Great Western Coffee Shop

The latest round of walking and cycling handouts have been announced by the DfT.

https://www.cyclinguk.org/blog/cycling-and-walking-funding-english-councils-winners-and-losers (https://www.cyclinguk.org/blog/cycling-and-walking-funding-english-councils-winners-and-losers)
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/emergency-active-travel-fund-local-transport-authority-allocations/emergency-active-travel-fund-total-indicative-allocations (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/emergency-active-travel-fund-local-transport-authority-allocations/emergency-active-travel-fund-total-indicative-allocations)

As CyclingUK points out there have been some LAs who have been put on the naughty step. West Sussex in an area I use is highlighted, as is Worcestershire. It will be interesting to see how Reading complies with Cycle Infrastructure Design LTN1/20 for its allocation for Bath Road/Castle Hill. A road that effectively goes from five lines down to two in a couple of hundred yards. I will risk my neck on it in a couple  of minutes on the way home.

Gloucestershire has done well, be interested to see how that is turned into reality. Oxfordshire has also got a good bung, but some of there recent projects haven't been wonderful (although I stand to be corrected by more local knowledge).

Exeter features on the winners list courtesy of the DCC (Devon County Council) plan to carry on with the development of the Rifford Road scheme, which provides for almost complete segregation of motor vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians, and the completion of the E9 strategic cycle route.

I can already hear the gnashing of teeth by Howard Cox - founder of Fair Fuel UK - when stuff like this, which prevents motorists from driving wherever they like whenever they like, is announced. He may be right as these schemes involve the implementation of a few fairly lengthy diversionary routes.

One question which DCC has seemingly not yet answered is how they plan to deal with all the private vehicles which will be displaced from on-street parking areas outside older housing that was built before garages and driveways were a thing.

Good to see the Cycling UK note that "just burying their head in the sand and ignoring active travel is unlikely to work" as I've long been concerned that my local authority is quite happy not to get funding for walking/cycling schemes. Reduced funding for other highway work just might twist their arms.

Slough really does seem to be getting an extraordinary amount. They already on the face of it have quite a lot of cycle infrastructure, though a lot of it is very narrow on-carriageway gutter hugging cycle lanes or lengths of shared use that stop suddenly, so I hope they spend the money well.

Slightly more detail https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-61549430 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-61549430)