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Orcas and Armadillos are both common light segregation methods used as cycle lane delineators in the UK. The official use of light protection schemes in the UK was launched in 2013, with Orcas and other delineators now a common sight as the UK’s cycle network expands. While they are designed to protect cyclists by providing a physical buffer preventing vehicles from entering cycle lanes, many believe that these devices cause more harm than good. Reports have highlighted concerns over the devices destabilising motorcyclists, creating trip hazards for pedestrians, and even cyclists are at risk when low-level devices are damaged by vehicles leaving parts strewn on the road.

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A guide to reallocating road space in response to Covid-19 was published by the Department for Transport on 12th January 2021 and applies to all highway authorities in England. It is additional to the guidance in the Traffic Management Act (2004) and replaces the guidance published on 9th May 2020 and 23rd May 2020. The government now expects local authorities to make significant changes to their road layouts to give more space to cyclists and pedestrians, which will help embed the altered behaviours that have come as a result of the pandemic, and also demonstrate the positive effects of active travel. A summary of the updated guidance is therefore provided below, and useful links are provided at the end.

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Early in November 2020, one of our Senior Transport Planners, George Stow, began volunteering at a School Streets scheme near his home in Hove. School Streets schemes close the road outside a school at the beginning and end of the school day, lowering air pollution, reducing the risk of traffic incidents, promoting social distancing during the COVID pandemic, and contributing to a positive community setting. George provides an article on his hands-on experience of the scheme below, detailing the positive impact he has seen it make, and the challenges involved with setting up these schemes.

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In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, UK supermarkets have made huge changes to the operation of their delivery services. As huge numbers of people limited the number of trips they made out of the house, supermarkets saw a surge in online ordering requiring a huge and rapid scaling of their delivery services. Consequently, the online shopping sector is set to grow 33% in 2020, reaching an estimated value of £16.8 billion.

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Pavement parking has long been a contentious and antagonistic issue. While banned in Greater London besides a few exemptions, it is legal - although advised against - in the rest of the UK. Now, as part of the post-Covid-19 recovery involves encouraging more people to choose active travel, the problem is once again being looked at by the government.

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On the 27th of July, the UK Government published its “Gear Change: A bold vision for cycling and walking” document, a plan that sets out the long-term vision of radically increasing active travel, with a £2 billion investment fund for cycling and walking to facilitate this. In support of the “Gear Change” vision, the LTN1/20 “Cycle Infrastructure Design” document was also published, containing guidance for local authorities and highways engineers on designing high-quality, safe cycle schemes and infrastructure.

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Mayer Brown Ltd (MBL) are a multidisciplinary consultancy providing Transport Planning, Transport Infrastructure Design and Environmental Assessment services for development projects across the UK. MBL have a wealth of experience supporting schools and education facilities from a highways and transportation perspective. This note provides a brief view of our experience. Further details on any individual topic can be provided at request – contact details are provided at the end of this note.

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Up until recently, e-scooters were illegal in the UK on public land. However, to ease pressure on public transport during the coronavirus pandemic, e-scooter trials have been fast tracked to begin a year earlier than planned and thus are legal as of July 4th.

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Covid-19 was first reported to the World Health Organisation in December 2019 and on the 23rd March 2020, the UK went into a nationwide lockdown.

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On the first few days outside the European Union, let’s take a moment to consider our national environmental policy, more specifically the recently published “Environmental Bill.” So, what is the Government’s Environmental Bill?

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