iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Yesterday @appgcw.bsky.social meet w/ @liliangreenwood.bsky.social. Focus on #CWIS3. ✅reiterated commitmt 2 sort out Mobility Aid law ✅Pavemt Parking action But nothin more 2 help #Disabled ppl be more physically active. Need 2 end "activity trap": Disabled ppl fear losing bfits by getting active.

Alt text: photo of Ben, masc presenting and middle aged, essentially clean shaven, wearing a straw hat, specs and a green polo shirt. In the background the distinctive stonework and windows of the Palace of Westminster in sunshine, and a bright blue sky with white wispy clouds.

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

It was lovely to go along to #BedfordMarket to buy some produce from the schools and home educators. It’s on until 2pm. Well done to the children, the educators, #FoodEtc-Bedford. #SchoolFoodMatters

Photo of Ben, masc presenting and middle aged, using wheelchair, wearing trilby hat, glasses and purple sweatshirt with a Green Party badge. Ben is holding out his hand showing radishes he’s just bought. To the left of Ben a group of six primary age children of various ethnicities, wearing blue tops and white aprons saying “School Food Matters”. One is holding a brown paper bag, and another a plant that is about 300mm tall. Behind them is their teacher, a bearded man wearing a green t-shirt. Also in the background another market stall and landmarks on the north side of St Peters Square, Bedford.

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

RED warning for extreme heat. Wed & Thur. Danger to life, not just for people who are the most vulnerable. I'm very concerned for residents in properties that overheat, including top floor flats, south facing flats, & single aspect flats where it's almost impossible to get a through draft. (thread)

Map of England and Wales, with an area marked out and labeled Red, extreme heat. The area covers much of southern England and south Wales, including Greater London, Bedford, Birmingham, Swansea and Taunton. A wider area is covered by the Amber extreme heat warning, including virtually all of the parts of England and Wales visible.

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Last week I was privileged to be a guest at the Modeshift 25 years celebration in Parliament. #TeamModeshift Thanks to www.akoz.media for the brilliant photo! modeshift.org.uk/news/modeshi...

Group of smartly dressed people applauding, virtually all pale skinned and middle aged. In front of them, and facing the same direction as them, a masc presenting wheelchair user wearing specs, a trilby hat, a colourful sweatcshirt and grey trousers. All of the group are wearing orange lanyards.
They are in a room dressed with drapery at the ceiling and windows as a pavilion, and with high tables with long tablecloths on them. On the one table able to be seen clearly, and blurred in the foreground are champagne flutes.

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

This is quite something. The Green Party on a record 19%, in second place in a national opinion poll, and with the gap behind RefUK smaller than in any previous poll where Greens have been second, as RefUK share down sharply, and Greens up. #GreenParty #OpinionPoll

Coloured bar chart. Headline: Greens 2nd place and highest ever vote share.

REFUK: 29% (-3)
Green: 19% (+2)
LAB: 17% (+3)
CON: 17% (-1)
LDM: 11% (-)
changes from 21 January.
Source Find Out Now 28 January.
Graphic from Green Elects.

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

The Tories should look at my feed. I've been clear what I voted for. My successful motion commits the council to "investigate designs for Bedford station that will provide the most convincing case that ...there is no need to demolish homes." Facts cannot lie, but Conservatives do all the time.

Screenshot of a social media post from Bedford & Kempston Conservatives. The main item is a green-coloured montage, with text "Tell your residents the truth - you voted for it!" "Green Party voted for East West Rail 'Route E' Demolishing homes and businesses." "Facts cannot lie". On it is a photo of Ben Foley and buildings that look similar to some buildings in Ashburnham Road.

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

#Bedford council has rejected Tory proposals on council tax support. So, Bedford & Kempston's poorest households saved from bills of £100s next yr. @greenparty.org.uk took key role w/ other opposition cllrs. Greens delivered 10,000 leaflets, successfully urging rejection of proposal in consultation.

Montage of three leaflets with titles "Castle and Newnham Green" "Kempston News" and "Greyfriars Green". While each has a different design, each of them features prominently on the front page a story about saying "no". Accompanying text visible includes "Council want to make the poorest pay" and "Overspending by the Tory-run council has left it in financial trouble. Now to balance the books they want to cut council tax support for the poorest. They're consulting on council tax support changes. These changes will mean everybody who qualifies for council tax support will pay hundreds of pounds..."

