ways2work > News > September 2010

News: September 2010

30 September 2010: Britain's most congested roads

Britain's most congested roads are bottle-necked for an average of more than 12 hours a day, it has been revealed. The street with the worst jams is Bedford Road in Clapham, south London, which ... more >

30 September 2010: Jaguar creates electric supercar with jet engine

Jaguar has made a radical step forward in the development of electric cars and provided a glimpse into its future by producing a supercar capable of speeds over 200mph. The Daily Telegraph can t... more >

30 September 2010: Volvo developing electric car that uses its whole body as a rechargeable battery

It is one of the biggest problems facing the manufacturers of hybrid and electric cars: heavy batteries add weight and bulk to the vehicle's design. But now Volvo is developing a car which deals... more >

29 September 2010: More officers take to two wheels as specialist police cycling squad expands

Extra officers join the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Cycle Task Force to help improve cycle safety and to crackdown on road users who disobey the rules of the road. This task force, through... more >

29 September 2010: Reduce bus idling - cut air pollution

A new report for pteg by independent analysts, TTR, shows that on a sample of three busy PTE bus routes, buses were stationary yet idling between 30% and 44% of the time. It also finds that buses t... more >

29 September 2010: Flame-thrower bike unveiled

A ''James Bond'' bike, complete with flame-thrower and ejector seat, has been designed to protect cyclists. The bike, to be displayed at next week's Cycle Show at Earls Court in London, also boa... more >

28 September 2010: Mini unveils the all-electric scooter that only costs 1p a mile

Mini is going all mod with the launch today of a 'green' electric scooter that promises 1p a mile motoring. Model Agyness Deyn unveiled the hi-tech but retro-looking zero-emissions two-wheeler in ... more >

28 September 2010: Cycling England among public bodies to be abolished, says Telegraph

The Daily Telegraph claims to have seen a list of at-risk quangos. According to the Tory newspaper, Cycling England is on a list of 177 quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations which will be... more >

28 September 2010: Bikeability is safe, says transport minister

Norman Baker told a meeting this morning that Bikeability is safe but he wouldn't say same for Cycling England. Transport minister Norman Baker has pledged that Bikeability, the cycle training... more >

28 September 2010: Booking rail travel is about to get an upgrade

Booking rail travel is about to get an upgrade. Quno, a new web based rail search and booking service due to launch on October 14, aims to make buying rail tickets and planning journeys much simple... more >

28 September 2010: UK transport mapped: Every bus stop, train station, ferry port and taxi rank in Britain. Welcome to the ultimate transport data

The National Public Transport Data Repository is the UK's largest transport dataset. It tells you where every bus stop, station and airport is - and how they're used. Find out which place has the f... more >

28 September 2010: Cycle satnav app trends on iTunes

Bike Hub app was number 2 app on iTunes. Future version will feature voice of Phil Liggett. The Bike Hub more >

24 September 2010: Innovation GreenWire: Range Rover Evoque releases class leading sustainability credentials

The all-new Range Rover Evoque, to be revealed at the Paris Motor Show next week, is the smallest, lightest and most fuel efficient Range Rover ever produced. The car will have an option of front-... more >

23 September 2010: Free bus journeys

Stress-reduction drive for modal switch Arguing that bus travel reduces stress, Greener Journeys has launched an ambitious nationwide campaign to switch one billion car journeys to buses by 2014. ... more >

23 September 2010: China's roads face gridlocked future as car sales soar

Global car sales are forecast to hit 54m vehicles in 2010, which would reverse the recent decline and set a new high. Of those, over 20m vehicles will be sold in Asia. The region includes one of ... more >

23 September 2010: New transport statistics publishd by the DfT

The Department for Transport has today published the following Transport Statistics: Maritime Statistics 2009, see more >

23 September 2010: Carmakers in migrant cap warning

The government's planned cap on migrant numbers could hurt the UK's car manufacturers, the industry's trade body has warned. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said the cap woul... more >

23 September 2010: High speed 'Superbus' to be unveiled

The prototype of a 155mph "Superbus" is to be unveiled in Germany by Delft University of Technology. As long as a conventional bus, but no taller than a four-wheel drive sports utility... more >

