Sign in

Charlie Hicks

@charliehicks.bsky.social
1.9K followers 956 following 21 posts

Researcher at LSE Cities | Transport, Housing & Future Generations Policy 🚌🏡🌿

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
LSE British Politics and Policy @lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Stop treating all car drivers the same (if you want a more sustainable transport policy) 🖋️ @charliehicks.bsky.social of LSE Cities blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
blogs.lse.ac.uk
Stop treating all car drivers the same | LSE British Politics
The mistake that transport policy often makes is that it treats all car drivers the same. That's both unfair and politically counterproductive.
061
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 07/06/2026
Beginning as a pop-up pandemic-era intervention in the summer of 2021, Bristol's bustling Princess Victoria Street emerged as a permanent pedestrian space within four years; offering a compelling case of how such measures can reshape public opinion, local economies, and the future of urban streets.🧵
People walk and sit along a pedestrianised shopping street in the centre of Bristol, featuring terraces, trees, planter boxes, bike parking, and advertising boards.People walk and sit along a pedestrianised shopping street in the centre of Bristol, featuring terraces, trees, planter boxes, bike parking, and advertising boards.People walk and sit along a pedestrianised shopping street in the centre of Bristol, featuring terraces, trees, planter boxes, bike parking, and advertising boards.People walk and sit along a pedestrianised shopping street in the centre of Bristol, featuring terraces, trees, planter boxes, bike parking, and advertising boards.
636888
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Oxford Clarion @oxfordclarion.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
A bus service every 7-8 minutes for Barton, every 7-8 minutes for Kidlington and Oxford Parkway, and every 5 minutes for Blackbird Leys will kick in from 30 November with a raft of timetable changes by Stagecoach. Night buses will operate on all these routes until 3.30am on Friday/Saturday.
New Stagecoach bus network map
3346
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Martin Price-Phillips @mpricephillips.bsky.social · 07/07/2025
Interesting study around LTNs cutting deaths and injuries, with no impact to outside roads. An effective safety measure.
theguardian.com
London’s low-traffic zones ‘cut deaths and injuries by more than a third’
Exclusive: Study also finds no change in number of casualties on roads just outside low-traffic neighbourhoods
1448
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
Conclusion of a new metaanalysis of 112 prior studies examining urban design & loneliness: Residents are less lonely if their neighborhood offers green space, walkability, and proximity to amenities like bars, restaurants, and shops. doi.org/10.1016/j.he...
69835
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Cllr Anna Railton 🌹 @annarailton.bsky.social · 01/03/2025
Been cycling past this tagged bin for a couple of weeks and today we cleaned it up! 🧼 Latest innovation to the OxClean litter pick! Sign cleaning! 🧹
2251
Charlie Hicks @charliehicks.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
Great to see these pedestrian improvements coming forward, and very happy to see they include rain gardens. This design in particular covers an area recently affected by localised flooding
050
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Anneliese Dodds MP @anneliesedoddsmp.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
I'm delighted that both St Joseph's and Barton Park Primary Schools will be among the first to offer Labour's free breakfast clubs, supporting: 🧠 Hungry minds not hungry bellies ⏰ Parents' work choices ✨ Children's life chances
Labour are rolling out free breakfast clubs in primary schools
1135
Charlie Hicks @charliehicks.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
Very pleased to see this!! Hugely helpful for any council wishing to deliver improvements in walking and wheeling Do check it out and share with your council comms/engagement & transport teams!
050
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Oliver Lord @olord.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
Cars are getting 1cm wider every two years. That may not sound much, but over time it adds up, and they're showing no signs of slowing down 😬 That's #carspreading. Our new campaign is calling on city leaders to make parking policies fairer by varying costs based on the size of a car. Why? 🧵1/8
A graphic showing how much wider cars are getting and especially in the SUV market
47706324
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Cllr Brad Baines 🌹🐝 @bradtbaines.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
Fantastic news. Labour is investing in new walking and cycling infrastructure to improve public health! Oxfordshire County Council is set to receive over £3 million. High quality infrastructure is key to making it easy and safe to walk and wheel. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
£38m funding for new walkways and cycle lanes across South East
It is part of a national £291million package to make people healthier and towns and cities greener.
032
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Cllr Brad Baines 🌹🐝 @bradtbaines.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
@charliehicks.bsky.social is absolutely right in challenging the County Administration to commit to implementing the recommendations of the Citizens Assembly. We need to bring people together around a sustainable way forward. This means putting residents at the heart of future decision-making.
