And …breath.
The Active Streets Trial in Exeter has clearly stirred strong emotions in people.
Perhaps we should each step back for a moment and ask ourselves the bigger questions and
where we stand in relation to them? What are the challenges this scheme is attempting to
address and what is the future we are building for our children and grandchildren? What is it that has led to the filtering out of through traffic in this residential area in Exeter? Well, both the consultation responses and the city & county councils’ strategies point to the challenges we’re seeking to address: traffic domination, road danger, poor air quality and
climate change.
Do low traffic neighbourhoods help address these issues? Yes they do. This week it was reported that the government’s own LTN review of LTNs echoed what peer-reviewed reports repeatedly conclude: “LTNs are effective in achieving outcomes of reducing traffic volumes within their zones while adverse impacts on boundary roads appear to be limited”. It also noted that LTNs are popular with a majority of people. LTN’s can play an important role in addressing the
critical challenges we face as a nation of climate change, air pollution and road harm.
Are there any downsides? Yes, some. There will be some people who are mildly inconvenienced by having to drive further and the new traffic layouts may make the journeys of some care workers a little more convoluted. Do these these downsides mean schemes like this should be scrapped? Well, that’s a political decision that we elect our councillors to make. It’s my hope that they will see how most residents are supportive of these changes, that the number of people walking, wheeling and cycling has increased, that road danger has reduced (and, if this scheme is like the many others in the city) that crime is reduced. It’s clear to me where the balance of up and downsides lies.
I’ve been listening hard to those who are calling for this scheme in Exeter to be abandoned. What I’ve not heard is any credible alternative plan, based on evidence from academia or experience from other cities, which will address the important challenges we face.
Let us ask ourselves what our vision is for our city? Is it one where we continue to prioritise car driving, leading to increased congestion, poorer air quality, inactive lifestyles and degradation of the climate? Or is it a future where we have safer streets for our children, cleaner air to breath, healthier lifestyles and a lower carbon burden on the earth.
Are we prepared to look our children and grandchildren in the eye and defend the inheritance we are creating for them?
The Active Streets Trial in Exeter has clearly stirred strong emotions in people.
Perhaps we should each step back for a moment and ask ourselves the bigger questions and
where we stand in relation to them? What are the challenges this scheme is attempting to
address and what is the future we are building for our children and grandchildren? What is it that has led to the filtering out of through traffic in this residential area in Exeter? Well, both the consultation responses and the city & county councils’ strategies point to the challenges we’re seeking to address: traffic domination, road danger, poor air quality and
climate change.
Do low traffic neighbourhoods help address these issues? Yes they do. This week it was reported that the government’s own LTN review of LTNs echoed what peer-reviewed reports repeatedly conclude: “LTNs are effective in achieving outcomes of reducing traffic volumes within their zones while adverse impacts on boundary roads appear to be limited”. It also noted that LTNs are popular with a majority of people. LTN’s can play an important role in addressing the
critical challenges we face as a nation of climate change, air pollution and road harm.
Are there any downsides? Yes, some. There will be some people who are mildly inconvenienced by having to drive further and the new traffic layouts may make the journeys of some care workers a little more convoluted. Do these these downsides mean schemes like this should be scrapped? Well, that’s a political decision that we elect our councillors to make. It’s my hope that they will see how most residents are supportive of these changes, that the number of people walking, wheeling and cycling has increased, that road danger has reduced (and, if this scheme is like the many others in the city) that crime is reduced. It’s clear to me where the balance of up and downsides lies.
I’ve been listening hard to those who are calling for this scheme in Exeter to be abandoned. What I’ve not heard is any credible alternative plan, based on evidence from academia or experience from other cities, which will address the important challenges we face.
Let us ask ourselves what our vision is for our city? Is it one where we continue to prioritise car driving, leading to increased congestion, poorer air quality, inactive lifestyles and degradation of the climate? Or is it a future where we have safer streets for our children, cleaner air to breath, healthier lifestyles and a lower carbon burden on the earth.
Are we prepared to look our children and grandchildren in the eye and defend the inheritance we are creating for them?
pr-3.6.24-And-…breath-thinking-about-the-Exeter-LTN.pdf