Five years ago, I stumbled across PTRC in the run up to the Seventh Annual Transport Practitioners Meeting at Reading. One of my colleagues, a Smarter Travel practitioner, was involved with the TPM Committee, assisting with the shortlisting of papers and chairing a number of sessions at the conference. In order to take full advantage of the “2-4-1” Local Authority rates offered, and get the most out of the numerous relevant topics, our team attended the conference en-mass. The planning of session logistics, to cover as wide aspread of topics as possible and avoid doubled-up attendance at...

Robert Goodwill, wants Britain’s streets to be filled with 'basket-on-the-handlebars' cyclists. Our video shows why those less gung-ho riders remain a minority  It is a creditable ambition: the (relatively) new minister for cycling, Robert Goodwill, wants Britain’s streets to be filled with “basket-on-the-handlebars” cyclists, people in everyday clothes pedaling at moderate speeds, in contrast to the knee-pumping, dayglo-clad types more common in some cities. Goodwill, who can himself sometimes be seen riding round Westminster on his Brompton folding bike, wearing a suit and...

The government has unveiled its infrastructure spending plan for the next two decades, describing it as "a blueprint for Britain". The National Infrastructure Plan (NIP) includes the government selling off its 40% stake in the Eurostar rail service. About £375bn of investment in energy, transport, communications, and water projects is planned, although no new money will be forthcoming. The insurance industry also plans to spend £25bn over the next five years. Speaking at the Institute of Civil Engineers in Westminster, Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said...

Minister accuses project of causing panic as 15,000 wrongly told construction would mean compulsory purchase of homes  David Lidington (left) with French junior minister for European affairs Thierry Repentin last month. Photograph: John Thys/AFP/Getty Images    Transport chiefs are under fire after more than 15,000 households were sent a "misleading" letter suggesting their properties were at risk of being bulldozed to make way for the HS2 high-speed rail line. David Lidington, a Conservative Foreign Office minister, accused his own government's project of spreading...

Due to a successful first run PTRC is repeating the Cycling for Transport: A technical, society-focussed and policy based overview evening lecture series. The twelve week series will commence on the 4th February and will include interactive debates and case studies with each lecture covering a specific topic taught by experts in their field. For more information take a look at the programme.    PTRC successfully introduces new Cycling Infrastructure Design Course! Thursday 16th January saw the start of the new cycling course at PTRC. Kick-started by Prof John Parkin from the...

Many transport professionals have made contributions to the Transport Select Committee's Follow-On Inquiry into Cycling Safety (visit: http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/transport-committee/inquiries/parliament-2010/cycling-safety ). As its call for written submissions closes today, it is timely to consider how we can contribute to improving cycling safety. One answer is to redouble our efforts to design and build a safer environment for all road users, but especially to reduce the danger being experienced by vulnerable road users - pedestrians and...

Countries such as Denmark and the Netherlands have taken bold planning decisions over decades to achieve safe cycling for all Cyclists hold a 'die-In' protest at Vauxhall. Campaigners want greater awareness of cyclists at busy road junctions Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images Sometimes the debate over urban cycling safety in the UK resembles one strand of thought concerning global warming: the fervent hope that new that technology could save governments from making low-tech but politically difficult decisions. There is nothing wrong with radar systems that warn road...

An average 2.8% increase in rail fares comes into effect on Thursday, pushing the cost of some commuter travel to more than £5,000 a year. The increase is the smallest rise in four years, according to the pan-industry Rail Delivery Group. Chancellor George Osborne said in last month's Autumn Statement he would keep fares in line with July's Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation rate of 3.1%. But campaigners say that fares are rising three times faster than incomes. 'Concerns' recognised Some regulated tickets, including season tickets, anytime and off-peak tickets, have risen on average...

Plan for 220km network of bike paths suspended above railway lines could see commuters gliding to work over rooftops  Gliding through the air on a bike might so far be confined to the fantasy realms of singing nannies and aliens in baskets, but riding over rooftops could one day form part of your regular commute to work, if Norman Foster has his way. Unveiled this week, in an appropriately light-headed vision for the holiday season, SkyCycle proposes a network of elevated bike paths hoisted aloft above railway lines, allowing you to zip through town blissfully liberated from the...

Bus services are to be improved with £4.2m in funding, Transport Minister Keith Brown has announced. Transport Scotland's bus investment fund is to be split among 13 projects over three years. Successful bids include a better park and ride at Kingswells in Aberdeen, bus stop timetables in Fife, and extensions to a southern Highland rural service. Improvements are planned for the A81 in East Dunbartonshire, as well as rural services in Dumfries and Galloway. Mr Brown said: "This fund provides local authorities, regional transport partnerships and bus operators with the...