211
Charlie Hicks @charliehicks.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
here's the cause of the total chaos this morning on our roads 👇 I was told by staff on the ground that @thameswater.bsky.social were meant to reinstate the road this morning, but they had upped and left, leaving the hole there without fixing it, and with no-one monitoring the traffic lights
230
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Oxford Clarion @oxfordclarion.bsky.social · 03/02/2025
A new limited-stop bus from Cowley to the city centre is the highlight of Oxford Bus Company’s new timetable from 23 February. The new 500, which stops only at five key locations along Cowley/Oxford Road, replaces the 11X which served only the BMW plant. Buses will run every 10–15 minutes.
Oxford Bus Company 500 route map
1142
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Cllr Anna Railton 🌹 @annarailton.bsky.social · 01/02/2025
There are lots of reasons I love being a local councillor but one of them is it empowers you to do slightly chaotic things like hold a party for a bridge 👌 🥰 Grandpont pipe bridge 🥰
0322
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Oxford Clarion @oxfordclarion.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
Electrifying the railway from Didcot to Oxford – and beyond to Bletchley – was Oxfordshire County Council’s chief “ask” at a rail conference held in Oxford today. Chiltern Railways and GWR are seeking investment to electrify and upgrade their fleets.
Oxford station (Philip Halling at geograph.org.uk, CC-BY-SA)
2295
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Cllr Anna Railton 🌹 @annarailton.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
Can't beat physics - 20mph speed limits work ✅ less deaths ✅ less injuries ✅ lower car insurance (!) ✅ cost effective (Welsh scheme past break even after 1 year) ✅ safer, more pleasant streets outside people's homes Onwards to a blanket 20mph inside Oxford limits www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Welsh 20mph speed limit: Fall in serious casualties in first year
Ex-minister says it shows policy was the most successful road safety initiative in modern times.
46615
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Prof. Ian Walker @ianwalker.bsky.social · 09/01/2025
New study provides further evidence that when it comes to travel, what people think is less important than their environment www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... This nicely agrees with the Reverse Causality Hypothesis (www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...) which says attitudes FOLLOW behaviour
410743
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
New Economics Foundation @neweconomics.bsky.social · 25/01/2025
Expanding airports are not a silver bullet for economic growth - and the damage it would incur is massive. Our new analysis in @businessgreen.bsky.social Read more here: neweconomics.org/2025/01/airp...
02414
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
“Someone with a 1-hr car commute needs to earn 40% more to be as happy as someone with a short walk to work. On the other hand, if someone shifts from a long commute to a walk, their happiness increases as much as if they’d fallen in love.” #CityMakingMath 50 reasons to want walkable streets.
fastcompany.com
50 Reasons Why Everyone Should Want More Walkable Streets
From making you live longer to making cities more resilient: If you want a reason to make your city more walkable, it's in here.
251147293
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 22/01/2025
When it comes to long-term behaviour change, attractiveness might be the most overlooked design principle. Looking past comfort and convenience, it employs beauty—art, lighting, nature, etc.—to create a user experience that entices people onto a bike, even when a car makes the most practical sense.
Cyclists and pedestrians travel through a tunnel lined with blue and white tiles underneath Amsterdam Centraal Station.A cyclist rides along a red asphalt bike path through a park in Rotterdam. A large mural of two women is in the background.Pedestrians travel across a steel walking and cycling bridge in the harbor of Amsterdam on a dark and foggy night.Cyclists travel across a car-free bridge in the harbour of Amsterdam. A neon light art installation sits on top the water.
418233
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Cllr Anna Railton 🌹 @annarailton.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
LET'S GO 🌹 Broadest shoulders should bare the greatest weight 2x council tax for 2nd homes in Oxford www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/2487222...
oxfordmail.co.uk
Second homes in Oxford to be charged extra council tax
Plans to make Oxford “a fairer place to live” by charging second homes in the city extra council tax have been approved by Oxford City Council.
26615
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Iain Soutar @isoutar.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
Interesting new report from @cmmonwealth.bsky.social showing higher levels of support for community-owned energy projects than for privately-owned projects in the UK.
Bar chart comparing public support for community-owned versus privately-owned energy projects, with higher levels of support for the former. The Caption reads as follows:
Figure 1: More People Would Support a Community Owned Energy Project than a Privately Owned Energy Project
Q: To what extent, if any, would you support or oppose the creation of a community/privately owned renewable energy project in your local area? [Asked to half of the the sample; n=2415] for community owned and [Asked to half of the sample; n=2415] for privately owned
34417
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Stephen Frost @sfrost.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
Bus reforms will deliver improvements in services, as will sharing the cash more fairly and over longer timescales. But, buses also need more £££s. Anything less than £1.6 billion annually (+ cash for new buses), unlikely to get us to pre-Covid service levels
route-one.net
Better buses pledge must be backed by cold, hard cash
The government’s grand plans for buses will not meet success without sufficient funding, says CPT CEO Graham Vidler.
