Life during lockdown

Dedicated, Netherlands-style, segregated (with a curb) cycle lanes on every main road. A few superhighways is not enough to get everyone cycling 

I would like to see homelessness given the priority it is now during the pandemic.  It is now obvious that the problem can be resolved if funds are made available.

As many have mentioned, more specific targets are needed. It is clear that improving cycling infrastructure is key to decreasing pollution and reducing the use of public transport, including:

- Segregated (no concrete needed, just rubber bumps and paint) and protected (between parking and pavement) cycle lanes on all major roads
- Turning two way rat runs into one way streets (most don't fit 2 cars width anyway!) with clear cycling lanes integrated
- Signage allowing cyclists to go both direction up one way streets (see NL)
- Increased parking for cyclists. In the short term, crowd control gates can be used (see NL) taking one parking space per block
- Increased cyclist waiting areas at every intersection so that cyclists can safely make turns (until bike traffic lights can be installed)
- Park and cycle facilities for those coming in from further out (empty stadium parking? see NL)
- Simple one. Turn on the speed cameras! Actually enforce the 20mph speed limits.

Many of these things can be (paint, signage, rubber bumpers - done) and have been quickly implemented in many many other cities. Like with most aspects of the virus response, London / UK are behind many other countries ..

Other important steps in decreasing pollution would be to have auto stop/start mandatory on all diesel black cabs (the pollution they spew in the long taxi rank lines around Kings Cross is vile and useless) as well as converting all buses to zero emissions.

Also, restaurants and pubs will need more outdoor space to serve customers, allow them to use parking spaces. Way too much space goes towards parked cars in London compared to many other similarly dense cities. 

These are all sensible objectives, and I know that resources are scarce, but I would like to see specific reference (in no soecific order) to:

a) the elderly

b) bringing an end to knife crime

c) actively supporting diversity  

d) reducing pollution

e) supporting culture

We know that the population of elderly people is growing and that people are living longer.  Lockdown has left many elderly people lonely and isolated.  Lunch clubs and day centres, and transport to and from them, should be a priority.

Knife crime is particuarly high in London and especially affects young people and their families and friends.  The police need resources to tackle this, but community resources are also needed, such as sports and social clubs for young people,

London is wonderfully diverse, and we should be celebrating that fact at every opportunity.  One suggestion would be to offer small grants to create a day for each community to organise its own celebration to which others in the community could come and learn about their culture.

Not everyone is physically able to ride a bicycle or a scooter.  The blue badge scheme should be revised tso that it is focused on mobility problems, and provison for people with those problems must be included in any traffic revision schemes.  Hoever, the number one priority should be reducing pollution, which affects us all and kills too many people each year.

What we have seen in recent weeks is a tale of two digital cities: those with the capacity and ability to get online with their own devices and internet supply and those who often rely upon libraries to connect to the rest of the world (which regrettably will remain closed until mid July), not to mention who remain almost entirely offline.

There needs to now be a concerted push by local and central government and the mayoralty to everything within their gift to narrow the still unbridged digital divide that exists between individuals and communities across our great city. Over 5 years ago now I volunteered in Lambeth helping people who in many cases had never been on online before receive their first taster of what communicating digitally is all about.

Now we need to start thinking about creating subsidised internet services, laptops and other devices to people for whom affordability is still too much of a stretch. The GLA and the Mayor have already demonstrated their significant can do with energy through their partnership with Octopus Energy. This ought to be extended now to the digital realm.

There are many smaller companies with which London government could form cooperative agreements with to provide standard broadband (beacon access) to people in their own homes. In parallel, a challenge could be put before all charities to encourage their supporters to donate or sell on their computers etc for a reasonable fee for reuse.

Everyone in 2020 deserves a voice, especially now that the town hall is often more online than off. And excellent organisations such as the Good Things  Foundation, Digital Unite and AbilityNet can readily assist to this end.

Wishing you the best

Reversing the terrible bailout deal would be a start. How can we expect to move towards becoming a cleaner, greener city while pushing up the fares of public transport. You've let our public transport system take the biggest hit in generations in the midst of a pandemic. 

Whilst I understand the aims, I'd suggest an important different order, with clearer tangible objectives, and a focus on infrastructure development for long lasting impact.  

The first and underpinning objective should be delivering a Carbon Neutral London, in order to reduce the risk of climate impacts that are and will affect us all. 

This would be achieved by adopting a Green New Deal for London, and would also address the other objectives; increasing employment and economic growth, supporting communities most affected, and narrowing inequalities.  

Economic growth etc. that is achieved by sustaining or increasing carbon emissions will increase inequalities, as well as decrease our future health and well-being.  

One example of this is air pollution, which disproportionally affects BAME, disabled people, and poorer communities; increases risks of respiratory conditions, and decreases life expectancy.  By having a long term vision (e.g. Carbon Neutral London), taking brave policy decisions (e.g. quickly transitioning away from fossil fuel cars) and making bold moves through infrastructure development (e.g. massively increasing availability, affordability and safety of public transport, cycling and walking), simultaneously; air quality is improved, carbon emissions are reduced, health outcomes and longevity improves, external environments become safer for children, and new work opportunities become available to make all of this happen.

This has to be done in a way that avoids increasing inequalities (e.g. where disabled people who rely on cars for mobility are unable to afford replacing them with green alternatives), but can't be done without criticism (we aren't going to give up our fossil fuel cars without complaint).

Take this opportunity to be bold and do what's right for all of us, for now and in the longer term.

Recognise that aims 1 and 5 will be contradictory in some cases.  By reestablishing current employment patterns and going for "growth" we will return to the polluted climate-destroying habits of before the pandemic.  The lockdown has shown clearly that much of our time at work is a waste, unnecessary and harmful.  Reduce employment or working hours, bring in green job alternatives and lessen London's environmental impact.

