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Gareth Hooper

@garethhooper.bsky.social
591 followers 1.2K following 472 posts

Advocate for active travel and clean air. Cyclist. Rower. Runner. Quantitative analyst in healthcare 🌐 Birmingham

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Reposted by Gareth Hooper
thattimwalker.bsky.social @thattimwalker.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Very good point, Matthew — I remember too the fuss that was made when Obama gently suggested ahead of the EU referendum that Brexit may not be a terribly good idea and the continual commentary on our domestic affairs we are now getting from Trump.
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Gareth Hooper @garethhooper.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
11 plus assessment day in Kings Heath. King Edward VI School. An combination of: Years of failed transport policy Car drivers who don't give a toss about community, residents or the law
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Prof. Ian Walker @ianwalker.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
"Many of the thousands afflicted each year by criminal driving felt that “the harm they had suffered mattered less” than that from other serious crimes" - this double-standard is exactly what we called out in our work on motonormativity. Road crime is crime www.theguardian.com/law/2026/aug...
theguardian.com
Victims of road crime feel ‘forgotten by system’, official review finds
Many of those affected in England and Wales think offences are not treated with the seriousness they deserve, says commissioner
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John Munro @johnmunro.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Please, good people of Clacton. Please, please, please....
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Gareth Hooper @garethhooper.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Combined Authorities only have one elected official. A mayor. Their role is most closely aligned to Local Authorities than other public bodies - Police, NHS - and their power is increasing. They need more local accountability otherwise they're close to becoming quangos
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Gareth Hooper @garethhooper.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
@zackpolanski.bsky.social's ability to communicate through social media has been fabulous. As a member of the Green Party, I'm beginning to worry sloppy use of social media may undo the hitherto successes he's had. Reform is dying, Greens must hold Labour to account in an erudite way
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Gareth Hooper @garethhooper.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Lots lots lots lots lots more to do
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
“Paris has embarked on a grand transformation, planting 155k trees, adding hundreds of kms of bike lanes, pedestrianising 300 school streets and banning cars from the banks of the Seine. Parking has been turned into green space…Fewer parents fear their child being run over when they walk to school.”
theguardian.com
How Paris swapped cars for bikes – and transformed its streets
Under Anne Hidalgo – mayor for 12 years until last week – the French capital added bike lanes, cut traffic and reclaimed public space, but not without resistance
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Transport Action Network @transportaction.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
National Highways are at it again, this time they have the intention to infill a bridge in Hertfordshire... www.change.org/p/save-bridg...
change.org
Sign the Petition
Save Bridge 2062 from being infilled
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Reposted by Gareth Hooper
James Ball @jamesrball.com · 20/07/2026
I can't work out if this is intended as a punishment to Lisa Nandy, who clearly hates the job; or a punishment to the entire UK culture sector, which is suffering as a result of that. Maybe both?
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John Munro @johnmunro.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
None of these measures will be effective. Meanwhile, Paris has made the streets in front of 300 schools permanently car free. Not all cities value the children of their communities equally.
bbc.co.uk
Six Birmingham schools set for new road safety measures
Roads near the schools are set for work such as speed humps and yellow lines to boost safety.
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Gareth Hooper @garethhooper.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
The bus experience in Birmingham Franchising doesn't stop this. Enforcement does
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Anti-Reform @antireform.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
The epitome of entitlement
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Gareth Hooper @garethhooper.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
This is what Burnham meant by he won't "out-Green the Greens". I hope there's a huge move to active travel to try and offset this disaster
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Gareth Hooper @garethhooper.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
If true, how does Shabana make the bond markets sleep easier at night?
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Gareth Hooper @garethhooper.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
Birmingham not mentioned. But Manchester is @richardparkerwm.bsky.social West Midlands falling further and further behind....
