Dan Simpson

I'll come back tomorrow and find the emoji gone

time for the crazed midnight bread binge

Why throw it away? 😲

How's it lookin

And there's your side road zebras being possible in Wales from 11th March this year.

www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2026/35/...

Graphic showing quote by Dr Arthur Scott MP: In my constituency, a national cycle route runs alongside the River Leath. This route used to be the Balerno line, and it provides a space for active travellers to enjoy a quiet and beautiful route away from traffic. I use this route regularly and feel incredibly lucky to be able to enjoy it as I travel through my constituency. It's one of the things that binds my constituency...

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Some pertinent comments from @drscottarthurmp.bsky.social and Dr Anna Dixon MP during Tuesday's Westminster Hall debate: Women's safety while walking, wheeling, cycling and running.

It's wonderful to hear the National Cycle Network described as 'binding' a constituency in this way 👇

Such a no-brainer to make it easier to build or improve railway paths. Here's a quick reminder of one step which could be taken.
bsky.app/profile/iamt...

Great to hear @ollyglover.bsky.social MP and Local Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood's positive exchange about re-purposing railway paths for walking wheeling and cycling. There are paths over the country ready to be built and we'd love to talk about how we could make it easier to get going ⛏️

I've written a nerdy piece about setting a good national framework for devolved policymaking - I think it's relevant beyond active travel. Also proud to have snuck in a) some prosperous hypothetical parallel universes and b) a reference to the prog song Hocus Pocus by Focus🚲🎸

But after so much pushing, finally having a road map is a massive step forward. It's only now that we have this clear commitment from government that we have something to hold them to.

It's not the end of the line. We need to make sure that this two-stage process doesn't stop after the first stage - that wouldn't deal with the issue. We need to make sure that the legislation is drafted well. And then we need to push councils to use their powers properly.

I'm so proud of everyone I've worked with on this - at Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, @guidedogsuk.bsky.social, @livingstreets.bsky.social, @transportforall.org.uk, the LGA, BPA and so many more. In particular, brave people who shared their lived experience have got us where we are today.

Today is a big day. Campaigners have been waiting decades for cars parked on the pavement to be tackled. They then waited five years for a response to the government's consultation. Now, it's finally come 🧵

Dan Simpson (left) and Shadow Secretary of State for Transport Richard Holden set off for a stroll on the National Cycle Network. There are buildings in the background and signposts for the National Cycle Network in the foreground.

Richard Holden and Dan Simpson walking along the National Cycle Network in a urban area.

Richard Holden applies a National Cycle Network sign to a lamp post to show the way.

Richard Holden applies another sign to a lamp post showing the way on the National Cycle Network.

Walk Wheel Cycle Trust's @iamthedans.bsky.social met up with Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, Richard Holden, for a stroll along the National Cycle Network in his constituency just before Christmas 🚶

Here we Come a-Wassailing - Dan Simpson #WassailTheDeer YouTube video by Rhii Photography and Film

Whatever I do in life, I don't think I'll ever surpass this wot I did when I was a teenager. Love and joy come to you etc etc

youtube.com/watch?v=eE32...

If the government created "permitted development rights" for these routes, they wouldn't need planning permission, though they'd still have to meet certain standards. It's great to hear both @greenjennyjones.bsky.social and the minister engaging with this idea! We'd love to chat about it.

Basically, if you resurface a path, you don't need planning permission. But if you widen it even slightly, you generally do. Disproportionate red tape is holding back the creation and improvement of railway paths, despite them being popular and successful.

Then, there was an interesting question in the Lords. One thing I want to highlight is @carolinepidgeon.bsky.social's discussion of paths on disused railways.

That sounds simple, but it could be transformative. We find that yearly settlements make it harder to undertake ambitious schemes, which often cross financial years. Planning for the future is a good thing, actually.

A screenshot of an answer from Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on 28 November 2025. The important part is where he says "The Government plans to offer long term funding settlements over the 2025 Spending Review period for other national active travel programmes run by wider organisations, such as Bikeability and the National Cycle Network, following the conclusion of DfT business planning."

Lord Hendy's been making a lot of positive news this week for walking, wheeling and cycling!

First, we had the first confirmation that Bikeability (CC @bikeabilityuk.bsky.social) and the National Cycle Network will get multi-year funding settlements. 🧵

@walkwheelcyclet.bsky.social called for this to be done in our Transforming Mobility report earlier this year. Great to hear that Wales is taking this simple, transformative step.

People walking and wheeling across a zebra crossing which is right at the junction of a side street

Want a break from the budget? Good news! Across Europe, there are zebra crossings at side roads. They make it clear that people walking and wheeling have priority, rather than stopping every few metres. In the UK, governments haven't officially allowed them - until today 🧵

Come on mate, you know that we didn't rename because we're transphobic. Whether you agree with the decision or not, it's clear we just wanted a name which did what it says on the tin.

In our new strategy, one of our goals is Connecting.

This includes making longer journeys possible for everyone by making it easy to walk, wheel or cycle to catch a bus, tram or train.

What role can walking, wheeling and cycling play in longer journeys? MPs in the transport select committee recently asked how to make longer journeys easier, like walking to the bus or cycling to the train.

Integrated transport, joined-up journeys, multi-modal, whatever you say: the transport select committee's started a new inquiry, so I've taken the opportunity to set out how walking, wheeling and cycling are the glue that holds together other modes.

www.walkwheelcycletrust.org.uk/our-blog/res...

A screenshot of Google translate with "pissebed" translated as "woodlouse"

New fave Dutch word just dropped

Drumroll please! 🥁

We are now Walk Wheel Cycle Trust 🚶‍♀️ 👩‍🦽 🚴‍♀️

For our health our wellbeing and our world 🌍

#HealthWellbeingWorld #ActiveTravel #SustainableTransport #Walking #Wheeling #Cycling #NationalCycleNetwork #FreshAir #Nature #Community #ConnectingCommunities

Just been to a conference fringe which was an hour and a half, not the usual hour, and it was honestly so much more worthwhile because of the space for discussion. Fewer fringes, more discussion!

Very exciting to be a late addition to this interesting panel tomorrow! We can build the 1.5 million homes we need and create places where people want to be. I'll explain how walking, wheeling and cycling can play their part.

I've loved working closer with our media and comms team in the last few months. I really feel like my work to change public policy is connected to our comms strategy. So, if you'd like to work with them (and me) too, give this a shot.