Coneheads - MMD#571
Good day my good friend.
Another weekend beckons for us all. I hope that yours is full of frivolity, fun, and relaxation. Mine involves fixing a garden that the builders have dug up, which isn’t as much fun. But hey, its exercise I guess.
If you have any suggestions for interesting news items or bits of research to include in this newsletter, you can email me.
Mobility Camp is taking place on 26th September 2023 in Birmingham. It would be great to see you there. Get your tickets now.
James
Paris a une bonne idée 🇫🇷
Much has been said about the plans Paris have voted through to charge different cars at different weights different parking charges. It has been well known that the damage on local roads of additional weight and axles increases exponentially. But to see it translated into parking policy is new territory. Some hate the idea (no shocker there). Some love it. I’m amazed at the French’s seemingly endless ability to discuss something for ages, and then once they decide get on with it and get stuff done.
What fascinates me the most is nothing like this has ever been tried. So I can’t wait for it to be implemented and to see the results. We can’t infer much from existing research. Apart from owners of SUVs generally being wealthier than other car owners, but we know from research that income is not a significant variable in parking choices or duration. Will Paris be different? Lets see what happens.
The Cone of Shame ⛔
There is one certainty with technology. For every technology that is invented, people will think of new ways to mess with it. I’ve long held the belief that if you want people to be creative, give them a technology and say to them “try as much as you can to f**k this s**t up,” and my word you watch them soar. So seeing people in San Francisco going all after-a-party-at-the-student-union on driverless cars is a joy to behold.
There is a serious side to this. People are concerned about the impacts that these vehicles have on their streets, and while there are some projects that are doing better, this is a case of something being done to people. Rather than some anti-LTN types who set fire to things and cause criminal damage, this just shuts down the on-board systems. Which is a pain, but not physically damaging something.
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 American communities are suing Big Oil for climate damages (Agence France Presse) ⚖️
How to understand the woeful state of Britain’s water utilities (The Economist) 🚰
Shipbuilding Orders Down 15% So Far This Year (Hellenic Shipping News) 🚢
Billionaires Contribute to Climate Change the Most — and Determine Climate Policy (Teen Vogue) 🥂
Energy Destinies – Part 5 Energy Transition – Mystery Destination (Naked Capitalism) 🔋
Something interesting 📼
Britain’s railways were forever changed following the intervention of Dr Richard Beeching. But was it a bad thing? This video by Paul Whitewick explores just this. For what its worth, Beeching should not carry all of the blame for all closures, and in some instances he was probably correct.
If you do nothing else today, then do this ☟
This article on building in proximity is well worth a read. It reminds me a lot of 15 minute cities.