Policy & Funding
This category includes government policy announcements, both local, state, national and international along with updates and summaries about budgets and upcoming projects.
Australia Takes a Step Towards Legalising Scooters and Other Micromobility
Canberra, ACT Australia’s National Transport Commission (NTC) has released its recommendations for common micromobility legislation across all Australian States and territories. The recommendations could see electric scooters and other forms of Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) become legal across Australia in 2021. Australia is one of the world’s laggards in adopting progressive legislation to enable a…
New Green, Micromobility Friendly Plan Approved for Paris
Paris / France Over recent years Paris has already been making the news for all the right reasons when it comes to micromobility. As we’ve reported here and here, the progressive Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo was re-elected last year for a second six-year term and has ramped up her already ambitious plans to make…
Two of NYC’s Iconic Bridges to Get Dedicated Bike Lanes
New York City / New York / USA Some new protected lane infrastructure announcements are more significant than others because they represent a ‘step change’ whereby an old ‘impossible’ barrier is smashed. New York City was often in the advocacy headlines between 2002 and 2013 during the term of previous Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who oversaw…
Taking Lanes on Key Melbourne Arterial Road
Melbourne / Victoria Many Melbourne residents and some visitors would be familiar with Heidelberg Road which is one of the main arterials that radiates out from the city to the suburbs. Heidelberg road is wider and faster than many of the inner city arterials, with three lanes in each direction on the scenic first stretch…
Wider Bike Paths in Commonwealth Avenue Bridge Upgrade
Canberra / ACT One of Australia’s most famous and photographed bridges is about to get a $137 million upgrade. The Commonwealth Avenue bridge spans Lake Burley Griffin, linking the city centre of Canberra in a direct line towards the flagpole at the centre of the federal parliament house. Pedestrian pathways will be widened and vehicle…
More Pop-Up Cycleways Announced for NSW
Further to the first six pop-up cycleways already constructed that we wrote about here, on 23rd November 2020 Transport for NSW announce plans for a further 14 projects across Sydney and regional NSW. These include the local government areas of North Sydney, Randwick, Inner West, Parramatta, Woollahra, Newcastle, Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla, Goulburn and Wollongong. You can…
USA Public Volunteers US$1 Billion for Cycling
In the USA, just like Australia, motor vehicle transportation receives the lion’s share of government transportation funding each year, with public and active transportation left to share the crumbs. However, unlike Australia, in the USA they have systems within their lower levels of government (state, city and county) in which propositions which exceed certain support…
Netherlands Reduces Default Speed Limit Nation-wide… 30 is the New 50
On Tuesday, 27 October 2020, a majority in the House of Representatives approved a plan to introduce a standard limit of 30 kph in built-up areas, replacing the previous 50 kph. Their objective is to reduce road casualties, specifically in areas with schools and strong concentration of children. Esther van Gardere, CEO of Fietsersbond, the…
Remarkable Turnaround for Symbolic College Street Bike Path
Five years ago, one of the most heavily used protected bicycle paths in Australia that had been built at a cost of five million dollars, ripped out by an anti-cycling Roads Minister. The state was New South Wales, the path was along College Street in the CBD of Sydney and the then Minister for Roads…
What Should the 2020 Queensland State Election Mean for Micromobility?
Now that the votes have been counted and the Palaszczuk Labor Government has been re-elected with an increased majority, it will be interesting to see how their future performance compares to their pre-election policy platform in relation to cycling and walking. During the campaign they pledged $58 million for cycleways and active travel for financial…