23 September 2010: London Underground urges unions to resume ACAS talks

London Underground (LU) has today written to the leaderships of the TSSA and RMT unions asking them to return to talks at ACAS on Friday 24 September to avoid further disruption to Londoners. LU m... more >

23 September 2010: Leading the campaign for a simple London cycle map

Campaigners are calling for the cycling equivalent of tube map to make it easier to get around the capital on two wheels. It's a toss-up as to what's most annoying about more >

22 September 2010: FirstGroup chief Sir Moir Lockhead to retire, ex-Tube boss Tim O'Toole to take over

Sir Moir Lockhead is to retire chief executive of FirstGroup after 21 years and put former London Underground boss Tim O'Toole in the driving seat at the bus and train operator. Mr O'Toole, 54, ... more >

22 September 2010: Celebrate London's walking weekend with more than 50 free Autumn Ambles to choose from

The 54 walks will be led by trained guides and are designed to take in the sights and sounds that make London a great city. The walking weekend takes place on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 September. ... more >

22 September 2010: Transport to play key role in 'greenest ever' plans

As the North-East positions itself as a hub for electric vehicle research and development, business correspondent Andy Richardson reports from the Cenex national low-carbon vehicle event in Bedford... more >

22 September 2010: 4,000 free bus tickets on offer for Car Free Day

CAMPAIGNERS are hoping the streets of York will be a quieter place with the city’s second Car Free Day The slogan for this year’s event, which takes place on Wednesday September 29, ... more >

22 September 2010: Researchers help make silent electric vehicles safer

Researchers help make silent electric vehicles safer but UFO reports could rise… A little green van called ELVIN is whizzing around the University of Warwick as part of a major research pro... more >

22 September 2010: 20 per cent of motorists fearful of motorway driving

One in five drivers are scared of driving on UK motorways according to a new survey. The poll found that so-called m-phobia is rife among motorists, with 20% of people quizzed happy to make longer... more >

22 September 2010: New research discovers overwhelming demand for lower speed limits

Politicians have been urged to take action on speed as the vast majority of drivers were found to support lower limits, despite being unable to resist speeding themselves, finds research published ... more >

22 September 2010: Government announces plans for new transport fund

Plans for a new Local Sustainable Transport Fund have been announced today by Local Transport minister Norman Baker. It will challenge local transport authorities outside London to develop p... more >

21 September 2010: Motorists and holidaymakers face 'green tax' rise of £800

Motorists and holidaymakers face paying hundreds of pounds a year more in green taxes to help low earners, Chris Huhne has signalled. The Energy Secretary backed plans to increase environmental ... more >

21 September 2010: Focus railways more on needs of passengers - ATOC

Proposals to make the railways more focussed on the needs of the passenger and to ensure value for money for the taxpayer are being set out today by train companies. The Association of Train Opera... more >

21 September 2010: Larger vans and minibuses required to meet Low Emission Zone standards from January 2012

Extra time provided to make sure owners of these vehicles are able to comply in challenging economic climate. Transport for London (TfL) today announced that from 3 January 2012 larger vans and mi... more >

20 September 2010: Boris Johnson forces phone firms to share Tube costs

The UK's biggest mobile phone companies - including Vodafone and O2 - are to share the £100m-plus cost of installing and maintaining a mobile phone signal across the London Underground networ... more >

20 September 2010: Auf Wiedersehen jet: London to Frankfurt by train

After Paris and Brussels, direct high-speed rail service to Germany expected to run from 2013. A German high-speed train will visit Britain for the first time next month on a dry run for a direct ... more >

20 September 2010: Southport: the bike-friendly seaside resort

As well as a municipal cycle-hire scheme, the town's station has plentiful and secure bike parking, says the Association of Train Operating Companies. Southport, in Merseyside, is one of northern ... more >

20 September 2010: Surge in intercity rail passengers points to fundamental shift in way people travel

A fundamental shift in the way that people travel around the country is taking place, as new figures show that people are increasingly turning their backs on domestic flying and choosing instead to... more >