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Rajan Naidu 📎 Ⓥ @rajannaidu.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Brum? @bhamcitycouncil.bsky.social @brumgreens.bsky.social @birminghamlibdems.bsky.social @brumcjc.bsky.social @johnmunro.bsky.social @betterstreetsforbirmingham.org @birminghamfoe.bsky.social @brumroadsafety.bsky.social @birminghamdispatch.bsky.social @unibirmingham.bsky.social @mybcu.bsky.social
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Better Streets for Birmingham @betterstreetsforbirmingham.org · 17/07/2026
Reminder: this is tomorrow! 🚉 11am–3pm at the Platform for Community in St Mary’s Church gardens, Moseley. Come and say hello!
Two people stand by a "Better Streets Birmingham" stall at an outdoor event.
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John Munro @johnmunro.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Paris, 300 Birmingham, nil
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Gareth Hooper @garethhooper.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Great Policing in Worcestershire.
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Stephen Frost @sfrost.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
“So big outdoor watch parties aren’t just the fun option – they’re a boost to community spirit and a stimulus for local economies...” Like it. Would love if it was used to kick start regular neighbourhood street parties or made the idea of using street space for shared experiences a norm.
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Gareth Hooper @garethhooper.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
If Burnham is explicitly rejecting neoliberalist, what economic policy is he adopting?
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New Local @wearenewlocal.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
📣 We're delighted to partner with two leading thinkers and practitioners, @cormacrussell.bsky.social & @lisamcnally.bsky.social, to host their provocation paper which we hope will spark much-needed debate on a potential future for neighbourhood health approaches. www.newlocal.org.uk/publications...
newlocal.org.uk
Putting the Neighbourhood Back into Neighbourhood Health  - New Local
New Local is delighted to partner with two leading thinkers and practitioners, Cormac Russell and Lisa McNally, to host their provocation paper, which we hope will spark much-needed debate on […]
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Phil Jones @phil-pja.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
I gave evidence to the Transport Select Committee yesterday on Speed for its inquiry into the Road Safety Strategy. I appeared alongside Lilli Matson of TfL, Adrian Berendt of @20splenty.bsky.social and Rob Török, emergency doctor. Hope I got my points across. View: parliamentlive.tv/event/index/...
parliamentlive.tv
Parliamentlive.tv
Transport Committee
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John Paddington @padders123.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Still find it fascinating the complete mess of the city she represents isn't seen as a negative thing. It's almost as if the ongoing bin strike (and lack of household recycling for over a year) doesn't get any attention. Just imagine if what is happening in Birmingham was in London.
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Zach Elsbury @zachelsbury.eurosky.social · 15/07/2026
So the one minister with Treasury experience is a no-go because he‘ll spook the markets, while a minister with no treasury experience, who hasn’t expressed a single idea on fiscal policy, and whose main contribution to the economy will be negative won’t be? Sorry, this is just ridiculous.
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Gareth Hooper @garethhooper.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Fair play to Labour, they were dangerously close to becoming reasonably popular. Dodged that bullet, again
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Gareth Hooper @garethhooper.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Canceling West Midlands Railway trains because there's not enough staff is an outcome only of incredibly poor policy West Midlands has comparatively high unemployment and car use. Both of which are we're told are constraining productivity and are priorities for reduction
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Gareth Hooper @garethhooper.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
@richardparkerwm.bsky.social the Camp Hill trains are incredibly unreliable. I've had to stop using them. Taxi drivers doing well out of the cancellations I hear..... @birminghamdispatch.bsky.social
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Prof. Ian Walker @ianwalker.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
I cycled to work the longer way today. At 5.5 miles, that's further than most UK car trips - yet it took me just 22 minutes We urgently need to unblock and enable the millions of short active trips that are being blocked every day because of our collective car dependency. Our health depends on it
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Lyndsey Melling @grandnarrative.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Another LTN to be made permanent, and the first in Bristol @roadcc.bsky.social @peterwalker99.bsky.social @rantyhighwayman.bsky.social @ianwalker.bsky.social @engineerlikeagirl.bsky.social www.bristol247.com/news-and-fea...
bristol247.com
East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood to be made permanent
Councillors voted 5-4 to approve the full business case
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Jordan @jordanbhx.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Went to pick up some stuff I had framed in Stirchley and walked through this. No trees, no sense of place, too much tarmac, *plastic* cladding. This should have been 5 storey courtyard blocks with terraces overlooking the park & 5 mins from the station. A wasted opportunity.