1227
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Oxford Clarion @oxfordclarion.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
A community workshop took place this Saturday to gather community input on pieces of art to be featured across Cowley's Templars Square. The murals will reflect what Cowley means to locals and be created by local artist Lisa Made It.
Cllr Elphinstone stands next to her art, of Cagney's coffee.
184
Charlie Hicks @charliehicks.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
Excellent to see this new bus service is soon to begin, linking Cowley to the hospital sites and Park and Rides 🚌
051
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Oxford Clarion @oxfordclarion.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
A workshop will take place this Saturday in Cowley, for community input on pieces of art to be featured across Templars Square. The murals will reflect what Cowley means to locals and be created by local artist Lisa Made It. All welcome. Details 👇 www.templarssquare.com/events/commu...
templarssquare.com
Community Art Project Workshop – Templars Square
032
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Oxford Clarion @oxfordclarion.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
A “Citizens’ Assembly” on Oxfordshire transport starts on 8 Feb. 40 residents have been randomly selected to discuss “What steps do we need to take so Oxfordshire's transport system enables our county's health, economy, and environment to thrive in 2050?” letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/citizens-ass...
letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk
Citizens' assembly
During February and March 2025, 40 Oxfordshire residents will take part in our first ever citizens’ assembly. Participants will dedicate 45 hours across nine sessions to answer the following challenge...
3136
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Stephen Frost @sfrost.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
Interesting point made in South Yorkshire's franchising assessment: "Under a Franchising Scheme, it is easier to predict and control the improvements by the bus network in response to measures taken to discourage car use, which may make discouraging car use easier politically"
southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk
Bus reform consultation - South Yorkshire MCA
Have your say on taking back control of our buses in South Yorkshire. Our public consultation is your chance to feedback on bus reform in South Yorkshire.
12110
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Stephen Frost @sfrost.bsky.social · 12/01/2025
“A process evaluation of the UK Department for Transport’s Active Travel Fund has identified insufficient funding and short implementation timeframes as key challenges limiting the delivery of walking and cycling schemes in England.” 💯
cittimagazine.co.uk
Insufficient funding and timeframes undermine England's active travel schemes, says evaluation | CiTTi Magazine
A process evaluation of the UK Department for Transport’s (DfT) Active Travel Fund (ATF) has identified insufficient funding and short implementation timeframes as key challenges limiting the delive
129448
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Iain Roberts @slowbikeiain.bsky.social · 30/12/2024
How do we design cities for children: - consider how the city looks & feels at their eye height - make it safe and fun for kids to play and move around - create places families want to live, and can afford to live - clean up the city: the air and the ground
CIPE
Case Study
Barcelona superblocks:
Filling the city with life
Barcelona is piloting a radical new strategy which will restrict traffic to main roads around consolidated 400m-by-400m city blocks. This will turn internal streets into "citizen spaces" with increased safe green space for culture, leisure and community activities. The city's Department of Mobility advocates a series of measures to give pedestrians and cyclists priority, to support an efficient mobility network and to reduce the environmental impact of vehicles. Superblocks are being piloted as an easily applicable and adaptable model that can improve quality of life for children, families and seniors. Assessment of health impacts has shaped the project, which is expected to help to reduce pollution, promote active travel, improve safety and encourage activity and social cohesion without compromising the mobility network. 45
CTPA students
13210
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Jon Burke🌍 @jonburkeuk.bsky.social · 24/12/2024
We don’t need two tonne Range Rovers to pick up the weekly shop.
712014
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 24/12/2024
My top mobility policy of 2024: Higher parking fees for huge cars Paris is tripling parking costs for oversized cars. Montreal, Lyon, & Cologne are taking similar steps. Giant cars worsen pollution and safety, and they use more curb space. Owners should pay extra. www.nytimes.com/2024/02/05/w...
nytimes.com
Parisians Vote to Triple Parking Fees for Big S.U.V.s and Other Hefty Cars
The city authorities say that large cars pollute more and are dangerous for pedestrians. Opponents say the mayor is on a crusade against motorists.
541530345
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Matthew Todd @matthewtodd.bsky.social · 22/12/2024
The devastation on its way is unimaginable - like nothing humanity has ever witnessed before - and everyone will wish they had been climate activists and ‘hysterics’ when they had the chance. We are in a moment of unprecedented stupidity
729232657056
Charlie Hicks @charliehicks.bsky.social · 21/12/2024
Thanks to @sfrost.bsky.social for a year of excellent progressive transport insights! Enjoy your break! 🎄
130
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Stephen Frost @sfrost.bsky.social · 20/12/2024
Fascinating public opinion data from More in Common NB on transport - more people aware of decision to raise bus fare cap than the fuel duty freeze. Guess because it felt like taking something away whereas ppl have got used to fuel duty being cut/frozen? Bus policy is more salient than many think
072
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Cllr Anna Railton 🌹 @annarailton.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
Big fan of this More work needs to be done in Oxford on direct vision standards
1131
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 19/12/2024
The best bike plan starts with a good car plan. Instead of grafting cycle lanes onto their streets in a patchwork approach, Dutch planners practice “ontvlechten”—structural disentangling of the bike and car networks by reducing automobile speed, volume, and access. Haarlemmermeerstraat, Amsterdam.
