1) Bragged about analysis that would fail GCSE maths 2) Ignored the fact that 90%of economic disadvantaged live on minor roads 3) Been offensively sloppy about the welfare of a colleague
All to fight for his right to drive in Hackney. 2/3
His sloppiness has consequences.
LBC radio opened their LTN 📞-in quoting this nonsense:
'LTN residents benefit from 70% property price increases according to the Times'
Some observations from Highbury’s people friendly streets..... /Thread with photos....
Mobility scooters are using the road as predicted. Less motor traffic means both wheelchairs & mobility scooters are more likely to use the road over the pavement.
Pedestrians are now more likely to be walking in the road and feeling less threatened by cars. This is a good thing.
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.
x: LTNs or road pricing?
me: We need both.
x But isn’t road pricing fairer?
me: Quite the opposite. Road pricing is effective but not really progressive. If you have money you continue to drive.
x: How are LTNs different?
THREAD 1/9
me: An LTN works as a time-tax on 🚘 trips. It specifically impacts short 🚘 journeys making them proportionally longer.
x: So if you are doing a long trip, the time added is negligible but if you are doing a short trip, it’s more significant
Me: Bingo
X: Is that fairer? 2/9
Me: Generally. For a start - you can’t buy your way out of it by spending money
X: Okay. If ‘Time is money’ could you argue it’s progressive?
Me: That’s a stretch. It’s progressive because the wealthy own more cars & drive more AND because they can’t simply buy an exemption. 3/9
The scale of changes in travel when lockdown eases will be much greater than anyone is discussing.
The modelled drop in public transport usage is enoumous. Secondary-school pupils going to school will likely overwhelm any space on socially-distanced buses. THREAD 1/
Some councils are starting to put emergency plans together. However pavement widening in a few locations will not be enough. Emergency bike lanes around hospitals is better than nothing, but again is not enough to match the scale of challenge. 2/
We are going to have to ask everyone to walk, cycle, scoot & roll short journeys where possible. More than encouragement, this needs enabling. It means creating emergency Healthy Travel Zones (Low traffic neighbourhoods) across the UK. We have three weeks to get started 3/