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Jordan @jordanbhx.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
In a city that priorities health, happiness, wellbeing, sustainability and economic growth it would have looked like this.
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Gareth Hooper @garethhooper.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Interested in why the Chancellor holds the power on this? I could search the web but much more fun to ask you lot!
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Rachel Cunliffe @rmcunliffe.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
CLACTON BY-ELECTION KLAXON Now read Ruth's thread on how, even if Nigel Farage fights and wins a by-election, parliament could still continue its investigation into whether he broke the MPs' Code of Conduct
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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
The facade is cracking
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Friends of Bradford Street @bradford-street.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Been sent a link today to the Midlands Rail Hub consultation, was quick and easy to complete. If you've got a few mins, please fill in the consultation and support this great scheme! Here's the link... www.mrhalliance.co.uk/home
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Better Streets for Birmingham @betterstreetsforbirmingham.org · 06/07/2026
Today!
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Real Gaz on a proper bike: gazza_d@toot.bike @gazza-d.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Why does this never happen with cars? This is just another example of motornormativity at play. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Dangerously parked e-bikes seized by Westminster Council
The bikes will be released when the operator pays a penalty for its customers' poor parking.
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Caroline Russell @carolinerussell.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
So much this. And why it is so urgent to reduce miles driven and road space given over to parking, while creating conditions for buses to serve communities efficiently and for people to walk and cycle along, and cross roads safely and confidently. More space for trees and greening helps too.
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Gareth Hooper @garethhooper.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
Corridors. Once used to connect different spaces. In the UK you can now: Expect to stand in one when travelling on a train Receive healthcare in one in a hospital Chronic underinvestment, but yeah, let's blame immigration....
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Gareth Hooper @garethhooper.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
If @richardparkerwm.bsky.social wants to create more jobs in West Midlands, there's an acute need for staff on the trains on the Camp Hill line He made a massive song and dance about how he, not Andy Street, got it open Well, Richard, train more staff!! Win-win for transport and employment
All trains to Pineapple Road cancelled due to insufficient staff
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Gareth Hooper @garethhooper.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
Train travel in UK: First class more expensive than standard Standing same price as seated The quality of the experience of standing Vs seated significantly different (worse) to 1st Vs standard
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Gareth Hooper @garethhooper.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
Train journey from Reading to Pineapple Road: I'm going to stand all the way from Reading to Birmingham New Street All trains to Pineapple Road cancelled due to lack of staff @heidialexander.bsky.social @richardparkerwm.bsky.social
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Matt DeLong @mattdelong.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
Simpsons meme with Hans Moleman on a pay phone saying “I need the biggest metaphor you have.” Followed by “No, that’s too big.”
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Twonks @twonks.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Work smarter, not harder
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Adam Tranter @adamtranter.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Mature trees provide the shade and shelter required to make cities liveable during extreme heat. Given how long it takes for trees to grow enough canopy cover, cities should be urgently planting tens of thousands more of them. 📸 Thermal camera in Lisbon, showing 59.5°C ground.
Thermal camera in Lisbon, showing 59.5°C ground.Photograph of same location in Lisbon
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CoHSAT - Coalition for Healthy Streets and Active Travel (Oxon) @cohsat.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Active travel is so important for health, that the NHS is going to reward people to do it. But would it not be better for DfT and Councils to invest in pavements and cycle routes that are fit for purpose first? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
NHS to reward people who walk 30 minutes a day
The "marathon a month" scheme, developed with former Olympic medallist Sir Brendan Foster, will launch early next year.
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Shivaji Shiva @shivajishivalaw.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Many of those present felt the same ... #PitchPerfect is right.
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Caroline Russell @carolinerussell.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
At the Delivering Vision Zero conference in Birmingham. Aria Rattan, active travel ambassador: “Somewhere along the way, we’ve decided that the safest place for a child is inside the back of car.” “How can we have a childhood if we can’t walk through it” #PitchPerfect 🌱
Aria, speaking on panel.
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