Sustainable Transport Strategy

7 Up – statements we’re pleased to see

Before we get to the list this is what you can read on page 10:

We’re on the road to nowhere …

And now the statements …

1. This growth [in population from 310,100 (2021) to 365,000 (2041)] will not be possible without an integrated and sustainable transport network that allows everyone to travel from home to school, work and other key destinations across the borough and beyond, to keep Redbridge moving.  (p6). All else being equal, more people means more car journeys means Redbridge grinds to a halt.  Somethings gotta give, on yer bike – it takes up less road space. 

2. Public transport (e.g. bus, underground and rail) and active travel (walking, wheeling, cycling and scooting) networks are fragmented … and not well connected to green spaces or other key infrastructure in the borough such as transport links and places of work (p8). An honest assessment of where we are. Now’s the time for some joined up thinking.

3. Road user hierarchy for Redbridge

As night follows day, we can’t build more roads for more cars so to keep Redbridge moving we need more people to walk, cycle and take the bus. These are not virtual activities: space is required and there is only one place to find it. 

4. To keep Redbridge moving the option to choose and use sustainable travel options that involve walking, wheeling, cycling and use of public transport is needed (p15).  That’s sorting out dangerous junctions, putting cycle tracks along main roads, reducing traffic speeds and turning rat runs into quiet streets.  17 years is enough time. 

5. The transport network will enable people to access key destinations, community services and green spaces by sustainable travel options, (p17).  As above.

6. The figure provides an insight into how different neighbourhoods, centres and roads should be characterised to keep Redbridge moving and importantly rebalance street priority to ensure vulnerable user groups pedestrians and cyclists feel safe

By our reckoning that’s most of the Borough’s Road network suitable for cycling which means, Borough wide, sorting out dangerous junctions, putting cycle tracks along main roads, reducing traffic speeds and turning rat runs into quiet streets.  There’s a bit of a theme emerging here …

7. At least 2/3 of all journeys will be by public transport, walking, wheeling (i.e. using of (sic) wheelchairs and mobility scooters), cycling or scooting.  (p7).  Surely a typo?  If Redbridge does what it says it wants to do, by 2041 4/5ths is possible isn’t it?  

Sustainable Transport Strategy

Over the next month we will put up some posts on our website covering issues raised in the consultation that we think are worth responding to.  For example, we think the strategy should include creating networks of ‘cycle streets’ that residents can use to cycle in comfort to the Borough’s railway and underground stations, schools, town centres and parks.  The strategy covers 17 years (to 2041), so there’s plenty of time …

So, you might want to leave making your response until closer to the closing date (5th January 2025) and after you’ve read our posts.

In the meantime,

The map – use it now!

Sustainable Transport Strategy | Let’s Talk Redbridge

At the bottom of the page there is a button that takes you to a map. 

You can add pins to the map and make a comment or suggestion.  Clearly this is more relevant to the here and now than 2041 but anyway ….  

We can see some people have already put up some good suggestions.  For example, we like the suggestion to put in protected cycle tracks on the inclines on Herman Hill to prevent motor vehicles close passing cyclists as they slowly pedal up.  It’s a modest proposal but it would make a difference.

We’d encourage you all to use the map.  If we all do, we think the map could provide a comprehensive picture of what Redbridge can do over the next few years to make cycling the obvious choice for local journeys. 

Some of you with long memories may remember that a few years ago Redbridge encouraged us cyclists to do something similar.  At various meetings we heard various excuses as to why the data hadn’t been compiled and then it wasn’t going to be compiled. To all intents and purposes, the data is now lost.

So, this time we have decided to create our own shadow map so we can be sure the data is not lost – so you can post with confidence.  

The survey

The survey comprises 24 questions. 7 questions are for the purpose of equalities monitoring, 6 ask for information about your travel habits and 7 ask for your opinion on aspects of the strategy.  All these questions are closed and require you to choose an option from a list.  We think they are very much focussed on the here and now rather than where we might want to be in 2041

There are 4 open questions – questions 7,11,16 and 17 – that give you the opportunity to say what you think about the strategy.   7, 11 and 16 are very poorly worded but you can get the gist of what’s being asked.

Email

If you want to make a bespoke response – maybe you have some very specific ideas and want to include photos – then you can send an email to sts@redbridge.gov.uk. 

Sustainable Transport Strategy

The London Borough of Redbridge has launched a consultation on its draft Sustainable Transport Strategy. The consultation runs until 5th January 2025.

We will be discussing the strategy at our next two meetings and will hear from Council Officers at the next meeting of the Redbridge Cycling Forum in November.

We have also sent the link to the people at LCC central to see what they think.

As our thinking crystallises we will put up updates to this post.

In the meantime keenies can find the consultation documents etc. at https://engage.redbridge.gov.uk/sustainable-transport-strategy

And if you have any thoughts let us know.

School Streets Need Cycle Streets

RCC has enthusiastically supported all the council’s previous school streets proposals, and we are supporting this next set of proposals too. For the first time Redbridge are proposing to create school streets at secondary schools. This is a logical development, but it does throw up a new problem.  

Here’s the link to the consultations.

Redbridge says that:

‘School Streets aim to reduce levels of air pollution around our schools, making the air children breathe cleaner. They protect children from traffic hazards at the school gate, preventing accidents and keeping children safe. Students are also encouraged to walk and cycle to school, improving health and fitness’.

When it comes to secondary schools it’s the last aim that’s the problem.

No doubt many of those dropped off by car could easily walk to school but secondary schools do have much larger catchment areas than primary schools so some pupils who, at the moment are dropped off, would face a long walk to school. This is unlikely at a primary school. Of course, pupils can swap their parents’ car for a bike but only if the School Street scheme is complemented by the Council creating safe cycle routes to the school from all corners of the catchment area. This is do-able.

I have looked one of the schemes at a secondary school that I familiar with and, from the outer reaches of the catchment area, cycling to school instead of going by car is not an option.  There just aren’t routes that parents will consider safe for their children to ride. So, to the extent that all secondary school schemes suffer the same problem, the shift to active travel will be limited. More likely what will happen is that the drop off points move. 

If you think School Streets are a good idea support the schemes – so your response goes in the ‘yes’ pile – but in your response say that, to fully achieve its aims the council must introduce cycle routes (cycle streets as they are called in Germany) and traffic reduction measures across the catchment area to make cycling to school a safe and realistic choice.

The closing date for these consultations is 21st October 2024. 

Removal of barriers at Claybury Park

We recently rode through Claybury on our Redbridge Parks Ride. The route has been immensely improved by the nibs being taken off the bike barriers. No more removing panniers, lifting children from their child seats and lifting heavy electric bikes over the railings. Tricycles, cargo bikes and tandems can now use this route across the park linking Roding Valley Way and Fairlop Waters. Thank you Vision and Redbridge. A great improvement.