Thread by @Terry_Patt

Why committed air quality campaigners and cycle activists have #moreincommon around LTNs than maybe they realise... and why they should work together. Thread /1

I first became aware of our Liveable Neighbourhood plans in TH a couple of years ago. Saw the consultation- a chunk of Bethnal Green surrounded by main rds. /2

Then saw the stats placed on the same map. All the deaths snd serious injuries. (Note: none attributable to air quality as yet...)
It was a ring of horror on all the main rds surrounding this area /3

The consultants were frank- we can’t do anything on the main rds- that’s TfL. We can only work on council rds. Aha. First problem. /4

Then as I listened and people put forward their opposition it was clear the consultants were pussyfooting around the purpose of LTNs. Car reduction. /4

In fact the Holy Grail of a successful LTN is that over time - we are talking years - less people buy cars. This is a huge behaviour change. But car reduction was never mentioned by the consultants. They enabled all the whataboutery that has dogged this discussion ever since /5

So- an artificial split between main roads and residential. A refusal to acknowledge the core purpose of a LTN - less people using and buying cars. Setting the scene for the current nonsense /6

Campaigners in @London_Cycling want to improve both residential and main rds- and the LCC record goes back over 40 years based clearly on traffic reduction. We’ve changed many main rds- but not enough. /7

We proudly say we want it all! Main roads, side roads, in fact nothing less than a proper London network that is safe and attractive for all to walk and cycle /8

The argument has become bitter. I’ve had personal attacks as have others but I hope genuine air quality campaigners will join with @London_Cycling in pushing for real modal shift- let’s enable people to use cars much less and choose healthier options. For all our sakes. /ends