London has been labelled as the most congested city in Europe- and 5th in the whole world.
A recent study published by transport analytics company INRIX ranked congestion in nearly 950 cities across 37 countries,
Since the introduction of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) in the capital, London has topped the list for four consecutive years.
LTNs are areas with traffic filters, such as bollards, planters or cameras, which stop vehicles from using certain streets as a cut-through, with residents still able to access the roads.
‘I don’t see how they help the congestion problem’
These government-funded schemes have stirred controversy and split opinion within communities.
Some of the main reasons include Londoners feeling inconvenienced by not being able to use their cars, or viewing the schemes as ineffective because they displace traffic onto nearby roads.
One Dalston resident told City News that LTNs are “a nightmare in Hackney”. They added, “I don’t see how they help the congestion problem”.
Another resident branded the schemes as “a money maker for a cash-strapped councils”.
One Canonbury resident stated that “LTNs have created significant traffic congestion, making bus journeys unreliable and unpredictable”.
LTNs split opinions amongst communities, and provide and endless source of debate
‘Huge reduction’ in traffic in Hackney
Hackney is at the forefront of LTN implementation in London, with the council aiming for 75% of the borough being covered by low traffic schemes by 2025.
The council’s next three LTNs in Hoxton East, Chatsworth Road and Dalston will be introduced by the end of the year.
Chair of the De Beauvoir Association, Kate McFarlane, said they “applaud Hackney and Islington for creating LTNs”, but they have “pushed traffic onto other roads that have suffered”, while residents “benefit (from) quieter streets”.
She suggests, however, that London’s congestion issues are not due to local traffic, as they’ve had “a huge reduction” thanks to LTNs.
What’s behind the anger towards LTNs?
To get more clarity on the effectiveness of LTNs and why they cause controversy, City News spoke with Daniel Reast from the think tank Centre for London.
“In our research, we found that LTNs are actually very positive and have a very positive impact on the city as an economy, but also its connections through different neighbourhoods.”
He added that, “The issue which people find – when they are divisive – is largely because they’re not properly implemented, or they’re badly designed.
“It’s unfortunate that a lot of the anger around LTNs is driven by people who aren’t actually in the LTN area.
“We found in our 2022 report that residents are much more likely to favour a low traffic neighbourhood once they’ve actually lived in it.”
47% of Londoners were in support of LTNs, with 16% opposing them. 37% said they didn’t have a strong opinion or didn’t know about them.
However, many Londoners are not convinced that low-traffic neighbourhoods reduce overall traffic. 42% think they displace cars elsewhere, although 32% think they reduce the overall number of cars on the road; 25% don’t know.
LTNs ‘lead to large cuts in traffic’
Daniel detailed LTNs impacts on traffic congestion:
“There’s data led evidence showing that for car traffic in low traffic neighbourhoods, the reduction in car traffic is quite substantial. It can range from as much as 76% to around 25% reduction in car traffic.
“But on boundary roads and specifically out of London as well, it’s a bit more mixed- sort of between 10 to 20% in decreasing car traffic.”
But why there is increased congestion?
Daniel also explained some of the factors behind the increased congestion in London:
“More generally, LTNs aren’t a reason for it. The main driver of this congestion is the fact that public transport and active transport is still very much an issue, particularly in outer London where people use cars much more and rely on cars to get to work in inner London and central London.”
Further evidence from Centre for London’s study suggests LTNs can reduce car use and ownership.
By making it easier and safer to be active – and by creating places where people can meet, play or exercise – low-traffic neighbourhoods promote walking and cycling.
Encouraging more people to walk and cycle was a chief aim of the government’s introduction of low-traffic neighbourhoods in 2020:
“Far more people will be cycling and walking thanks to plans to boost greener, active transport […] More side streets could be closed to through traffic, to create low-traffic neighbourhoods and reduce rat-running while maintaining access for vehicles.”
Daniel ends on a positive note, reinforcing the benefits LTNs provide in strengthening London’s community as a whole: “They improve community in a lot of respects because they are opening up the public realm more- a reduction in car traffic is going to allow people to use the road more for walking and cycling, but also public events.”
