighter...

Patrick Ness@patricknessbooks.bsky.social

He’s really, really not, Lisa. The path in front of him was wide open. Instead, he sucked up to the billionaire. Much like the Labour Party… oh. www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/new...

This is getting culture & indeed politics of music deeply deeply wrong. Just like Ed Sheeran in other words. It is impossible to make neutral art. Indeed, blandly corporate feel good art is in itself a biased form of communicating ideas as all art is. You'd think a culture secretary might get this.

mylondon.newsCar-free developments making life a 'misery' for outer LondonNew developments in areas close to stations are forbidden from providing car parking spaces but residents say they still want places to park

Lib Dem Cllr & Cons Assembly Members attack London car-free developments: www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-... Brent Lib/Dem Cllr Georgiou said car-free developments are "an imposition on people's lives." Can we think of any other imposition on Londoners' lives? Climate crisis, wildfires? Pollution?...

1. I've never met a council, TfL or City Hall policy wonk that can afford to live in "the middle of London". 2. Life in the outer boroughs, I know, cos I live there, is perfectly 'survivable' without a car. We have tubes, trains, buses, trams even, and cycle routes in some parts even. In fact...

Census data shows that a high proportion of London homes, even yes in outer London - even in the outer edges of London - do not have a car or any motor vehicle between them. Again, Shaun, some people need cars and vans. This is fact. But many, probably most, don't. Believe in London Shaun. Not cars.

It's almost as if politicians with conviction might actually help deliver better outcomes for everyone by seeking to reduce things which collectively harm us. What next, will they ban smoking on the tube? What an imposition! What about sending kids up chimneys? Meanwhile, I'm not really minded to...

Pay too much attention to Lord 'Covid party' Bailey or London AM Susan 'mystery wallet mugger' Hall. But this quote from Bailey?! "The people who set most of these policies live in the middle of London and have no idea how unsurvivable life is in the outer boroughs without a car." I mean, what?!...

Inactivity-related ill health? Road danger? Community severance? How very dare woke ideological types in City Hall try and enable folks to ditch car ownership - which is a massive imposition on most households' finances & on our lives as Londoners, mostly unnecessary in London, Brent etc. too...

lauralaker.substack.comCroydon council was told TfL ‘no longer confident’ it can deliver on transport goalsTransport for London’s letter to Croydon cites borough denied removal of cycle protection weeks before wand protection was ripped out

Croydon goes on TfL naughty list next to Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth or Enfield next? The good news here is this is TfL saying very clearly that cycling, walking & wheeling are vital to deliver on & boroughs can't change their minds & rip schemes out on a whim after they've spent London's money...

London Cycling Campaign@londoncycling.bsky.social

TfL has defunded Croydon, similar to Tower Hamlets. lauralaker.substack.com/p/croydon-co... by @lauralaker.bsky.social TfL letter says it is "no longer confident" of Croydon being "supportive" of Mayor's Transport Strategy, demands £235k back from council & no funding until new plan emerges... 1/4

Simon Munk reposted

11 Sept

Take action: feed back to Kensington & Chelsea council on proposed changes to Kensington High Street. Takes just 2 minutes to answer consult.rbkc.gov.uk/communities/..., closes Sunday. Our take? "The vision: bring the fun back" doesn't mean a lot if cycling remains not fun, but dangerous... 1/3

Simon Munk reposted

10 Sept

The London Cycling Festival is an event for everyone 👋 Each festival Hub has taken steps to promote inclusive cycling, and to be as welcoming as possible to rider using alternate cycles 👩‍🦽 With that in mind, here's what inclusive actives you can find at each hub... 🧵

9 Sept

LLMs/AI obviously has huge potential to reshape how we do many things. But apocalyptic super-intelligence predictions every 10 mins? Come on. It's IMO hype designed to make AI seem 'smarter' than it is. Real risk here is idiot techbro culture & societal flotsam bias we feed into these things...

Yashar Ali 🐘@yasharali.bsky.social

1. Earlier today, AI researcher Jacob Coxon, who spent the past three years working at OpenAI and Anthropic, publicly resigned from Anthropic, warning that both companies are racing toward superintelligence and “gambling with our lives.”