722637
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
That is some graph on bus usage outside London after deregulation on.ft.com/49PfLlV
Bus usage outside London has fallen since the market was deregulated, while London bus usage has grown
55865403
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Oxford Clarion @oxfordclarion.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
Oxfordshire County Council has launched a major new programme to reduce health inequalities. The Marmot Place project will adopt the evidence-based principles & methodology developed by founder Sir Michael Marmot to tackle the social determinants of health. news.oxfordshire.gov.uk/new-partners...
news.oxfordshire.gov.uk
New partnership aims to deliver a fairer and healthier county
A major new programme designed to make Oxfordshire a fairer and healthier place has been formally launched with a visit by world-renowned academic, researcher and campaigner, Professor Sir Michael Mar...
1114
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Stephen Frost @sfrost.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
Here Filip explains why Ghent’s approach to getting through-traffic out of the city has inspired many other cities His is one of the most human explanations of why change is hard & political will is so important to driving change in mobility that I’ve read. Hard-earned wisdom, generously shared
2286
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Oxford Clarion @oxfordclarion.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
📅Clarion Advent Calendar Day 17: We looked at the proposed mega development in Culham, and asked "Is this a chance to get housing right? " oxfordclarion.uk/culham-town-...
oxfordclarion.uk
Culham Town: the future of housing in Oxfordshire?
If there's anyone who thinks housing in Oxfordshire has been planned optimally and sensibly in recent years, we have yet to meet them. "Planned" at all might be generous. Houses have been ladled onto...
041
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Stephen Frost @sfrost.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
No evidence of cause & effect in this study but: “… the findings align well with existing evidence about physical activity’s benefits for mental health.“ Making it easier for people to walk as part of daily routines is an important part of boosting public health & tackling health inequalities.
thetimes.com
7,000 steps to happiness? Walkers are less likely to be depressed
Researchers say advising people to increase their daily step count could be part of a national mental health drive
3357
Charlie Hicks @charliehicks.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
Agree with this. To devolve power properly, UK govt should engage in proper fiscal devolution too (like other countries similar to UK have done)
100
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Adam Tranter @adamtranter.bsky.social · 13/12/2024
"Making walking and cycling more practical and safer would go a long way toward removing barriers to improving physical activity levels and could significantly improve the health of England’s increasingly urban population." Chief Medical Officer’s annual report 2024: www.gov.uk/government/p...
gov.uk
Chief Medical Officer’s annual report 2024: health in cities
Professor Whitty’s report outlines a broad range of health opportunities and challenges for city populations, and includes case studies from core cities in England.
711958
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Carlton Reid @carltonreid.com · 14/12/2024
In his annual health-of-the-nation report England’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty advocates for ‘15-minute cities’ www.forbes.com/sites/carlto...
forbes.com
England’s Chief Medical Officer Advocates For ‘15-Minute Cities’
In his annual health-of-the-nation report England’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty advocates for proximity to shops and services for more people.
713445
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Oxford Clarion @oxfordclarion.bsky.social · 13/12/2024
Oxford’s Friday news roundup – it’s the Clarion Weekly, this week with: 🚊 Call for Oxford trams 🌹💙 Labour & Conservatives team up at OCC 🥖 Another new city bakery 🚴‍♀️ East Oxford to become a ‘mini-Holland’ Read it online or subscribe by email: oxfordclarion.uk/clarion-week...
oxfordclarion.uk
Clarion Weekly, 13 December 2024
This week's top stories Will the Government’s announcement of more special needs funding fix Oxfordshire’s SEND crisis? We took a detailed look this week. Spoiler: it’s rather more complex than the h...
083
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Election Maps UK @electionmaps.uk · 13/12/2024
Map of Wards being Defended in the 2025 Local Elections Previous Results (All 2021 Except Thurrock): CON: 1,428 LAB: 368 LDM: 290 IND: 120 LOC: 71 GRN: 57
148119
Reposted by Charlie Hicks
Stephen Frost @sfrost.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
A valuable Westminster Hall debate on rural cycling infrastructure. @freddievanmierlomp.bsky.social says the government should “commit to invest in safe off-road cycling routes and segregated cycle lanes in rural areas”. He’s right. The NCN & local networks both need long term investment plans.
bbc.co.uk
Rural cycling: Lives will be lost without better routes, MP warns
An Oxfordshire MP warns of the
67524