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

Last night's meeting of #Bedford Council included passing @greenparty.org.uk motion, committing to defend all residents whose homes are threatened w/ demolition for #EWR, investigating designs for Bedford station (& options for #railway nth of station) to make sure there's no need to demolish homes.

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

Result of Bedford's council tax consultation yesterday. More people gave right answer than wrong answer on question 5 😀. But signs are it's being ignored 🤬. So: petition calling on council to respect the outcome. *Please sign & share* actionnetwork.org/petitions/bedford-council-respect-the-decision

Photo of five white envelopes, four with the words "private and confidential", three with windows visible. One has "Overdue" printed in red on the envelope, a second "Final notice" and a third has a red exclamation mark and obscured other parts in red.

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

💚 Great news for Bedford! 💚 Welcome to the Greens, Cllr Caroline White (Kempston Cent&E) a hardworking former Labour cllr who’s always stood up for fairness & local people. Bedford Borough @greenparty.org.uk Group up to 4. The politics of hope keeps growing here in Bedford. join.greenparty.org.uk

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

This is quite something. An opinion poll with Greens ahead of LibDems, Conservatives AND Labour. One more to go (and fortunately at least RefUK seems to have stopped going up). join.greenparty.org.uk

Screenshot of social media post from Election Maps UK, 30 Oct 2025.
Westminster voting intention:
RefUK: 32% (=)
Green: 17% (+2)
Con: 16% (-1)
Lab: 16% (=)
LibDem: 12% (=)
SNP: 2% (=)
Via @FindOutNowUK, 29 Oct.
Changes compared with 22 Oct.

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

Unusually I was at work for @wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk on Sat. I was at the "Homes for Us" Summit - back in Westminster for the 2nd time in a week, but mingling with activists rather than politicians. A productive & creative day looking at housing crisis & how it affects minoritised communities.

Selfie. In the foreground, Ben, white, masc-presenting, clean shaven, wearing a trilby hat and specs, In the background a display showing the words "...up and closing", with below them in smaller writing and largely obscured text from the live captions "have to rush for the train... ...look forward to it..."
Between, a small huddle of people near the stage

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

Today I was delivering leaflets, urging ppl 2 respond 2 council consultation abt bunging new bills of £100s/year on the poorest in our community: people who get council tax support. Pls respond - link in thread! Are you willing & able to help out delivering leaflets, please? Plenty more to go out!

Photo of Ben on a balcony at rooftop level, with block towering above him to the right. He's holding up in front of himself a leaflet that says "Greyfriars Green, Ben and James's Issue 22
Tell them 'No'!
Council want to make the poorest pay!
Overspending by the Tory-run council has... [edge of photo]...financial trouble. Now to balance the books... ...cut council tax support for the poorest."

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

Well, that’s what I thought until I encountered this last night. #Lime @islington-council.bsky.social. That said, in the past I’ve often encountered the dropped kerbs at that junction equally blocked by motor vehicles.

Photo of Road junction. It is completely impossible for anyone to cross the side road near the junction because of the large number of Lime bikes at the junction, even sticking out into the carriageway of the ‘main’ road.

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

This afternoon’s workplace for @wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk comes with a fine view of the Thames. At the joint meeting launching the report “Behind the headlines: sentencing after fatal crashes”. Joint meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Transport #Safety and #Cycling / Walking.

Photo of Ben (white, masc presenting, wearing specs and a trilby hat). Behind, a window with lead glazing bar and just visible through the window, a broad river.

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

Easy to miss, but important. At @wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk we've been working towards this moment for years - the DfT has publicly announced that it is looking at sorting out mobility aid laws. 🎉 Our #MyCycleMyMobilityAid campaign looks like it is paying off.

Screenshot of a tweet from Simon Lightwood MP. Jul 21.
"Everyone deserves safe, accessible transport.
That’s why we’re extending e-scooter trials to 2028 and expanding them to new towns to learn how best to regulate them.
We’re also looking at our mobility aid laws so disabled people can use the devices they need for independence." Accompanied with a photo, the alt text for which was "Hire escooters parked in a line in a designated parking area", image attribution Department for Transport.

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

So, my plan to take today off work for @wheelsforwellbeing didn’t survive. Representing us at the All Party Parliamentary Group on #Disability.

Photo of Ben smiling and looking down to the camera. Ben is masc presenting, wearing a straw hat, a pale sweater with a white open collar showing. Behind Ben is the Palace of Westminster, with the Elizabeth Tower (aka Big Ben) visible.

