People's Question Time Online

Would the mayor consider suspending all Hackney road closures in view of lockdown and Covid risk for elderly and vulnerable who are currently risking infection by using public transport instead of family cars?

Given the extensive LTN schemes in Hackney that instead of easing pollution are actually increasing hardship for small businesses and residents alike, isn't it about time to suspend them until the pandemic is under control and  then the council can engage in a proper democratic discussion with all stakeholders? 

I am interested in reducing my carbon footprint by less use of my car and prefer walking locally.

I use public transport wherever possible, I find it less stressful than driving.

I am scared of cycling, fearful of injury, it just feels dangerous

My question is :

It is quite clear that the need to share the roads with a  multitude of vehicles causes stress, conflict and casualties.

London's roads just are not built for sharing. Look at Berlin Amsterdam and Stockholm where cycling is made safer by well defined areas for each road and pavement user.

London needs to look at the whole question again and come up with some improved planning. At present we have a mess and a conflict of regulations for the use of our roads and pavements. 

The Silvertown tunnel being built will create more traffic congestion and more pollution, while doing nothing to support walking, cycling and the other goals of your Livable Streets program. Are you planning to stop this project, and re-direct the hundreds of millions of pounds to infrastructure that will improve Londoners' quality of life instead of destroying it?

Are there plans to expand the Santander cycle scheme into the docklands? 

Are there any plans to improve the transport infrastructure in East London, particularly the docklands?
 

Will there be better transport links (either underground or DLR, not bus) between outer areas of London so that to travel from, for example, Stratford to Finsbury, there is not the necessity to go into central London and then travel out again? 

What is the progress on bridge river crossings to the east of Tower Bridge? Will the proposed bridge at Gallions Reach be built? 

How are you going to resist the Government's threats to TFL and the Freedom Pass and how will you spend the money raised from Labour party members as you are requesting?

I would further like to propose a road tax for cyclists.  I don't think it's fair or sustainable to expect car drivers to pay for all the cycle lanes popping up.  I would recommend getting all bicycles registered with a number plate.  Getting anyone who wants to cycle in London, a cycle driving licence, with suitable third party insurance. That way they have responsibiloity for their own safety and the safety of others.  Plus we will see a huge drop on those that are continually running red lights.  Because once you've reduced all the cars coming into London, who will pay for the road network, It won't be sustainable.  Please could you let me know if this is in the plans for London's future.

 What can be done to counter the impression that any fare rises and loss of travel benefits is due to decisions made by the Mayor when they are being imposed as conditions by the Conservative Government to provide the funding needed as a result of its decision to require transport to continue while advising workers and others not to travel under Covid restrictions?

After 17 peaceful years in our Kennington home,  our lives now have been made an absolute misery.  Since the end of June 2020, there are contstant banging and vibrations from the Northern Line trains which travel underneath our home from Kennington to Oval Station.  Trains travel from 05:30-12:30, seven days per week and 24 hours per day at the weekends.  Our home has tunred into hell.  The sound and vibrations feel like a small earthquake every few minutes, with crockery in the kicthen cupbaords vibrating.  We, plus 100 other local residents, are being deprived of our right to a peaceful nights sleep as we are unable to escape.  This is like water torture, and this continued disturbance could drive someone to suicide. When will this be fixed? PLEASE this cannot go on.  PLEASE HELP.

When London retail and hospitality is on the brink of collapse; shouldn't you be doing everything in your power to get people into London?  Yet you have done the opposite, putting more hurdles to prevent entry into London.

1. Increasing Congestion charge times and cost

2. Limiting or closing tube station hours of operation

3. Reducing road capacity by increasing cycle lanes.  People don't want want to cycle in the cold and rain if they are going on a night out.  And they don't want to cycle if they are going to be shopping. 

These 3 steps alone have reduced peoples interest in coming into London.

So my question is, while addressing the 3 points above, "how will these changes improve retail and hospitality?"

Please don't say there are alternatives to driving, we all know that.  This is not about alternatives, it's about opening up the arteries of London during the pandemic, so that everyone can get in, by whichever means they choose.  After the Pandemic is a different story.  

your expansion of the ULEZ Zone in London next year will build upon your success in substantially reducing emissions and ensure that the downward trend continues and indeed steepens. 

In the light of this, the existing and future pivot in domestic car ownership away from diesel towards modern, low-emission cars, and the changes in work and living habits created by the pandemic,  do you feel that the congestion, pollution and adverse effects upon vulnerable people created by councils’ LTN schemes are worth the imagined benefits, especially as they are already being unwound in an increasing number of boroughs, where they are deemed to have failed to meet their objectives ?

When and if transport into London returns to normal, do you really think it's a good idea to sell all the car parks at the end of line terminal stations and turn them into flats?

How will that encourange people to use public transport when travelling into London?

The local people in these areas frequently use these car parks and rely on them. Won't it impact the local people as parking moves onto the nearby streets instead? Before COVID there was a lot of demand for parking spaces in these stations and surely if things return to normal you'd want visitors to easily access Central London?

  Dear Mr. Khan

  Other people have also asked questions about expanding the congestion charging area to the north and south circulars indicating the level of    general concern about this proposal.  Covid has meant that many of us are worried about using buses and tubes;  is it the right time to add     an additional huge financial burden to people just trying to go about their business??

From the unexpected outcomes that have resulted with various London Boroughs implementing Low Traffic Neighbourhoods / Friendly People Streets, it is apparent that there is a need for a London wide transport planning body.  

Local Authorities should not be allowed to implement road closing schemes in their borough without understanding the impact of similar closing schemes in neighbouring boroughs.  For instance the roads round Islington, Hackney, COL and Tower Hamlets are now devastated.  Congestion and pollution has increased along several major routes.

A London wide body should be tasked to ensure that traffic runs smoothly and is not subject to LA interferance.