Planning our future London

Make active travel (cycling, walking) easier and safer - create a true London-wide cycle network that is linked up throughout the boroughs, enforce speed limits (in Ealing, for example, we have 20mph borough wide, but it is rarely adhered to), enforce parking restrictions (e.g no parking in cycle lanes), and introduce traffic calming measures in residential areas. Livable streets will attract new businesses, so pedestrianisation wherever possible should be done. Take the experiences gained in Walthamstow to the whole of London.

Scrap ULEZ and stop Hammersmith and Fulham Low traffic neighbourhoods 

Make roads safer and less congested by widening roadways making pavements narrower and getting rid of cycle lanes thus allowing for more lanes for traffic in both directions on major town roads. For example King Street in Hammersmith could be up to four lanes wide with traffic and buses going both ways, this would improve the economy of the area as well. Ambulances would not be prevented from access.

People making the switch from Car to Bike can be a big ask, especially for those with mobility requirements. Closing bus lanes and building bike lanes instead forces people back into cars, not onto bikes. It’s quite naive to assume otherwise.

I live in a Low Traffic Neighbourhood, where large busy roads now have one lane of traffic and a segregated cycle lane. Bus lanes were removed to make way for cycle lanes. Now these buses sit in traffic where before they were by far the fastest way to get around. The roads are more congested as a result and the cycle lanes are rarely used, except by food couriers. If buses were a quicker way of getting around than cars, then that would realistically entice people not to drive. 

I live close to the South Circular, the number of occasions;through no fault of mine, that I have nearly been hit whilst on my bike is ridiculous. In order to encourage more people out of their car and onto a bike a climate needs to exist that you don't feel you are risking your safety every time you get on your bike. 

I have made a conscious decision not to drive, I would support the idea of the mayor controlling all local train services coming into and out of London. This should extend to Brighton and Reading 

It's a bit artificial to only be able to choose one issue. Energy efficiency and mandatory installation of solar power on all new buildings are vital. So is preserving, improving and expanding green space and access to green space. So is housing, including significantly higher levels of affordable housing than are included in most developments in my area.

I've highlighted transport because it's an issue where there is a crisis - congestion levels and air pollution in my area are shocking - and despite some efforts by city and borough authorities things seem to be going in the wrong direction. Bus services are being cut. Rail services are being cut. And buses are slow and unreliable, partly because of the number of cars making through journeys through the borough. The situation will only get worse (and probably much worse) when the Silvertown Tunnel comes into operation. There is a need for a new way of looking at transport issues that genuinely prioritises public transport and active transport, rather than treating them as add-ons to systems designed for the convenience of motorists. 

I think the recent activity in improving cycling and walking options is the way forward for London. Alongside some more overt policing of poor driving. I (rarely now) drive, and mainly use public transport and active travel to get around the city. 

Im always concerned for people with mobility issues on PT and pavements - that really should be a priority for TfL. But mainly we need to continue to encourage folk out of their cars. 

We should have more public health campaigns on the dangers of cars (lack of exercise, high cost, etc) and more penalties for dangerous or aggressive driving. When I cycle there will always be a few extremely aggressive drivers having a go. So the public narrative needs to change from one of conflict, to something more akin to a culture change campaign. 

I don't mind if streets remain a space for motorised vehicles, but folk who are wedded to their big steel boxes need to understand that their choice isn't a right to the road; because their bigger, pay 'road tax', or think they should be driving faster and you're in their way. 

I particularly think larger cars, SUV type cars need to be taxed more in London. The grief I get from 'big car' drivers is disproportionate. If you want to move faster through the city, then realise a 4x4 isn't the logical or appropriate option. 

I'm not a fan of Cycling Lanes, as, in my Borough, they're largely unused. The problem is added-to by some Cycle Lanes being a mere 100- to 400-metres long. These are no good to man or beast. More pedestrianisation would be better, but with the proviso that nearby car parking is available, and at reasonable rates.

I have little confidence in Public Transport, as both buses and trains are unreliable (predominately because the Staff keep going on Strike!). In my Borough, the train services have been drastically reduced, whilst at the same time South Eastern Railways have had the audacity to increase Fare prices! So, we pay more money to experience a reduced service (when they're not on Strike!).

Buses are ponderous, and amazingly, to get to the next town (which is only 2 miles away), I'd have to get 2 buses, as there is no direct service! Public Transport is a comedy of errors. Furthermore, car park charges are unreasonable, which prompts people to go to larger stores with free parking, thus impinging on local businesses. You couldn't make this up - but I suppose I shouldn't be surprised when you consider that most local Councils have Staff with no common sense whatsoever.