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

So, the photo was lost from the post: here it is now. My colleague @tandemkate got to talk to her and I’m hopeful that going forward Sarah Storey will be a good ally for us at @wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk

Photo of two people sat on stage in armchairs, talking to each other. Both Middle aged and white. To the left, masc presenting, wearing a white shirt. To the right, side view of someone femme presenting, wearing a stripy top and brown leggings. Behind them a roller banner saying “Creating safer streets” and another sign saying “Active City York 2025”

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

I’m at #ActiveCityYork. Great to hear Chris Whitty talk about the importance of both walking and #wheeling for #Disabled people.

White, Middle Aged man standing alone on a stage, microphone in hand. In the background a pop-up banner from Active Travel England “Transforming the school run”

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

I was at Parliament in a roundtable about Govt's #IntegratedTransportStrategy organised by Accessible Transport Policy Commission, giving a chance to talk to senior #DfT officials about what's needed for integrated transport for #Disabled people, including #ActiveTravel to/from nearest stop. 2/2

Selfie taken in a high ceilinged room. Closest to camera on the right, masc presenting person wearing straw hat and blue casual shirt with three white stripes, and around the neck a lanyard saying "visitor". Behind and to the left, Baroness Grey-Thompson, with short light-coloured hair, typing into a laptop. To the left, a femme presenting person with hair tied up, perhaps in her 30s, hands held out in front gesticulating while she talks. To the left, another femme presenting person wearing a dress with a Greek key pattern in black and white, she has longer hair. To the left, two further people, not easy to discern in shiloette as light streams in from the window behind them. Behind the speaker is the top of a banner saying "The Accessible Transport Policy Commission".

Selfie taken outside palace of Westminster with much neo-baroque stonework in evidence. I'm masc presenting, clean shaven, wearing a straw hat and a blue polo shirt with white stripes just visible on the sleeve.

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

Today work for @wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk took both @tandemkate.bsky.social and I to London, so it was good to be able to meet up in person for a change (all-too-briefly). Kate was talking to City of London about bus stop bypasses, while... 1/2

Angled picture of two people, both smiling. Flat ground runs top left to bottom right in the picture. On the left, masc presenting, clean shaved person wearing straw hat and dark blue casual shirt. To the right, femme presenting person, with shoulder length brown hair, wearing sunglasses and a long blue dress with a red pattern. Partly visible between the two, a wheelchair, clearly not being sat on by either. To the right at a steep angle, red bricks of a modern building and a red London bus.

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

I'm at @velo-city-conference.com. I've now made all 3 presentations done, highlighting how #Disabled cyclists are impacted by issues (bikelash, cost & cycle parking, and how we relate to infrastructure). Been good to make contact with ppl working to improve #cycling for Disabled ppl elsewhere.

4 people sat on stage. All 4 wearing dark trousers. From the left, two middle aged femme presenting people, each wearing fairly informal jackets. The leftmost is looking right. 2nd is looking straight ahead, with shoulder length hair. Next, a masc presenting person looking straight ahead, one hand up towards his face. Finally, a masc person (me) right hand pointing to a screen behind, holding a microphone with their left. I'm wearing my trilby hat & brightly coloured sweatshirt. On my lap are sheets of paper, and in front of me, my wheelchair. Behind me presentation slide. Some text is unreadable in the picture. What is clearly visible is the word "Infrastructure", logos for ECF, Wheels for Wellbeing & Velo City. Slide includes four photos. Top right there's a photo of an access barrier at a park entrance. Bottom left, a chicane barrier. Bottom centre a blocked cycle lane with a "cyclists dismount" sign. Bottom right, a road with steep crossfall on pavement alongside and vegetation.

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

I'm really pleased to say #Ani4deputy of the #GreenParty (England and Wales). Ani is an excellent person with great judgement and commitment who has my full support.

Quote "I got to know Ani best when during a visit to Bristol on Party business, Ani walked with me through their ward, and we compared notes on representing inner-urban deprived wards./I've been impressed by Ani's level-headed response to issues and dedication to the Party and to equality"
Quote is presented in white on a dark green background with massive quotation marks. On lighter green, top right the words Ani Townsend for Deputy Leader. Bottom left Ben Foley/Councillor/Bedford. Bottom right a circular picture of Ben, masc presenting, wearing a trilby hat, specs and a red and white scarf. In the background tower blocks.

