Mayor’s Big Community Transport Tour launches in Redbridge, visiting every London borough in 2025  

• Deputy Mayor for Transport Seb Dance and Walking and Cycling Commissioner Will Norman to visit every London borough in 2025  

  

• The Big Community Transport Tour aims to engage London’s diverse communities on how the capital’s transport network can best serve them 

  

• Delivered together with Transport for London (TfL), the tour’s first stops are in Outer London, visiting Hounslow, Redbridge, Richmond and Croydon  

  

As part of City Hall’s commitment to working with boroughs to deliver a greener, fairer London for all, Deputy Mayor for Transport Seb Dance and Walking and Cycling Commissioner Will Norman today launched the Big Community Transport Tour in Redbridge.  

  

The Tour, the first of its kind, will enable the Mayor and his deputies to reflect on the transport-focused progress made under Sadiq’s first two terms, which has seen City Hall, TfL and the boroughs work together to deliver a more accessible, sustainable and affordable transport system.  

  

Following a successful pilot in Hounslow in late 2024, this new initiative was formally kicked off this morning in Ilford, together with Redbridge Leader Cllr Kam Rai, Ilford South MP Jas Athwal, Ilford Business Improvement District, London Assembly members, transport, accessibility and community stakeholders from across London. 

The Deputy Mayor and Walking and Cycling Commissioner took part in a ‘walk and talk’ around Ilford town centre with Redbridge Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Jo Blackman, discussing the positive impact of the Superloop express bus service and Elizabeth line on the borough, before hosting a roundtable with community stakeholders to hear their views on transport in the borough.

The event also marked the conclusion of Redbridge’s Sustainable Transport Strategy consultation, where residents and community organisations shared their views on the future of transport in the borough. In collaboration with TfL, Redbridge aims to deliver a range of road safety initiatives to support Vision Zero and enhance active travel infrastructure, making walking and cycling safer and more accessible, reflecting the Mayor’s Transport Strategy and broader goals for London. 

Also speaking at the event was LGBTQ+ group Redbridge Rainbow, who received a Walking and Cycling grant from TfL last year to deliver ‘Redbridge Rainbow on the Move!’, a project that focuses on people from the LGBTQ+ community coming together to explore their local area, increase confidence in walking, build social connections and improve participants’ mental and physical wellbeing. They were joined by other local TfL Walking and Cycling Grant recipients, including The Wild Bunch Cyclists, Gapped Cycling CIC and Newham LCC Group, and led a guided group walk to nearby Valentine’s Park with the Deputy Mayor and other event attendees.

  

Each stop on the Big Community Transport Tour will see Seb and Will walk, cycle and take the bus, tube and tram around local communities, discuss transport priorities with local elected representatives, and engage with community stakeholders during roundtable discussions and site visits. They will discuss how the Mayor’s priorities are translating into tangible benefits for Londoners, from plans for Superloop 2, increasing the number of electric buses and installing more school streets, to increasing and improving electric vehicle and cycle infrastructure.  

  

The next stops on the tour in early 2025 will include Richmond, City of London and Croydon, with all London boroughs set to receive invites by Autumn 2025. An event at City Hall will mark the tour’s conclusion, bringing together stakeholders from across London to discuss key themes and outputs, and outline how the feedback will be integrated into future planning and engagement. 

  

Deputy Mayor for Transport, Seb Dance said: “London’s communities should be helping drive and shape our transport strategy, and I am committed to spending time in boroughs – particularly in outer London - to see first-hand both the successes and challenges in delivering a world-class transport system for Londoners. I’m pleased to get this tour on the road, and look forward to visiting all corners of the capital to find out how we can best serve them and ensure they feel connected to all our great city has to offer, as we build a greener, fairer London for everyone.” 

  

The Leader of Redbridge Council, Cllr Kam Rai, said: "It was a pleasure welcoming the Deputy Mayor for Transport and Cycling Commissioner to Redbridge to see the improvements we've made in making transport safer, greener and more accessible. The Elizabeth Line has significantly enhanced our connectivity with the rest of London. This improved transport network is key to attracting potential investment partners and delivering vital growth and regeneration to the borough. Redbridge has delivered several road safety, walking, and cycling schemes and expanded EV charging coverage, delivering an integrated transport network with the Central Line, Elizabeth Line, and bus network that runs through our borough. We look forward to working in partnership with TfL and the Mayor's Office to continue improving travel around Redbridge." 

 

 Christina Calderato, Director of Strategy at TfL, said: “Working closely with London's boroughs and their local communities is central to achieving a cleaner, greener and healthier London. That's why we're working with communities across the capital to reduce road danger, improve air quality and encourage active travel, building on local experience and expertise to improve our transport networks. We look forward to meeting residents on the Big Community Transport Tour, hearing their views on transport in their area and integrating feedback into future planning and engagement.” 

  

Tom Fyans, Chief Executive of London Cycling Campaign said:  "What if every Londoner who wanted to, could cycle in safety? If everyone, no matter where they lived, had safe, high-quality cycle routes near them that reached from near their homes to shops, tube stations, schools and more? That were good and safe enough kids, mums and grandparents could use them? That's a future LCC is campaigning for and one the Mayor of London and an increasing list of London boroughs are committed to. We can't wait for this community transport tour to reach every borough, and we want every council leader in London to join in helping our capital change for the better." 

 

 Jeremy Leach, Chair of London Living Streets said: “London’s 33 boroughs control 95% of London’s roads and are vital to help London hit the Mayor’s targets for lots more people to be active and for our streets and roads to be safe places to walk and spend time. Redbridge is an ideal place to start the Transport Tour with its great town centres and high streets and green spaces close by for leisure walks. We look forward to Living Streets local groups from across London being involved as the tour visits each of the boroughs.”