8 Sept

Today, I and my partner signed up to be RNLI members, in order to show support for an organisation out there bravely saving people's lives despite the attacks by fascist racist thugs. Eyeing up their old school key chain too... rnli.org/support-us

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Simon Munk reposted

5 Sept

😊 Do you remember when you first started cycling? How much fun it was? Riding a bike will always put a smile on faces. And we’re here to keep it there! 👨‍💻 Tell us your reason why cycling brings you joy: buff.ly/V5ZzNhE

5 Sept

Contrast JSO, XR and folks not even supporting Palestine Action but 80 year olds holding up placards saying they don't support genocide to this... mob of balaclava wearing far right thugs clearly and deliberately disrupting a major port. Two tier policing anyone?

Steve Peers@stevepeers.bsky.social

They are also stopping road traffic - we are told that this is a serious act of "terrorism", entailing long prison sentences, when done for environmental reasons?

5 Sept

See also the clear and identifiable shocking assaults on those protesting Reform's conference in the past couple of days (while Nigel laughed at men assaulting a woman): bsky.app/profile/davi... I am absolutely not holding my breath for police action on these either. Two tier policing?

Dave Vetter@davidrvetter.bsky.social

Content warning: Multiple men violently assault a female protester at Reform's conference at the Birmingham NEC, to the visible delight of Nigel Farage.

Simon Munk reposted

Goodnews

@goodnews.computer

Take a break from being depressed that everything you love is being destroyed by slop for a moment and let me tell you about the beautiful symbiotic relationship between graffiti writers, train yard workers, and model train enthusiasts.

You cannot expect TfL & Londoners to pay councils to install safety & active travel schemes, then pay to rip them out, or even to pay for rubbish schemes that ignore or actively worsen active travel, road danger reduction, climate emissions reductions. This is a council leadership gone rogue...

Will Norman@willnorman.co.uk

Croydon unlawfully removed a safety scheme paid for with public money. Rightly, TfL have required the money to be repaid & paused future funding - subject to the council submitting a revised plan that meets the requirements. mylondon.news/news/transpo...

It's great to see @willnorman.co.uk, Mayor @london.gov.uk & TfL taking action on behalf of Londoners & planet to ensure our money isn't misspent & that all London boroughs act responsibly on climate, health, road danger, pollution, noise and more. Next up, K&C? Enfield? Tower Hamlets (again)?

The BBC looking anything but impartial or balanced on this one. Farage has gone into backside covering mode, not a surprise. But Britain's broadcaster actively playing to his narrative is even more shameful.

GylesNaMopaleen@gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social

yikes! this is how the BBC introduced the farage scandal footage to viewers. It wasn't in the top 5 news items and it's presented as "complex".....and the sting was done by a firm "from the US...that was founded by the Centre of Climate reporting"!!! 1/3

globalextremism.org“Suicidal Empathy” and the False Psychology of Gad SaadMarketing professor Gad Saad has emerged as a prominent voice in the far right with his theory of “suicidal empathy,” which blames Western compassion, diversity and immigration for an alleged civiliza...

2 Sept

Rich white men lap this stuff up cos it tells them they have a good reason to behave like the utter stains on humanity they actually deep down know they are. See all the techbros that lap up Ayn Rand. But the future is collaborative, diverse, sustainable, not same old dinosaur small d*ck energy.

Global Project Against Hate and Extremism@globalextremism.bsky.social

Gad Saad has gone from studying consumer behavior to promoting “suicidal empathy,” an unscientific theory claiming compassion is driving civilization toward collapse. Now embraced by figures including Elon Musk, Mike Lee and Randy Fine, the concept is becoming a vehicle for anti-immigrant rhetoric.

Simon Munk reposted

George Monbiot

@georgemonbiot.bsky.social

2 Sept

It is always the same betrayal: the public interest is sacrificed for the sake of immensely wealthy people. And Andy Burnham has already gone and done it. My column on how Burnham needs to defy the ultra-rich if he's not to follow Starmer out of the door. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

theguardian.comAndy Burnham has already made a mistake that will cost him his premiership: he lost his nerve over political donations | George MonbiotBeing subservient to the interests of the wealthy now means that his hands are tied, and he will be unable to tackle Britain’s most pressing issues, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot

Simon Munk reposted

flyingrodent

@flyingrodent.bsky.social

1 Sept

I always like to point to this one from 2019, when the army came up with its definition of far right radicalisation. And I mean, yes, but also: how many MPs and columnists would this now cover? www.thesun.co.uk/news/9179761...

flyingrodent@flyingrodent.bsky.social

Ronson is describing how debilitating online radicalisation is, both personally calamitous and harmful to society in general. And here’s this guy, demanding to know why Ronson doesn’t also have a brain slug on his head.

Simon Munk reposted