Transport for London’s annual Travel Report shows that the proportion of journeys made by private motorized transport has fallen from 44% to 38%, as a growing number of people go by tube, bus and bike. Car ownership in London has risen more slowly than the growing population, with 40% of households still not owning a car.
Jenny Jones, Green Party Member of the London Assembly said:
"The publication of this report is a timely reminder of how successful the previous administration’s policies on traffic reduction have been. Traffic across the whole of London has fallen by 2% since 2000, whilst going up by 10% in the rest of the country. Less traffic means less pollution and congestion."
"The current Mayor could put London’s success into reverse if his draft Transport Strategy pursues car friendly policies at the expense of pedestrians, bus users and vulnerable Londoners. The cancellation of the £25 charge for gas guzzlers and proposed abolition of the western extension will make driving cheaper, whist above inflation fare increases are making public transport more expensive. His approach to rephrasing traffic lights may put some vulnerable Londoners at risk by cutting down the time people have to cross the roads. The decision not to apply strict pollution standards to 90,000 light goods vehicles could affect people with respiratory conditions. I’m worried that the Mayor’s proposals will damage London’s world class success as the only major city which has reduced the amount of traffic on its roads."
Notes to editors
1) TfL’s Travel Report is available on http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/publications/1482.aspx
2) Mode shares summary is on page 2. Car ownership is page 141.