BackTaking the London Assembly for a walk
Living Streets met with London Assembly Member and Deputy Chair of the Transport Committee Caroline Pidgeon to discuss initiatives that will make London easier and safer to walk in, in view of the London Mayor Boris Johnson’s proposed ‘Year of Walking’ for 2011.
The meeting was organised to help identify initiatives that will potentially deliver a sustained increase in the number of journeys made by Londoners on foot, with findings set to be included in a report this autumn. This report will include recommendations to the Mayor and Transport for London (Tfl) on key issues to prioritise next year and any other action which will lead to a more sustained footfall in London.
To illustrate the nature of Living Streets’ work, Caroline and her team were taken on a demonstration Community Street Audit in Peckham. Living Streets has audited walking routes in major cities, busy town centres and residential areas, with resulting reports securing funded short term improvements and also contributions to longer term projects.
The demonstration Community Street Audit in Peckham offered the chance to see the quality of the area from pedestrian’s point of view and showcase how street audits can help identify issues that particularly affect walkers.
The Mayors’ Transport Strategy aims for a vision where journeys on foot increase to 25% by 2031, an extra million journeys a day. To help meet this target, the Mayor and TfL have allocated over £200 million over the next three years to ‘Better Streets’. Living Streets will continue to work with TfL on relevant issues.
Caroline Pidgeon is the is Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on the London Assembly and Vice Chair of the London Assembly's Transport Committee. As a member of the London Assembly she has a strong track record of campaigning on issues such as improved public transport.
Published on: 25/08/2010