20 September 2010: 'Ambitious' bus ticket giveaway

The UK's biggest bus companies First Group, Arriva and Stagecoach are offering a free ride to passengers who board a bus instead of taking their car. First Group chief executive Sir Moir Lockhead ... more >

20 September 2010: Congestion solved?

F1 designer Gordon Murray unveils lightweight city car. Imagine a car so narrow that two can drive next to each other in one lane; a car so small and short that three can park in one parking space... more >

20 September 2010: 'Cycle satnav' app launched for iPhone

The first UK cycle journey planning app has been placed on iTunes by Bike Hub, the levy fund. It also locates bike shops. Bike Hub, the UK bicycle industry's levy fund, has developed an iPho... more >

19 September 2010: Driving a car is more stressful than going by bus, says new research

Driving a car is significantly more stressful than travelling by bus, according to new research which will be published tomorrow as part of a campaign to ease congestion on Britain's roads. A st... more >

17 September 2010: Super-light car wins $5m fuel efficiency prize

Vehicle uses a traditional internal combustion engine yet weighs just over half as much as a Smart Car The makers of a futuristic-looking vehicle that weighs half as much as a Smart Car today won ... more >

17 September 2010: Barclays Cycle Hire gears up for London Fashion Week

Jean-Pierre Braganza designs limited edition bikes To mark London Fashion Week, Barclays Cycle Hire has teamed up with a leading fashion designer to create limited edition hire bikes, which ... more >

16 September 2010: Nottingham named England's least car-dependent city

Nottingham's investment in cycle tracks, a tram network and buses made it the top ranking city for green transport Nottingham has been named as England's least car-dependent city in a survey that ... more >

16 September 2010: Plan to make A1 north of Newcastle a route of strategic national importance unveiled

Proposals to identify the A1 north of Newcastle to the Scottish border a route of strategic national importance were published today by Transport Minister Mike Penning. The move would see ap... more >

16 September 2010: Electric dreams move a step closer to reality

Mass market electric cars moved a step closer today as Transport Secretary Philip Hammond awarded £24 million to further develop the UK's low carbon vehicle capability. The six winning... more >

16 September 2010: Driver Advice: Papal Visit 16 - 19 September 2010

Road users are being advised by the Highways Agency to plan their journeys and be prepared for increased traffic during the Pope’s visit later this week as thousands of people travel to event... more >

16 September 2010: New R&D funding boost for premium electric and hybrid cars

A consortium led by Jaguar Land Rover has received funding today to develop latest low carbon technology for the range extended electric vehicle (REEV) premium car market. Jaguar Land Rover is work... more >

15 September 2010: Transport Secretary backs working from home, but not giving up the car

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond wants to see more working from home so as to decrease unnecessary travel, but will not "coerce" drivers out of their cars. Addressing a business con... more >

14 September 2010: Toyota to launch six new hybrid cars

Toyota plans to launch six new hybrid vehicles by the end of 2012, a company spokesman has said, as competition to build greener cars increases. The increase will take Toyota's total number of hybr... more >

10 September 2010: London's 'Boris Bikes' earmarked for Jersey

Some highly populated areas of Jersey have been earmarked for a bicycle scheme similar to one operating in the UK. The States has been looking at London's first large-scale public bike hire scheme... more >

10 September 2010: The surprisingly complex truth about planes and climate change

A new study suggests that planes cause more warming than cars, while ships are cooling enough to counteract them both We hear much about the environmental costs of air travel. As our recent Q&... more >

10 September 2010: The rise of home working

It ends the agony of the daily commute and brings big savings for businesses - no wonder increasing numbers of us are choosing to work from home How does your day start? Assuming you still have a ... more >

10 September 2010: Green groups press Barack Obama for 60MPG fuel efficiency standard

Environmental campaigners focus on more modest goals as hopes of US climate legislation dwindle ahead of expected Republican gains America's environmental groups have given up on getting climatre ... more >

10 September 2010: Mayday Network pulls in 3,000th member

Annual report from Prince of Wales' Mayday Network reveals burgeoning business support for climate change action The Prince of Wales' Mayday Network has this week welcomed its 3,000th member, furt... more >

