A deputation of local people will tonight (14 October) urge Lambeth councillors to create “many more” low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs).
Members of the group of residents come from across the borough’s five new LTNs in the Railton, Tulse Hill, Ferndale, Oval and Streatham Hill areas.
“Many more LTNs should be urgently created and combined with other wide-ranging measures to enable walking and cycling on Lambeth’s streets,” they say.
A survey by residents has already demonstrated a huge jump of 90% in the number of people cycling since the Railton LTN was introduced in April, they add
Another survey showed that 75% of locals support the Railton scheme that stops through traffic along residential streets between Brixton and Herne Hill.
“Lambeth’s low traffic neighbourhoods have been transformational for me, and thousands of others in my community,’ said Sarah Berry, who will speak on behalf of the deputation.
“Multiple LTNs that have been in place across Lambeth for many years, such as the triangle between Brixton Hill and Acre Lane, which work well and are welcomed by everyone in the area.
“Now we want to see new LTNs rolled out in many other places across the borough as soon as possible to allow many more people to experience a clean, safe and more enjoyable life in a low traffic world.”
Berry said local residential roads have seen a 70% rise in traffic over the past decade.
Organisers of the deputation say it will explain how low traffic neighbourhoods have already started to reverse this trend by empowering many residents to walk or use bikes for the first time for everything from popping to the shops to doing the school run.
“I’m far from alone in feeling safe enough on the road to use a bike for the first time ever,” said Berry.
“In the context of Covid, when public transport simply isn’t an option, LTNs are helping thousands of us get to work, visit friends and maintain a connection with our communities without clogging up the streets with unnecessary car journeys.
“Every bicycle on the street, every trip done by walking, is one less vehicle polluting. And it actually means that we create more space on the road for essential journeys, by emergency service vehicles and disabled motorists.”
The deputation will say that current LTNs are not a complete solution by themselves and that more are needed.
They say that other measures are required on main roads – including protected cycleways, wider pavements, more crossings and pedestrian priority – “to create a network of safe travel across Lambeth for vulnerable road-users and those without access to vehicles.
Technology allowing, you should be able to watch a live stream of the council meeting. There is no need to sign in.
Details and agenda for the meeting here.
“I’m far from alone in feeling safe enough on the road to use a bike for the first time ever,” said Berry.
What happens when Berry gets to the end of the road?
The roads outside of Berry’s comfort zones are busier than ever,
Is this article by Simon Still (London Cycling Campaign and Brixton Blog editor) by any chance? This is yet more Pro LTN spin that ignores the issues many people are facing because of these road blocks.
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Agree whole heartedly with the demand for more LTN’s in Lambeth. Fewer cars, fewer people driving for short local journeys, more active travel, more space for everyone outside a car to journey safely, more peace in residential streets and better quality air.
Absolutely agree with the above. No consultation was taken and we live next to one of these plant pots. If anything it makes our journeys longer and therefore isn’t making any pollution saving effort. Speed cameras and speed humps would do more for our road (Elm Park) than boxing in communities. We can only now access out via Brixton Hill which has now been reduced to no access in the bus lane at all times. Who ever thinks pushing more traffic on to the hill and reducing the bus lane access across off peak times is a great idea clearly hasn’t considered the big picture. I don’t see how walking in these areas are affected by these measure either – you walk on the path not on the road. More cycle safety to reduce speed would be more beneficial.
This article is out of touch with reality. As a resident the vast amount of people don’t want the LTN to continue. Traffic should be better managed with speed cameras, improving public transport, and creating safer cycle paths.