Betty Offerman

Betty Offerman

@boffer.bsky.social

Edinburgh resident & community councillor • Interested in bikes & books

208 followers765 following75 posts

Betty Offerman reposted

The War on Cars
@thewaroncars.bsky.social

"Isn’t it obvious that selfishness on the road changes us as a society? The belief that a driver should be allowed to do whatever they please, regardless of the impact on others, mounts the pavement and travels deep into our lives." Via @georgemonbiot.bsky.social

theguardian.comDriving that’s too fast, too dangerous and utterly lawless: why do we tolerate this petro-masculinity? | George MonbiotIn towns and in the countryside, I see 4x4s and pick up trucks driven without care or conscience. It’s a Magafication of transport, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot

Betty Offerman reposted

Prof. Ian Walker
@ianwalker.bsky.social

"Many of the thousands afflicted each year by criminal driving felt that “the harm they had suffered mattered less” than that from other serious crimes" - this double-standard is exactly what we called out in our work on motonormativity. Road crime is crime www.theguardian.com/law/2026/aug...

theguardian.comVictims of road crime feel ‘forgotten by system’, official review findsMany of those affected in England and Wales think offences are not treated with the seriousness they deserve, says commissioner

Betty Offerman reposted

Edward Tissiman
@edtiss.bsky.social

Up to 60% of car commutes to, from and within Edinburgh could be replaced by walking, cycling and public transport - based on commute distances and the behaviour of neighbours:

Betty Offerman reposted

Dr Steve Taylor
@drstevetaylor.bsky.social

Independent sector is now delivering 9-10% of all #NHS elective care. Higher still for admitted elective activity, with almost 1 in 5 admitted elective care Yet consistently takes the simple more straightforward cases, making profit & building more capacity eg. Spire 30% of work

Betty Offerman reposted

Martin McD
@mcdmartin.bsky.social

Carmageddon on Elm Row - echelon parking in the parallel parking encroaching on cycleway; parking in crossing area; parking on footway outside shops. This is supposed to be a place for people not a car park! Why no wardens? How about some signs to guide drivers?? @jackrmcaldwell.bsky.social

Betty Offerman reposted

tsjbphoto.bsky.social
@tsjbphoto.bsky.social

There’s been three crashes involving a driver hitting a cycling this August. They happened in the same week. This is unacceptable. We’re riding in protest of Edinburgh’s indifference toward cyclists this Friday 22nd August at 7pm. Meet at Middle Meadow Walk. Tell and bring everyone you know

Betty Offerman reposted

Andrew Heald
@andyheald.bsky.social

Replying to @sw20.info

Compare and contrast. Bus stops on South Bridge yesterday. A dangerous chaotic mess @edinburghcouncil.bsky.social Councillors have chosen to make people walk in the carriageway whilst refusing to restrict vehicle traffic. Massive liability issue for the Council & major problem for local businesses

Betty Offerman reposted

Real Gaz on a proper bike: gazza_d@toot.bike
@gazza-d.eurosky.social

Thread. Drivers whine about how driving is ever more expensive, when it is getting cheaper. We need to increase fuel duty, tax and even EV charging costs by inflation as we do public transport fares. OR even more to discourage driving

Leo Murray@crisortunity.bsky.social

In the last year, to May 2025, the average costs of running a car fell by 0.1% while the cost of public transport increased by 5%

ons.gov.ukHow is inflation affecting your household costs? - Office for National StatisticsUse our inflation calculator to see how increases in the cost of living have affected you in the past year

Betty Offerman reposted

Nigel Bagshaw
@nigelbagshaw.bsky.social

You can bring the rails back to the Roseburn Path and provide safe cycling in and out of the city centre. The two things are by no means mutually exclusive.

road.cc@roadcc.bsky.social

road.ccCampaigners will "fight to maximise conditions for cycling" once controversial tram route plans finalised, but warn against "huge speculation"Debate over Edinburgh tram project continues as schoolchildren's 'save the bike path' signs vandalised, after council ordered removal of artwork due to "sensitivities" surrounding tram route plans

Betty Offerman reposted

Edinburgh Greens
@edinburghgreens.bsky.social

Reminder to all Holyrood Park users! Tomorrow there will be a 2nd public meeting on the park. Details & registration via the link below. Lorna Slater MSP has called the meeting to set up a "Friends of Holyrood Park" organisation, giving the community & stakeholders a say in the future of the park.