There is no doubt that a reduction in road traffic would be a benefit for most Londoners as this would clean the air, facilitate better public transport services and allow for safer walking and cycling.  There will always be a need for delivery vans, but couriers should be encouraged to go electric as should hauliers.  I grew up in Battersea where I still live and these days I have breathing problems I never had as a child.  I gave up on a car 23 years ago and hopes that millions of others can be encouraged to do the same.

Visit the Netherlands, see what they're doing and copy it.  There, simple, problem solved.

To answer the questions in order:

1. To be used by everyone, not just motor vehicles. In fact not for motor vehicles should be last in the priority list.  More LTNs, more cycle lanes, wider pavements, more public bikes and scooters, more space for cargo bikes. Watch ‘Not Just Bikes’ on Youtube, you’ll get the idea. 

2. A great neighbourhood is where people are given priority over everything else. That’s what neighbourhoods are - for neighbours. If you want a community then people have to talk to their neighbours and they won’t do that by moving from one enclosed space to another eg house to car. A good example is the Barbican - no cars and a lovely place to spend time, just be careful it doesn’t become gentrified. If you want other examples further afield then look at the Netherlands, especially Utrecht and to a lesser extent Amsterdam.

3. Better public transport has to be focussed on getting between neighbourhoods, not necessarily into and out of the city centre which is how most of the network is constructed. London isn't just about tourists and not everyone wants to be on a bus crammed with tourists for part of their journey or delayed because it has to negotiate the busy city centre. We have to have a network of routes which make it easier to move around the suburbs and so negate the need for a car ie more orbital rather than the current set up.

4. We reduce emissions and congestion by making it easier to walk cycle and use public transport, it’s a no brainier. Sort out the licensing rules to allow the safe use of private e-scooters.  Finally cancel the Silvertown Tunnel, how on earth can that be good for anyone or anything except the motor vehicle; it’s bonkers and I find it hard to believe it’s still going ahead.

FEWER OR NO TOWER BLOCKS!!!   They take the heat up into the atmosphere 24 hours a day, 365 days a year!  If you have a barbecue, your hand can go a certain height above & you do not feel the heat.   An aircraft flies by & is gone.  The building is fixed, pumping out heat from central heating, air conditioning, lifts, escalators, cookers, washing machines, laundry, office computers etc, cooking, kettles, everything!  We have too many people in London - encourage people to live elsewhere!   ESPECIALLY but not only asylum seekers.

I  completed the survey that will to feed in to the London Plan, via a report on the survey by the Planning Team. But I was not impressed.  If people's views are genuinely sought, consultation should be carried out much earlier in the  planning process, so that people's views and suggestions can actually be incorporated into the Plan in a meaningful way.

I did not like the limited number of pre-chosen options, even if I can state what I think best for myself, for my area and for all Londoners.  The questions were limited in themselves.

The 3 options for Question 2, on ways of helping businesses, were lacking in vision. Tarting up high streets a bit - no, this is necessary but not good enough. How about visionary redevelopment of  local London 'town centres', so that green shopping,arts & recreation areas are accessible by public transport, near parks and gardens. LPG bus routes could  enable tourists from nearby areas to visit. This would likely need a mission-based approach, public/private partnership and vision. Yet the choice on offer is to tart up some high streets, keep some big warehouses for packages distribution, or build yet more offices. Working from home should be getting more support, local work centres, more services, sports, leisure and cafes etc out in the residential areas, etc.

A question about energy saving omitted use of hydrogen in gas boilers.  Insulation was mentioned as an option, but what about the thousands of blocks of flats that landowners refuse to insulate externally because of costs? Does the GLA realise that HAs could insulate thousands of old flats internally, by adding dry-lining or other insulation, but they just refuse to do it?  Some questions were just weird - it should be obvious to any policy maker living in the actual real London that all the options are essential, there often cannot be a choice of one or other even down at the more fine-grained local neighbourhood area.

The LTNs are a failure and have created more not less congestion, longer journey times, nore net fossil fuel consumption and pollution, and less safe travel for cyclists - with no real SMART objectives or proper Measurement and Evaluation programmes. They need to be withdrawn/eneded and other strategies investigated and implemented (such as better and cheaper public transport; bespoke school-by-school strategies for school-run parents; rigorous/enforceable planning restrictions on no car ownership for new build housing; workplace shower/locker/security for cyclists; better driver behaviour change strategies, etc)

I live in Haringey, which is a densely populated area with plenty of green space and local amenities within easy walking distance. The whole of central london is also within cycling distance. There is no need for me to use a car for 99% of the time, and I can hire one when needed. However, both the road I live in, most of the roads around me and the local high streets have a lot of traffic, and score extremely badly for air pollution (97-99% worst of the whole country). Making walking a cycling safer and more pleasant and reducing car journeys would be my priority. The local high street is already useful and functional, but could become a real gem if it was also a pleasant place to be. There is no need for the parking on it, there are a lot of shops and restaurants, and there are nowhere near enough parking spots to service them all anyway, so the vast majority of the people must already be coming by other means of transport.

