Caroline Russell AM has been pushing the Mayor of London to learn the lessons of the Olympics and use smart methods to help people reduce their car travel.
Her work, including asking questions of the Mayor in a London Assembly meeting, and helping to bring a group of experts into City Hall to meet the Deputy Mayor for Transport, has won a signed commitment from Sadiq Khan to reduce traffic across London.
These are vital steps to take. Reducing air pollution can’t only rely on cleaner vehicles, and boosting active ways of getting around such as walking and cycling helps to promote better health in many other ways too. Helping employers to encourage people to travel at times outside the morning and evening peaks, and to work at home more often, also helps cut congestion on the roads and overcrowding on public transport.
These kinds of smart measures were used during the 2012 Olympic Games in London to great effect:
- 20 per cent more cyclists on major roads and 8-9 per cent more pedestrians crossing the Thames
- Around 57 per cent of freight operators made adaptations with most reducing their transport activity and re-timing deliveries
- Nearly two thirds of London travellers altered their usual behaviour during the Olympics by choosing not to make at least one journey they would usually make.
- Thames Clippers carried 44 per cent more passengers during the Olympics compared to the same period in 2011
Following up on initial meetings with experts, the Mayor has written to Caroline thanking her and pledging to work further on reducing traffic in London – a significant step that will make a big difference if it’s followed up with effective, smart policies.
Caroline says:
“Smart travel measures allowed London to successfully host the London Olympics. This helped to take vehicles off the roads and reduced pollution levels. It also inspired Londoners towards more active forms of travel such as walking and cycling. Many worked from home or commuted outside of peak periods.” “Londoners want to breathe clean air, know how to change the way they travel and can do it now. The Mayor of London needs to apply the lessons from the Olympics.”