Thread by @BoxbikeLondon

This is really poor journalism from @TheTimes. The article alleges that LTNs push traffic onto the roads where poorer people live.

A couple of anecdotal quotes linked to some estate agent data do not an argument make. THREAD/

thetimes.co.uk/article/low-tr…

1. Low traffic neighbourhoods simply do NOT result in any meaningful increase in traffic on main roads. That does not mean that there will not be some issues in the first few weeks, but they settle.

The jams on the specific road cited have been around for a decade.

2. The maths behind this article are just wrong. The vast majority of people include all disadvantaged groups (economically disadvantaged, BAME & the disabled) live on minor roads.

By definition there are MANY more roads in low traffic neighbourhoods than around them.

3. There are million pound homes on main roads and estates in LTNS. Most new LTNs in London contain large amounts of social housing and LTNs like Hoxton West in Hackney are almost entirely social housing. Critically LTNS provide safe routes for all, not matter where they live.

4. Most council estates in London banned through traffic many years ago. Boroughs like Hackney are now moving to reduce the motor traffic harm done by main roads through communities like Woodberry Down. This needs to be accelerated. /

5. Average property prices on main roads are often less than on minor roads but his article does not compare the size of the housing stock. Main road properties are often smaller, being above shops & offices. It's more frequently often commercially owned & more subdivided. /

6. Let’s be clear - Short car journeys benefit the wealthy disproportionally and the externalities fall on the poor, the very young & the disabled (who are 5 x more likely to be impacted by collisions)

To reduce car journeys & reduce the harm- we need LTNS! /

7. To reduce car use we have to reduce the utility of having a car in our cities. This is Jevon's paradox.

If we make it easier to make short car journeys, we increase demand. If we make it harder - we reduce demand./

8. For actual data rather than this poor attempt to process estate agent prices by @TheTimes, I recommend:

'The Impact on Low-traffic schemes on social equity' by Prof @RachelAldred & Esrilia Verlinghieri.

theguardian.com/environment/20…