The transition to safer roads and reduced air pollution through LTNs and other measures takes time and can be painful, there is no doubt.
However we’ve seen the traffic jams evaporate during the school holidays, so one thing we can all do is support our local schools and local parents to find ways to get to school that don’t rely so much on cars. I know our family has been part of many school runs for years, we didn’t see any good alternatives - until the LTNs, when our daughter could actually cycle safely to school! Maybe schools could also give students and staff a little leeway if they are late until things settle down?
Something that is clearly desperately needed is improved bus times! TFL and local councils need to prioritise this immediately- bus lanes wherever possible and bus gates or priority at traffic lights etc.
After the horrendous rain and flooding we’ve been experiencing, it is clear that we need many *more*
rain gardens (SUDS) to help absorb rain before it overflows our drains and floods our neighborhood.
No doubt the layout of LTN schemes can be improved, so it might be more productive to send the council some constructive suggestions where you see problems.
Research shows that reducing car traffic with schemes like LTNs actually reduces crime, as neighbourhoods become more walkable and more people are out and about. Many of our roads are in fact more neighbourly and folks know each other better after the pandemic years and the growth of our neighbourhood WhatsApp and community support groups, so you could try to build on that. Our own road (not in an LTN) WhatsApp group has organised parents to walk along school routes after some school children were mugged, and we’ve made a list of “safe” doors our children can knock on day or night if they feel threatened; we’ve also become more involved with local police community meetings etc. Increasing awareness among your neighbours can make a big difference!
https://road.cc/content/news/police-bac ... ime-299245
The reduction in air pollution from the ULEZ expansion has already made a difference for those of us with asthma, I know I used to cough every night after going down any main road and that has significantly improved.
We all know that we can’t just keep cramming more cars onto our roads indefinitely, there just isn’t room and we are poisoning our air and also increasing the frequency and severity of these big storms and flooding. We have to make some big changes - the LTNs aren’t perfect, but they are one step. Let’s work together as a community to take more steps together.