Low Traffic Neighbourhoods David Harrison London Living Streets

Our streets have changed

This has led to (at least) 5 huge problems   Air pollution A reduction in walking and cycling   Social isolation Lack of social justice Worse child pedestrian casualty rates in EU

Decline in walking in the UK: Walking trips have decreased by 19% over the last ten years, from 4.7 trips per week to 3.8 trips per week. The distance walked has decreased by 8%.

The sedentary life style: obesity

In the UK children are inactive and obese compared with rest of Europe

Air pollution: 36,000 early deaths in England/year (King’s College), 40,000 Royal College of Physicians

Child pedestrian deaths, and danger

SECTION 1 But there is a solution There is a place where there have been radical improvements 6 huge benefits

1. Huge increase in walking, and (to a lesser extent) cycling; An area where Londoners are walking 32 minutes more and cycling 9 minutes more

2. Activity and life expectancy increased; air quality improved 2. Activity and life expectancy increased; air quality improved. King’s College estimated the borough’s residents will gain 40,000 years of human life in the coming century More than 51,000 households in the borough are no longer living in areas with dangerously high levels of air pollution; 7 pc reduction in emissions 8am to 9am

3. Collisions and casualties down; none during the first year You can have more walking and cycling and fewer casualties.

4. Shops revived Improve a street for walking and cycling: - People visiting the street up 93% - Empty shops down 17% - Those on foot/bike/public transport spend 40% more in a month than those in cars

5. Inclusivity and social justice

6. Road traffic in area is down Overall by 15 pc : traffic ‘evaporated’ Traffic levels in 12 key roads in the “village” area fell by 56 per cent, or 10,000 fewer vehicles a day Slight increase in traffic on two main roads bordering the “village”. 3pc and 11pc

And the borough is

Waltham Forest

To summarise Waltham Forest’s success Walking 32 minutes more per week, cycling 9 Life expectancy increased (air quality, activity) No collisions Shops revived Road Traffic reduced in the whole area by 15 pc

SECTION 2 How to create a Low Traffic Neighbourhood

Step 1: Establish a Street Hierarchy The City of London has 3 categories

Step 2: Ensure that each street fulfils its function London and borough roads Local access roads

So often local roads badly designed

Step 3: Walthamstow established a ‘cell’ Traffic on distributor roads A112 and A104 Local access roads: motor vehicles have access to homes but cannot drive through.

Step 4: Change achieved in Walthamstow by: 37 road filters to motor vehicles and two part-time road closures  

And 104 improved pedestrian crossings 660 new trees And 104 improved pedestrian crossings 660 new trees. Speed limits have also been reduced to 20mph 

Step 5. Take out barriers to mobility Wheelchairs. Buggies, cycles Act.

Section 3 Keys to success

1. Do an entire area; remove all through traffic: So every residential street benefits

2. But you can start with experiments School Streets: a first step

2. Another 18 month experiment Bank Junction

3. Engage with residents Listen Start by discussing the problems in the area? Build support and find champions Emphasise community-wide benefits -not just for cyclists Social media Ensure local councillors on board

Visualisations can help with engagement

4. Emergency vehicles and alternatives to bollards

5. Cost. It can be cheap. A few cheap bollards could transform the borough. Northchurch Rd: Hackney/and cf Islington

6. It has worked in London, can it work elsewhere 6. It has worked in London, can it work elsewhere? Waltham Forest an outer London Borough Car ownership 50 pc - much higher than inner London, Islington 30 pc

7. Political will the key to success

The Heroes

No political backlash In Waltham Forest Labour won more seats Hoe St, the ward most affected, huge majority for Labour In Hackney Labour gained seats

https://londonlivingstreets.com/ LONDON LIVING STREETS Campaigning for safe and vibrant streets, where people want to walk