10 September 2010: How to reduce UK transport carbon emissions by 76 per cent by 2050

SEI researchers present significant breakthrough in climate change policy by showing how to make drastic cuts in carbon dioxide (CO2 ) emissions from transport. Transport is a major source of gr... more >

9 September 2010: Fresh Air Miles bike rides - Join a free ride near you.

Sustrans Fresh Air Miles rides are free, family-friendly bike rides open to all to join in, organised by our dedicated volunteers. Discover the delights of your local National Cycle Network route a... more >

9 September 2010: THINK! Safety messages hit the road

A joint venture between the Government's THINK! campaign and one of the country's largest lorry fleets is taking safety messages to the roads. Stobart Group and Tesco have provided space on ... more >

9 September 2010: Transport Statistics

The Department for Transport has today published the following Transport Statistics: Provisional Port Statistics Q2 2010, click more >

9 September 2010: Walk this way for a healthier future

Walk4Life to hit the streets on 26 September Crowds of walkers in ten cities across England and Wales will take great strides to improve their health this month by taking part in Walk4Life. ... more >

9 September 2010: Royal Mail goes green in Hebrides

Post vans try out hydrogen-fuelled deliveries in Isle of Lewis trial The nation's posties have used the greenest kinds of transport for generations, relying on their feet and their distinctive fle... more >

9 September 2010: Nottingham City Council voted to introduce the workplace parking charges

In September Nottingham City Council voted to introduce the WPL scheme in October 2011. Find out further information about how this will impact employers in Nottingham. Charging for WPL will... more >

9 September 2010: The Tour of Britain

Some of cycling’s leading international stars will be in East Lancashire this weekend as the Tour of Britain kicks off. For the first time in four years, a stage of the cross-UK race will wi... more >

9 September 2010: Tube strikes result in bike sales boost for Evans

Evans Cycles has reported increased sales of hybrid bikes during the London Underground strikes this week. The firm revealed a ten per cent rise in hybrid sales during the industrial action com... more >

7 September 2010: Start

On Monday 6 September, HRH The Prince of Wales, commenced a country-wide tour to celebrate sustainable community living as part of his START initiative. The Ro... more >

7 September 2010: HSBC predicts bigger growth for low-carbon cars than renewables sector

Low-carbon vehicles will be a bigger global market by 2020, according to the bank's report for investors. Low-carbon vehicles, such as electric cars, will be a bigger global market by 2020 than re... more >

7 September 2010: Philip Hammond MP: Transport is at the heart of the country' growth

IT WAS not the brief that I expected to do, or prepared for in Opposition, but since being appointed Secretary of State for Transport, it has become increasingly clear to me that transport plays a ... more >

7 September 2010: Minister orders smartcard revolution to allow Oyster-style travel across Britain

Passengers could soon be able to use smartcards for bus and train travel across the country. Transport Minister Norman Baker said he had ordered officials to draw up plans to introduce the ca... more >

7 September 2010: Its time for action on sustainability, says IBM boss

Business and government must begin taking action to make our economies sustainable, the UK boss of IBM said today. Speaking at the launch of a nine-day summit on business and sustainability tha... more >

6 September 2010: Proposed Tube strike - 6 and 7 September

A 24 hour strike by RMT and TSSA union members is set to affect London Tube services from early evening on Monday 6 September and throughout Tuesday 7 September. We'll run the best service we can.... more >

3 September 2010: UK biofuels 'falling short' on environmental standards

The Renewable Fuels Agency says it is disappointed that the vast majority of biofuels sold on UK forecourts do not conform to environmental standards. The body said fuel suppliers were meeting leg... more >

1 September 2010: Drivers want road use charges changed, survey suggests

The current system of paying for road use should change, according to more than half the people surveyed by the Department for Transport. Of 2,798 adults surveyed, 80% said congestion was a seri... more >

1 September 2010: London Sky Ride Route Revealed

Cyclists will be given the freedom of the capital on Sunday, 5th September 2010, to enjoy the Mayor of London's Sky Ride. Boris Johnson and Kelly Brook will be there as riders enjoy the newly unvei... more >