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 08/06/2025

I'm travelling across Europe, to speak up for #Disabled #cyclists at @velo-city-conference.com. Today, home-Berlin. Tomorrow Berlin-Gdansk (Poland). Journey is going smoothly so far. Famously tricky 25 minutes Brussles connection went OK after the Eurostar, & I've changed train at Cologne OK, too.

Selfie on a train. Outside of the window, woodland. In the foreground to the left, masc presenting person wearing trilby hat, with collar of a polo shirt visible.

Selfie on a subtly different train. Outside of the window, trees mixed with buildings and a cloudy sky. In the foreground to the left, masc presenting person wearing trilby hat, with collar of a polo shirt visible.

Selfie at a railway station (Cologne). Overhead, arched steel and glass roof. To the left an older-looking train, with the carriages painted with red towards the bottom, a cream colour around the windows and a grey roof. In the foreground, masc presenting person wearing trilby hat and specs, with collar of a polo shirt visible, and a dark blue sweatshirt.

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 08/06/2025

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

I'm horrified to hear the news from Liverpool. I've been part of the crowd of football fans during a victory parade in the past. I expect I will be again. For a celebration like that to turn into a scene of carnage is just so shocking. My thoughts are with Liverpool fans, their families and friends.

Street scene dominated by emergency service vehicles of all sorts. In the middle, a set of traffic lights, and a Liverpool flag flying from those traffic lights.

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

This afternoon/evening the All Party Parliamentary Group on #Cycling and Walking are hearing evidence on eCycle #safety and the gig economy. It was good to hear @ruthcadbury.bsky.social ask #TfL about possible discriminatory effects of their ban on eCycles.

Photo of people sat around a table. To the left two masc people wearing suits. On the far side of the table four people, two masc wearing blue shirts, two femmes wearing pink tops. Those include Fabian Hamilton MP and Ruth Cadbury MP

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

I’m in the House of Lords (committee room) for the “round table” on bus service accessibility for #Disabled people.

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

I'm at the @londoncycling.bsky.social Community Skills Summit, with @charliecycling.bsky.social, both helping people learn about @wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk, once the great opening plenary (chaired by @lauralaker.bsky.social) finishes. #MyCycleMyMobilityAid #Cycling #Disability

Selfie of me, a middle aged masc presenting person with another person wearing a Wheels For Wellbeing tshirt. The other person is also middle aged and masc presenting, but a person of colour wearing specs. Behind us an audience in a lecture theatre and in the background, just about visible, the panel.

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

Also there were the lovely @sianberry.bsky.social MP and @ibikebrighton.bsky.social of Transport Initiatives. A pleasure to meet both again.

Sian Berry MP (right) talking to Chris Boardman (left) with Mark Strong (middle) also concentrating on what Sian was saying. Sian is side-on and pictured from slightly behind, largely silohetted against the window, with glazing bars much in evidence. Sian has long blonde hair and gesticulates towards Chris Boardman. Mark has a bald head and smiles while looking in the direction of Sian. Chris Boardman looks relaxed, with hands possibly in pockets, but also clearly paying attention to Sian.

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

I'm so busy with personal stuff I've missed normal weekend London trips for fun. But yesterday it was work: meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on #Cycling & Walking, featuring @chrisboardman.bsky.social, commissioner of @ategov.bsky.social. I asked qus about inclusion & #Disabled people.

Selfie of Ben Foley - middle aged masc presenting - wearing a trilby hat, with in the background the Elizabeth Tower (known as Big Ben).

Selfie of Ben Foley with Chris Boardman in the Jubilee Room at Parliament. Both are wearing orange lanyards saying "visitor".

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

Time for Labour MPs to stand up for what is right, and protect the meagre benefits that so many #Disabled people rely on. archive.ph/PY981

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

This morning I was representing @wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk at one of the Department for Transport's "have your say" sessions for its Integrated #Transport Strategy. I made sure key points for #Disabled people were heard, including those of us who use active travel and make multimodal journeys.

Selfie of Ben (middle-aged masc-presenting, clean shaven, wearing a trilby hat) at the back of a room with others seated, generally looking to the front left of the room. At the front of the room is a display screen, but brightness of the screen means no text is visible.

