Mayor presents bold strategy for the future of London's transport
Posted on in Cycles News , Political News
The proposals will help to deliver Sadiq's ambition for 80 per cent of trips in London to be made on foot, by cycle or using public transport by 2041. It includes record investment in new and improved rail, tube and bus services, an unprecedented focus on walking and cycling, and a commitment to make the entire transport system zero-emission by 2050.
Across the next two decades, the Mayor's Transport Strategy includes delivering the Healthy Streets Approach across all London boroughs. This investment will help remove the need to travel by car, and make walking, cycling and taking public transport safer and easier, helping to promote healthier active lifestyles. This includes major transformation schemes at Oxford Street and Old Street in Central London, as well as hundreds of walking and cycling schemes across inner and outer London to help more journeys become active, efficient and sustainable.
The Mayor is also promising to dramatically improve air quality across London and make London a zero-emission city. This will be achieved by creating zero emission areas in town centres from 2020 and in central London from 2025, larger zero emission zones in inner London by 2040 and London-wide by 2050. TfL will lead by example, with the aim that all taxis and PHVs will be zero emission capable by 2033 and buses will be zero emission by 2037.
In addition, the Mayor has set out major transport plans for schemes including the Elizabeth line, Northern Line extension, Crossrail 2, Bakerloo line extension and the Rotherhithe and Canary Wharf crossing. There is also a focus on improving accessibility across the city to enable all Londoners, including disabled and older people, to travel spontaneously and independently.
During last year's statutory consultation on the draft Mayor's Transport Strategy, more than 6,500 responses were received from members of the public and stakeholders from across the UK, showing strong support for the aspirations and vision set out.
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, said:
"I'm delighted that thousands of Londoners have got involved and given us their feedback on the future of transport in London over the coming decades.
"I've been clear that we need to be bold in how our city operates as London's population grows, and this means not only investing record amounts in new infrastructure like extensions to the tube, rail and Crossrail 2, but working with boroughs and local communities to reduce our reliance on car use across London.
"With our unprecedented focus on walking, cycling and clean public transport, our ambitious Transport Strategy can act as a crucial driver for new homes and jobs, but also improve quality of life for everyone living in London."
Fran Graham, Campaign Coordinator, London Cycling Campaign (LCC), said:
"London Cycling Campaign welcomes that walking and cycling are at the heart of the Mayor's Transport Strategy. It's vital for the future functioning of a dense, complex and growing city like London that active travel and greener public transport are prioritised over motor traffic.
"London Cycling Campaign looks forward to continuing to work with the Mayor, TfL and the boroughs on exciting schemes that are already on the table such as Cycle Superhighways 4, 9 and 11. These routes will help the Mayor fulfil his commitment to triple protected space for cycling on main roads during this mayoralty, and get implementation of the Mayoral Transport Strategy off to a good start."