Good day my good friend.

My UK-based readers will be well aware that a wave of strikes is currently affecting the rail network (among other public services). But it is interesting to read that Anthony Smith, the head of the public transport consumer ‘watchdog’ Transport Focus, is saying that as a way to beat the strikes then passengers should try the bike. Slightly easier to do in London compared to rural Scotland I’d wager, but its a reminder that we should encourage everyone to think, and act, multi-modally.

If you have any suggestions for interesting news items or bits of research to include in this newsletter, you can email me.

James

Your sense of self can limit your horizons. But your friends and family can help.

Have you ever thought about going somewhere, but then thought ‘I really can’t be bothered.’ Maybe it is because you think it will be too exhausting, and you don’t feel your body is up to it. It turns out that if you think poorly of your health, you travel horizons reduce. New research by University College London shows when participants report their health as being bad, they are less likely to travel longer distances. With the one exception? Visiting friends and family.

Now this touches on two very interesting things: the role of health and role of social connections in transport. We know from the data that those with health conditions travel less often and less far than those in good health. To the point where those with health conditions are socially disadvantaged. But could the influence of friends and family trump that? We know from other travel choices that they have a significant influence on travel choices, and we do travel to maintain social networks. But the degree to which that can overcome other impediments to travel is unknown, and fascinating.

The Norse God of Electric Vehicles may be more Loki than Thor

It has been known for some time that Norway is the electric vehicle capital of the world. During the last year, 80% of new car sales were electric vehicles. Over 25% of the vehicle fleet is now electric, helped by massive government incentives and tax breaks to encourage take-up ahead of the government’s deadlines to have all new vehicles be zero emission by 2025. This is undeniably good from a pure tailpipe emissions perspective. But that doesn’t mean there is a transport utopia.

The Norwegian government is starting to phase out subsidies for electric vehicles. Why? Because it wants people to reduce their ownership of vehicles. As is commonly known, electric vehicles solve a problem (tailpipe emissions) but they don’t solve all problems. Norway took the strange step of becoming an electric vehicle utopia first, and then started to back walking and cycling more overtly. Who knows whether, in the long run, that will work!

Random things

These links are meant to make you think about the things that affect our world in transport, and not just think about transport itself. I hope that you enjoy them.

• Why We Missed On Inflation, and Implications for Monetary Policy Going Forward (Neal Kashkari)

• Why do people have to live outside? (Brutal South)

• GIS Techniques Help Native Tribes Identify Land for Restoration to Its Original Custodians (Daily Yonder)

• India will soon overtake China as the world’s most populous country (The Economist)

• Glasgow considers legal graffiti walls amid street art renaissance (The Guardian)

Something interesting

All of those electric vehicles and e-bikes we are building? Well, the Lithium in the batteries has to come from somewhere. And this infographic by Visual Capitalist shows that the somewhere is often Australia. Or Chile.

If you do nothing else today, then do this

The UK Government published its analysis report into the e-scooter trials that have been taking place over the last few years. You can read the report here. You can also read my take on it in today’s exclusive content for Paid subscribers, by getting a monthly paid subscription for £5 a month.