Reasons to Step Up: Members' Week 2026

To celebrate our first Members' Week our Engagement Coordinator, Rosie Wright, talks to Living Streets members about what their membership means to them.

One of the many perks of my role at Living Streets is getting to work alongside our members. Movements are powered by people and it’s a joy to collaborate with Living Streets members; people from all walks of life with a shared passion to make our streets safer and more accessible for all.

For movements to grow, people need to be empowered to act and inspired to take part. This shapes the work that Jeremy Leach does coordinating London Living Streets Group.

The Group supports people and communities across London to take action and make their voices heard. The Group ensures that people are represented in important consultations with local decision makers. Most recently, Jeremy has been working on ensuring representation in the development of the Vision Zero Action Plan 2.

"When I first started to campaign for slower speeds on my street I had no idea that there was an organisation that was dedicated to helping people who wanted where they lived to be more welcoming, attractive and safer. Being part of Living Streets has been hugely helpful in making the case for a greater focus on the needs of people on foot across London."

"By bringing people together in local groups and backing them with support and research, Living Streets has been indispensable in putting walking and wheeling at the heart of transport policy."

Tony Pattison, who coordinates the Sutton Living Streets Group, has been a Living Streets member for 50 years. He brings a wealth of knowledge and a rich campaigning history.

Through coordinating the Group he has built connections across his area and built a community of dedicated local campaigners.

Reflecting on his work with the group, Tony said “Sutton Living Streets Group has produced walking maps for Sutton showing all the footpaths and nice places to walk to. We also look at traffic proposals to make sure that pedestrians are properly catered for.”

And of course I had to ask Tony, what has been his motivation to be a member for all these years?

“Being a member of Living Streets is very important - pedestrians need protecting and Living Streets does this so well. I've been a member since 1976!”

Alicia Coumbe is a Living Streets member because she knows how important it is to have a shared purpose. When I spoke to Alicia she said she shares Living Streets' commitment to campaigning, including our ongoing campaign to see a total end to pavement parking.

This is why Alicia is taking action to tackle pavement parking in her area, and is supporting our nationwide campaigns.

Alicia shared that “Living Streets has the same vision as me. I've written to my MP recently about pavement parking and I have a friend who uses an electric wheelchair but can't use it locally because of the bad pavements. I know that Livings Streets are fighting for better and safer access on our streets.”