Too many London streets are hostile, dominated by fast traffic and parked cars, which is stopping people from walking and cycling and leaving those that do in too much danger. Caroline Russell AM says the second edition of the Healthy Streets Scorecard, created by a coalition of transport campaigners, has highlighted serious issues for the Mayor to tackle.
Today’s updated figures have shown that despite the Mayor calling his tripling of protected space a success there was no overall change in walking and cycling in recent years. There was also only a 1 per cent increase in journeys by walking, cycling and public transport making reaching the Mayor’s 80 per cent target for 2041 ever less likely.
These changes are even more important due to the significantly reduced capacity on public transport caused by the on-going need for physical distancing due to the coronavirus crisis. This makes the need for safe walking and cycling in London more urgent.
Caroline Russell says:
“I’m glad that campaigners are tracking the outcomes of the Mayor’s transport strategy. He so often talks a great game, and claims to be world leading, but despite pockets of good practice, this slow rate of progress is anything but. TfL’s own data is showing how the Healthy Streets programme hasn’t delivered quickly enough”
“Last week Paris and countless other cities in France saw Mayors and administrations confirm plans for radical changes – serious reductions in car parking and use of that freed up space for walking and cycling. And they plan lower speed limits all the way across their cities, not the patchwork of 20mph limits London has.
“We don’t need big statements about making London greener, we need action right now, in every borough and every high street, at every school and outside every home to make London truly healthy and safe to walk and cycle in, for everyone.”
Notes to editors
The latest edition of the Heathy Streets Scorecard is available at: https://www.healthystreetsscorecard.london/