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 07/02/2024

Great to see this much-needed research into the effects of removing access control barriers. If you're a local councillor, campaigner or decision-maker, check the thread below for details on how to apply to be part of this study: #MyCycleMyMobilityAid 🧵

Photo of an a-frame access control barrier and horse style at the entrance to a traffic free route. Both barriers make the route difficult or impossible to access by anyone using a mobility scooter of non-standard cycle like a trike. Text says 'monitoring access control barrier removal on traffic free walking, wheeling and cycling routes'. Logos of the university of Westminster, the active travel academy, and motability.

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 23/01/2024

...Modal filters – key points - Can be full time, part-time, one/two way, restrict all of some types of motor vehicle & sometimes cycle access. May have physical barriers, signs-only or CCTV enforced. Include bus gates, one-way streets, active travel road filters,...

Title: “Thinking about modal filters”
Subtitle: “This sheet is to aid discussion in accessible design for Disabled people walking/wheeling, cycling, using public transport & private vehicles”
Image: A bus gate modal filter. On the right, a footway with a long cane user walking away. A person on a recumbent trike is on a side road. People on a side-by-side cycle & a powerchair user are passing through the bus gate on carriageway. Sustainable drainage features are on either side. Controlled and uncontrolled crossings at various locations. A parent with children is cycling on road. Two children, one using a powerchair & the other a kick scooter, are on the left hand pavement.
Labels on image: Footway width? Street furniture & sight lines? Drainage, cleaning & maintenance? Shelter design & position? Crossing depth &type? Tactile paving. Signage? Controls? Colour contrasts? Cycle lane width? Gradients? Island dimensions? Stop type audio alerts on bus. Kerb shapes, heights & materials?

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 23/01/2024

Shared bus stop boarders – key points Installed on roads with cycle lanes and low pedestrian/cycle flows, where designers decide there is not space for a bus stop bypass. Continuous protected cycle lanes are required where carriageways are unsafe for inclusive cycling...

Shared bus stop boarders
Title: “Thinking about shared bus stop boarders”
Subtitle: “This sheet is to aid discussion in accessible design for Disabled people walking/wheeling, cycling, using public transport & private vehicles”
Image: A shared bus stop boarder. On the right, a red bus with a manual wheelchair and long cane user coming out onto the narrow buffer strip. To the left of the island is a cycle lane with a wide controlled crossing. A cyclist is waiting at the crossing. To the left of the cycle lane is a pavement with a bus shelter. A person is standing waiting at the bus shelter and another is riding a mobility scooter away.
Labels on the image: Footway width? Street furniture & sight lines? Drainage, cleaning & maintenance? Shelter design? Tactile paving. Signage & Controls? Colour contrasts? Buffer dimensions? Cycle lane width? Gradients? Island dimensions? Stop type audio alerts on bus. Kerb shapes, heights & materials?

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 23/01/2024

Ensuring walking/wheeling, cycling, public transport & often private vehicle access for all #Disabled people is critical. Work colleague @tandemkate.bsky.social created 3 discussion graphics to help consider some issues & possible solutions. Alt text for pictures is on image, text is in thread

Title: “Thinking about bus stop bypasses”
Subtitle: “This sheet is to aid discussion in accessible design for Disabled people walking/wheeling, cycling, using public transport & private vehicles”
Image: A bus stop bypass. On the right, a red bus with a powerchair user going in up a ramp. A woman using a rollator accompanying two children and a bus shelter are also on the bus stop island. To the left of the island is a cycle lane with a wide zebra crossing, which has tactile paving along both sides. A tricyclist is riding on the cycle lane. To the left of the cycle lane is a pavement. A person on a mobility scooter and a person with a guide dog are on the pavement.
Labels on the image ask: Footway width? Street furniture & sight lines? Drainage, cleaning & maintenance? Shelter design & position? Crossing depth and type? Tactile paving. Signage? Controls? Colour contrasts? Cycle lane width? Gradients? Island dimensions? Stop type audio alerts on bus. Kerb shapes, heights and materials?

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 14/12/2023

The first known image of cycling...

Woodcut image of Stephan Farffler, using the world's first known cycle, a handcycle that he designed and built in the mid 17th century

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Ben Foley @benwheels.bsky.social · 14/12/2023

Did you know the first ever cyclist was #Disabled? This #DisabilityHistoryMonth you can help start to correct the under-representation of Disabled people in #Cycling. Register now to use Wheels for Wellbeing’s free Disabled cyclists photobank. wfwimages.free.resourcespace.com

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