Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is moving to convert parts of London into ‘some of the largest "car-free" zones in the world’ with vast plans to get more people cycling and walking to work.
Khan announced Transport for London’s new Streetspace plan across the weekend with measures ‘necessary’ in order for commuters to maintain safe social distancing as they return to work.
With the UK Government now calling for those who cannot work from home to return to their jobs, the capital’s transport system has seen a steady increase in capacity.
Mayor Khan asked for all Londoners who can work from home to continue doing so for the ‘foreseeable future’ while he also asked for those returning to work to consider alternative transport methods from the tube or buses such as cycling and walking.
To encourage Londoners to avoid public transport, Khan has introduced his ‘Streetspace’ plans that look to reclaim large parts of London’s streets from private vehicles for the use of people - cyclists and walkers.
‘We will need many more Londoners to walk and cycle to make this work. That’s why these plans will transform parts of Central London to create one of the largest car-free areas in any capital city in the world,’ said Khan
Below is a quick summary of the key changes coming as part of TfL’s Streetspace announcements.
What are the changes being introduced with TfL’s Streetspace plan?
Chief among changes to London will be plans to restrict access to some of the capital’s busiest roads to public transport, cycling, walkers and emergency vehicles only while some will not even permit buses.
Roads between some of London’s busiest train and tube stations and other areas (London Bridge - Shoreditch, Euston - Waterloo and Old Street - Holborn) are set to be limited to public transport, cycling and walking only. This is part of plans to offer alternative routes to some of the tube system’s most frequent journeys.
Additionally, some roads across towns within London (notably Croydon, Brixton, Peckham and Stoke Newington) will have pavements widened and cycling lanes temporarily added as measures to ensure safe social distancing.
TfL will introduce an extra 1,000 cycle parking spaces across the capital focusing on busy high streets and the main transport hubs.
Work has already begun on the likes of Euston Road - between Euston and King’s Cross stations - and Park Lane to introduce these temporary measures as well as the reduction of speed limits to ensure the safety of cyclists.
There is also the potential option of restricting access to both Waterloo and London Bridge to public transport, cyclists, walkers and emergency vehicles. The Mall, Constitution Hill and roads through all Royal Parks will all be closed to motor vehicles at weekends.
Work on Cycleway 4, between Kensington Olympia and Brentford, and Cycleway 9, between Tower Hill and Greenwich, has also been accelerated.
As of Monday 18th May, London’s congestion charge was reintroduced as well as the Ultra-Low Emission Zone. From June, the charge will also increase from £11.50 to £15.
Additionally, the congestion charge that covers much of Central London will be extended to seven days a week, running from 07:00 to 22:00 as of 22nd June. TfL will also ask for certain deliveries on some roads to take place outside of the congestion charge hours.
Those working in the NHS and care homes, however, will continue to be reimbursed for the congestion charge.