News from Caroline Russell: On our bikes! Cycling and walking funding cuts traffic says TfL report

Investment in walking and cycling is cutting traffic in central London as people change the way they travel, according to a Transport for London report released this week.

The new report on travel trends in London showed that the volume of Central London traffic fell by 3.5 per cent in the three months to December 2016. [1]

The drop follows a similar level of decline recorded in the first two quarters of 2016 is attributed to the new cycle superhighways and investment in Healthy Streets to make London more pleasant for people to get around by bike and on foot.

Caroline has urged the Mayor to invest £1.55 billion in cycling and walking in his first term, equivalent to 15 per cent of the total expected investment in capital transport projects during that time. [2]

Caroline said:

“This report backs up what people have been telling us – if there are better ways to travel they will use them.

“We’ve all seen the busy superhighways and pavements, which are a more efficient way of moving people around London than cars. Giving people more space to get around works, the traffic falls and more people use their bikes or walk.

“Walking and cycling is good for our health as well as helping to cut traffic and reduce air pollution as people ditch their cars.

“The Mayor should stick with the plan to keep building cycle superhighways as well as making it easier to walk around London. This will make London a better place to visit, live and work in.”