The most backward looking transport policy in London?

[bhoot]

From the new publication this week "A Cleaner and Greener Future for xxx" (anyone who lives here will know immediately which borough xxx is):

"The Mayor’s Keep Our Borough Moving Forum – this will provide residents, businesses and community groups with the opportunity to discuss their views and opinions on how we make roads in our borough more accessible, particularly for those who depend on their car, such as those with mobility issues or those earning low incomes working in the gig economy."

But maybe there will be more to it, let's drill down to the details:

"As part of his cleaner and greener policy, the Mayor is keen to ensure the borough keeps moving by delivering on his pledges to:
– Increase the number of charging points for electric vehicles in the borough and avoid impacting those in our community who depend on their car for work or mobility
– Working with Transport for London (TfL) and emergency services to ensure improved public transport
– Working to promote use of car clubs available in the borough
– Encourage cycle use by supporting schemes to teach cycling and bike proficiency safety"

All this is in a borough with virtually the lowest car ownership - only 34% of households have one according to the 2022 census. Also it's the youngest borough in the UK - the median age is only 30, so surely there should not be so many mobility issues.

It is very depressing...

[Sergeant Pluck]

RBKC?

[Mr Larrington]

Tower Hamlets?

[bhoot]

Mr Larrington has it...

[Sergeant Pluck]

Mr Larrington has it...

The low car ownership did make me hesitant about my choice - although there are large areas of deprivation within the borough.

[citoyen]

Yes, and it's the poorest areas that have the worst access to public transport, which is why transport policy needs to be a careful balancing act to consider impacts on equality and fairness.

The language of this sounds very familiar from stuff I'm working on at the moment, which is all about making transport in London more inclusive. You can bet this has been given intense scrutiny by City Hall to ensure it is meeting the aims of the Mayor's Transport Strategy and complying with the Healthy Streets Approach and Vision Zero and various other schemes with jargony titles.

At the same time, it's Tower Hamlets, so no doubt they will find a way to fuck it up.

[bhoot]

I think most of Tower Hamlets has pretty good access to public transport, although it won't be uniform across the borough. What we are about to lose (probably) is the very small amount of low traffic neighbourhood schemes done under te previous administration, with roads with filters being fully re-opened to through traffic.

[citoyen]

What we are about to lose (probably) is the very small amount of low traffic neighbourhood schemes done under te previous administration, with roads with filters being fully re-opened to through traffic.

FFS

[Cudzoziemiec]

There's a lot of conspiracy theory talk going round, encouraged by spooky far-right groups, to the effect that low traffic neighbourhoods mean you will have to pay a fee, or even a fine, to leave your neighbourhood. Mind you, the people promoting LTNs don't do themselves a favour by referring to the areas as "cells".

[peter simplex]

Well, that's "democratic socialism" for you.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspire_(political_party)
I'd guess a lot of TH residents Aspire to owning a car and driving it anywhere, whenever they want, even if they haven't got one or can't afford one at present. 

[Mr Larrington]

There's a lot of conspiracy theory talk going round, encouraged by spooky far-right groups, to the effect that low traffic neighbourhoods mean you will have to pay a fee, or even a fine, to leave your neighbourhood. Mind you, the people promoting LTNs don't do themselves a favour by referring to the areas as "cells".

The Gammonariat seems to think heavily-armed goons will have the power to summarily execute anyone found more than 15’ walk from home.

[Pickled Onion]

– Working with ... emergency services to ensure improved public transport

eh?

[bhoot]

I was confused by that one too...maybe all those pesky fire engines are getting in the way of the buses?

[Kim]

The usual argument is of course that filling all the available space with cars helps the emergency services.  I'm wondering if the appropriate weasel-words fell foul of repeated edits.

[bhoot]

The decision was made this evening. After two consultations where retention of low traffic features was favoured over removal, and support from Barts health trust and police for retention, the mayor has made an executive decision to remove it all. I foresee legal challenges and people in front of bulldozers

[Cudzoziemiec]

Your mayor sounds rather like ours. 

[Tim Hall]

Your mayor sounds rather like ours. 

I think Tower Hamlets mayor is streets ahead in the dodginess stakes if Wiki is to be believed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutfur_Rahman_(British_politician)

[CrazyEnglishTriathlete]

Old people with cars vote.  Young people and those without cars don't.   Local elections generally have low turnouts.  If you want to be elected, appeal to the people that vote, not the people as a whole.

[Wycombewheeler]

There's a lot of conspiracy theory talk going round, encouraged by spooky far-right groups, to the effect that low traffic neighbourhoods mean you will have to pay a fee, or even a fine, to leave your neighbourhood. Mind you, the people promoting LTNs don't do themselves a favour by referring to the areas as "cells".

strange bedfellows spooky far right groups and the bangladeshi mayor of tower hamlets

[Cudzoziemiec]

I doubt they're bedfellows, simply in agreement on a few points.