In my local area, the council is closing many roads to install cycle lanes on both sides of the road with floating bus stops. In an area with elderly people, families with young children, those with disabilities, school children. This is in an area where cyclists will ride on pavements at speed, through stop lights, and younger cyclists are verbally aggressive towards older cyclists. Although a survey was done, it felt like a decision was already made as the 'results' of the survey was announced pretty quickly and work starts in less than a week! When does a local authority move that fast? Can we stop tearing up streets and pavements to install cycle lanes and maintain streets and pavements we already have? 

I would prefer the local authority would focus on getting their customer service right, in getting their accounting right, be able to deal with basic services instead of trying to do these pretty things, because they are failing with the basic services. They have a high turnover of staff and so it is difficult to get anything done. Staff that remain are not exactly valued either.

The local authority is attracting lots of young people who are consumers of alcohol and food. That move out when they settle and have children move out. Hence a number of schools in this area have closed this year. Sadly, the area has been pushed as a place for a party and not settle.

So, a community with many generations, that is safe for all ages, where you can afford to get a bus to where you need to go - can the services just run and not be cut so you need another bus. Community where people can enjoy a market and enjoy free events together. We don't need more trees or shrubs. We do need the parks we already have being maintained and not used for paid events so much. 

I would point out that not only do we NOT have the tube, NOT have the Overground and NOT have the tram in LB Sutton, but we are reliant on a dreadful and worsening train service from Southern and Thameslink, both part of GTR, one of the worst performing rail networks.  

The number of trains from Carshalton to Victoria on the fast line via Mitcham Junction has been reduced from four to two per hour, post-Covid, and the number of Thameslink trains is also only two per hour. And they are often cancelled meaning you end up with one Victoria and one Thameslink train per hour on frequent occasions. 

Why does Crossrail/Elizabeth line get trains every 5 minutes when we in the South London suburbs cannot even get into London because there are very few trains and they get cancelled? Not to mention standing on three car trains - which are advertised as 10 car trains but are not. And ever increasing fares.

The public transport service stinks here in outer south London - it seems the more you have north of the river, the more you get. The less you have in south London, the more you get taken away until there is nothing left. Years of lobbying has got us nowhere with either Labour or Tory Mayors. They are just not interested. 

Let us have some investment at last - we were promised the tube in the 1930s, it never happened. We were promised the tram ten years ago - it never happened. We were promised Crossrail 2 ten years ago. It never happened. What do you have to do to make it happen?

I think the focus should be on evening out the way we view all forms of transport so that walking, cycling and public transport are put on an equal if not more important footing than cars and car parks and charging points for cars. I think evey town centre should offer very cheap if not free secure storage of their bikes while they are shopping. These storage facilities should be manned and enclosed, shop like premises should be dedicated to the task and each bike owner be given a unique tab for his bike that would guarantee getting their bike back at the end of their shop. The new barriers for cyclists, protecting their part of the road, are great but they need to be hardier so that mindless vandalism does not damage the integrity of their role. More effort should also be made to put up a green wall between busy roads and busy pavements so that the pedestrians breathing is 'protected'.

The single biggest problem in Croydon, which is causing a serious blight on the high street which is totally dead, and shops are shutting routinely, is you totally removed any parking. It isn't practical for people to come into Croydon and shop here. Contrast with Wallington nearby, which has a bustling high street very similar to Croydon's, because people can park free of charge in the supermarket car park for shopping for up to 3 hours around the area. I am not entirely pro car and would prefer better public transport, but the lack of parking is crippling local business and it's incredibly short sighted.

I live in an area of outer South London which does not have the tube, does not have the Overground and does not have the Croydon tram. We only have infrequent and unreliable bus services which are being cut despite a promise by TFL to improve them after a major bus review.  Most of the buses are also diesel rather than electric and prone to smelly emissions and breakdown.  If you do not have decent public transport options, how will you get people out of their cars?

I live near the Vauxhall gyratory. The roads are absurdly wide, and it should be changed to be more like ordinary city streets and less like living in a motorway junction. Two way, narrower streets are wanted. Kennington Lane ought to be a local high street, rather than a one-way nightmare.