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HeadlineLondon named ‘most congested city in Europe’ for fourth year running
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StandfirstLow Traffic Neighbourhoods are being blamed - but are LTNs really the reasons for the congestion?
London has been labelled as the most congested city in Europe- and 5th in the whole world.
A recent study published by transport analytics company INRIX ranked congestion in nearly 950 cities across 37 countries,
Since the introduction of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) in the capital, London has topped the list for four consecutive years.
LTNs are areas with traffic filters, such as bollards, planters or cameras, which stop vehicles from using certain streets as a cut-through, with residents still able to access the roads.
‘I don’t see how they help the congestion problem’
These government-funded schemes have stirred controversy and split opinion within communities.
Some of the main reasons include Londoners feeling inconvenienced by not being able to use their cars, or viewing the schemes as ineffective because they displace traffic onto nearby roads.
One Dalston resident told City News that LTNs are “a nightmare in Hackney”. They added, “I don’t see how they help the congestion problem”.
Another resident branded the schemes as “a money maker for a cash-strapped councils”.
One Canonbury resident stated that “LTNs have created significant traffic congestion, making bus journeys unreliable and unpredictable”.
LTNs split opinions amongst communities, and provide and endless source of debate
‘Huge reduction’ in traffic in Hackney
Hackney is at the forefront of LTN implementation in London, with the council aiming for 75% of the borough being covered by low traffic schemes by 2025.
The council’s next three LTNs in Hoxton East, Chatsworth Road and Dalston will be introduced by the end of the year.
Chair of the De Beauvoir Association, Kate McFarlane, said they “applaud Hackney and Islington for creating LTNs”, but they have “pushed traffic onto other roads that have suffered”, while residents “benefit (from) quieter streets”.
She suggests, however, that London’s congestion issues are not due to local traffic, as they’ve had “a huge reduction” thanks to LTNs.
What’s behind the anger towards LTNs?
To get more clarity on the effectiveness of LTNs and why they cause controversy, City News spoke with Daniel Reast from the think tank Centre for London.
“In our research, we found that LTNs are actually very positive and have a very positive impact on the city as an economy, but also its connections through different neighbourhoods.”
He added that, “The issue which people find – when they are divisive – is largely because they’re not properly implemented, or they’re badly designed.
“It’s unfortunate that a lot of the anger around LTNs is driven by people who aren’t actually in the LTN area.
“We found in our 2022 report that residents are much more likely to favour a low traffic neighbourhood once they’ve actually lived in it.”
47% of Londoners were in support of LTNs, with 16% opposing them. 37% said they didn’t have a strong opinion or didn’t know about them.
However, many Londoners are not convinced that low-traffic neighbourhoods reduce overall traffic. 42% think they displace cars elsewhere, although 32% think they reduce the overall number of cars on the road; 25% don’t know.
LTNs ‘lead to large cuts in traffic’
Daniel detailed LTNs impacts on traffic congestion:
“There’s data led evidence showing that for car traffic in low traffic neighbourhoods, the reduction in car traffic is quite substantial. It can range from as much as 76% to around 25% reduction in car traffic.
“But on boundary roads and specifically out of London as well, it’s a bit more mixed- sort of between 10 to 20% in decreasing car traffic.”
But why there is increased congestion?
Daniel also explained some of the factors behind the increased congestion in London:
“More generally, LTNs aren’t a reason for it. The main driver of this congestion is the fact that public transport and active transport is still very much an issue, particularly in outer London where people use cars much more and rely on cars to get to work in inner London and central London.”
Further evidence from Centre for London’s study suggests LTNs can reduce car use and ownership.
By making it easier and safer to be active – and by creating places where people can meet, play or exercise – low-traffic neighbourhoods promote walking and cycling.
Encouraging more people to walk and cycle was a chief aim of the government’s introduction of low-traffic neighbourhoods in 2020:
“Far more people will be cycling and walking thanks to plans to boost greener, active transport […] More side streets could be closed to through traffic, to create low-traffic neighbourhoods and reduce rat-running while maintaining access for vehicles.”
Daniel ends on a positive note, reinforcing the benefits LTNs provide in strengthening London’s community as a whole: “They improve community in a lot of respects because they are opening up the public realm more- a reduction in car traffic is going to allow people to use the road more for walking and cycling, but also public events.”