Our pubs play such an important role in society that they must be protected.  Before the virus we were loosing pubs at an alarming rate.  The lockdown has put many more pubs in a vulnerable position.  It is important that they must be helped to survive and, when all this is just a nasty memory, helped to thrive. Society, and the tourist industry needs them.

Reducing private car traffic would make living in the city more pleasant. It would be good to find a way to discourage school runs, short local trips in general and trips with only one occupant per car, especially in the case of larger petrol or diesel vehicles.

Please ensure that recovery work to 'Support our communities, including those most impacted by the virus' is meaningfully inclusive of London's 2.5 million people over 50. As workers, carers, volunteers, community leaders, customers, friends and neighbours older Londoners make an invaluable contribution to the capital. Older Londoners have been among those hardest hit by the coranavirus. Many faced enormous challenges with bereavement, digital exclusion, food poverty, isolation and an increasing mental health crisis. It is often forgotten that London has the highest pensioner poverty rate in the country. The recovery must be Age-friendly and leave no one behind! An Age-friendly Action Plan must be implemented when it is published.

It would be really useful to have a brief biog of all of the London Recovery Board members made available to allow informed comment on whether all areas we think are important are being sufficiently represented (without have to research each member individually). In particular I think it is important to have representation across all generations given the ongoing and no doubt, sadly, long-lasting impact on the care and education sectors. 

I think  ensuring safety for all should be a priority, not just young people. This should include a return to neighborhood policing.  And all people need to be safeguarded on schools return, including teachers, administrators and school cleaners, etc. 

While I respect and agree the idea that we should be cleaner and greener, this cannot be reflected by withholding transport services.   Many of us are unable to walk or cycle to work either due to distance or physical capability and you should not be put in increased danger by having to use a transport system that is significantly overcrowded.  All workers except those that need cars (tradesmen with tools) should use public transport or cycle or walk.  This includes all politicians, the mayor, MPs, etc. 

Cyclists should have to have a number plate like cars, follow the same road rules as cars when not in a cycle lane and be fined for breaking these rules.  I do cycle in London and there are both dangerous drivers and cyclists and both need to be made to conform to safety measures.  

While Covid-19 is still a danger, masks should be worn in all shops as well as on public transport.  Police should enforce this.

In relation to rising unemployment, how unemployed people are treated needs to change.  If you have worked most your life and have a period of temporary unemployment, you should not be treated the same as someone who has never worked.   You should not have to lose all your hard earned savings before becoming eligible for benefits.   A separate benefit system should be in place for short terms of unemployment.   This would help reduce the stress of short term unemployment and allow people to focus on finding new work. 

Any plans should support those already working and paying taxes. 

Transport is key for me.  How we get people to work safely (and for them to feel safe) is key to get London moving.  While cycle lanes can help, a lot of people travel long distances and this needs to be taken into account.

Since lockdown I've seen a big increase in cyclists, also I've seen many high street shops close down permanently. We can revive high streets by reducing cars and increasing space for cycles. 
 

Less cars means less pollution meaning high streets are more pleasant places. More cycles means more passing customers who can easily stop and pop in. 
 

The recipe has been proven elsewhere, we just need to be bold enough to do it. 
 

https://road.cc/content/news/251992-more-shoppers-more-shops-tfl-stats-…

I think we should follow Amsterdam's example of using the doughnut economics approach: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/08/amsterdam-doughnut-model-… by Guardian columnist George Monbiot as a “breakthrough alternative to growth economics”.

Deliver proper affordable housing in the capital. This should not mean "shoeboxes" crammed into small spaces but decent living conditions which adopts sustainable , green and environmentally practices with sufficient green space for inhabitants to enjoy.  

"Support our communities, including those most impacted by the virus"

The most badly impacted borough in terms of Covid-19 deaths is Newham. This is also an area with very poor air quality, which we know worsens Covid outcomes. The Silvertown Tunnel will increase traffic and emissions, increasing deaths from the virus and other respiratory diseases. Please Stop the Silvertown tunnel now. 

"Keep young people safe"

Young people in Newham, North Greenwich, Charlton and Woolwich need a safe, convenient river crossing for use on foot or by bike. It could be a bridge or a tunnel. This will help connect communities and support physical activity.

"Narrow social, economic and health inequalities" 

The Silvertown Tunnel will entrench health and social inequality: most people cannot afford a car, especially the poor. If only those who can buy a car are allowed to cross the river in a safe, convenient way, communities will be further left behind. The building of another unnescessary motorway will also increase air pollution and further entrench health inequality.

"Deliver a cleaner, greener London"

The Silvertown Tunnel will do the exact opposite of this. Please stop it now. It's not too late. Any money lost through contracts is meaningless when you look at the direct impact on our health and the climate.

Many of the problems could be solved at one go if young people were given vocational training or decently paid apprenticeships that would enable them to earn a decent living working on the green infrastructure we sorely need (retro-insulation, gas renewable heating systems,  community gardens on brownfield sites, after school clubs etc).

In addition, it's vital that the extraordinary, spontaneous wellspring of creativity, initiative and community cohesion that has sprung up during lockdown be supported, continued, funded and channeled into community improvement projects suggested and managed by communities themselves.

That is, more local decision making, investment in locally-run renewal and improvement projects, and if necessary working with businesses to fund even one day week when people can be paid to work on these projects

I am personally active in my community, in various groups and now Covid Mutual Aid.But I can afford to be because I am white, middle class and middle aged. These opportunities need to be extended to BAME and other disadvantaged groups so they can be full participants in their own neighbourhoods' flourishing.