Lorna Slater@lornaslater.bsky.social

🏞️ Do you use Holyrood Park for commuting or leisure? Do you want to make a difference to the space and work with likeminded folk? Come along on Monday! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/holyrood-p...

eventbrite.co.ukHolyrood Park Public Meeting - Lorna Slater MSPJoin Lorna Slater MSP for Lothian Region, local community groups and stakeholders as vote on the first committee of the new Friends Of group

Betty Offerman reposted

Real Gaz on a proper bike: gazza_d@toot.bike
@gazza-d.eurosky.social

Excellent editorial here. An SUV causes 16 times as much road damage as a regular car. They're way more dangerous in collisions or if one hits a pedestrian or cyclist. They have no redeeming factors and 99%+ are just ego wagons for their drivers. Tax them to hell www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

theguardian.comThe Observer view on SUVs: they are too dangerous and too big, their drivers should be made to payIf a car generates more potholes, takes up more space and poses more risk, it is only fair that its owner pays more

Betty Offerman reposted

Harry Willliams
@harryjwilliams.bsky.social

🚧⛔️🚧 July 2025 Experimental traffic order on Lawnmarket, Castlehill, Johnston Terrace and Castle Terrace - In order to trial the impacts of introducing a pedestrian and cycle zone, so that we can monitor the impact of changes on the surrounding road network.

Betty Offerman reposted

Merchiston Districts Community Council
@merchistoncc.bsky.social

🚗📊 Polwarth Roundabout: The Numbers Are In! Traffic and pedestrian data confirms that our busiest neighbourhood junction demands a serious rethink. @edinburghcouncil.bsky.social commissioned surveys in Nov 2024 to help inform their #Polwarth junction redesign. 🧵The data paints a vivid picture:

merchistoncc.org.ukPolwarth Roundabout: The Numbers Are In – Merchiston Community CouncilGet the latest updates on how we are representing community interests and views in Merchiston.

Betty Offerman reposted

The Guardian
@theguardian.com

More than 1m cars sold in UK each year too big to fit typical parking space

theguardian.comMore than 1m cars sold in UK each year too big to fit typical parking spaceCampaign network calls on government to prioritise smaller cars and introduce higher charges for SUV owners More than 1m cars too big to fit in parking spaces are being sold in the UK each year, and numbers are growing, research has found. A trend for cars bigger than the average urban parking space means new vehicles are outgrowing towns and cities. Continue reading...

Betty Offerman reposted

Living Streets Edinburgh
@livingstreetsedi.bsky.social

This is how Living Streets Edinburgh calculate the roads capital spending plans against the 'sustainable transport hierarchy'. Next Year compared to this Year. Hopefully councillors will increase spending on everyday 'walking and wheeling' at the Transport Committee Meeting this Thursday.

Living Streets Edinburgh@livingstreetsedi.bsky.social

The Edinburgh Council roads budget is on the agenda for Transport and Environment Committee 3rd April Item 8.1 : bit.ly/427J1Rm It seems roads (carriageway) spending will rise by a fifth - but no increase for pavements (footways). If you don’t think this is good enough, please tell your councillor!

Betty Offerman reposted

Chas Booth (he/him)
@chasbooth.bsky.social

I’m delighted my motion on responding to the Audit Scotland report on reducing car use was agreed at full council yesterday, with Lib Dem addendum and with only Tories opposed. The council will not meet its #climate targets unless it makes progress on reducing car use.

Betty Offerman reposted

The Edinburgh Reporter
@edinreporter.bsky.social

Plans to ban on-street parking in Edinburgh neighbourhood to go ahead Controversial plans to ban on-street parking in a congested city neighbourhood are to go ahead after being backed by Edinburgh council. Many residential streets in the Bangholm neighbourhood are very narrow, which often causes…

theedinburghreporter.co.ukPlans to ban on-street parking in Edinburgh neighbourhood to go aheadControversial plans to ban on-street parking in a congested city neighbourhood are to go ahead after being backed by Edinburgh council. Many residential streets in the Bangholm neighbourhood are very narrow, which often causes cars to mount pavements when passing parked vehicles on the streets. As a result, councillors voted today (Thursday) to put double yellow lines on several roads in the neighbourhood, helping to counter the issue of vehicles mounting the pavement but also removing substantial amounts of parking in the area.

Betty Offerman reposted

sbarlster
@sbarlster.bsky.social

#belikepapertiger Real businesses operate in and support their communities. Without regret and with vigour and joy. www.linkedin.com/posts/michae...

linkedin.comMichael Apter on LinkedIn: I've just paid our largest ever VAT bill. This year will see a… | 49 commentsI've just paid our largest ever VAT bill. This year will see a significant six figure sum handed over to HMRC for VAT paid on our sales. This year the… | 49 comments on LinkedIn