KEY MESSAGES

Many trips are short enough to walk or cycle

Local shops mean local community

Health of people who walk or cycle like health of 10 years younger

Walking and cycling trips don’t pollute the air

Walking and cycling needs little road space

Haringey Council’s proposed activities are in the ‘pink stripes’ below.

Why would people chose to walk and cycle?

There are good reasons why. It is the only way to get around for the 75% of residents who don’t have their own car to use and may not even have access to public transport for necessary trips (Despite paying taxes for roads and putting up with air pollution from the traffic). There were 63,827 cars registered out of the Haringey population of 254,900. And the areas without good public transport can be seen from here at the ‘Haringey and low carbon buses‘ section.

For all residents the benefits and opportunities of walking and cycling for leisure cannot be understated either. Herewith benefits and obstacles:

+ Good for the Planet
+ Good for Health
+ Advantages over public transport
+ Cheaper per journey

These are explored below with ideas on how to promote walking and cycling and overcome the obstacles.

– Ill health or disability
– Never ridden a bike
– Considered to be dangerous on today’s roads
– Bikes too expensive, nowhere to keep one and could be stolen
– Too much to carry inc small children
– Need to arrive looking smart
– Need to get somewhere quickly

The cabinet member in Haringey responsible for strategic transport, Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, School Streets is Cllr Mike Hakata at mike.hakata@haringey.gov.uk

For parking, parking transformation, street scene improvement and the public realm the cabinet member is Cllr Seema Chandwani at seema.chandwani@haringey.gov.uk

Haringey's actions in the Climate Change Action Plan - click each

T1 - Mode shift to Public and Active choices

T2 - Improve Active and Accessible Transport

T3 - Disincentivise Private car use and reduce Business Vehicle trips

There are good reasons for walking and cycling

+ Good for the Planet

The Committee on Climate Change advises the Government on reducing greenhouse gas emissions (measured in CO₂ equivalent) It’s Surface Transport Sector Summary assumes that “5-7% of car journeys could be shifted to walking and cycling (including e-bikes) by 2030, rising to 9-14% by 2050.” As a consequence “Relative to the baseline, our scenarios assume that there is potential for a 1-4% reduction in total car mileage by 2030, and between 4% and 12% by 2050.”

This reduction in car mileage would deliver resultant reductions in CO₂emissions, but what would bring that about?

Are there any carbon emisions from Walking or Cycling? click

A pedestrian or cyclist uses extra calories for every trip. The carbon emissions to get these calories into them depends on how the food they eat for these calories was produced and where it came from.

An American study noted that, on a typical US diet, with meat production methods and transport the extra calories would be even more than using a car for a 1.5 mile trip! However, in contrast it reveals that the same trip with a local vegan diet is negligible. The Pacific Institute in April 2008 in Driving vs. Walking: Cows, Climate Change

A similar UK study also provides figures for cycling (adjusted to be per 1.5 mile) based on UK food production and distribution Mike Berners-Lee How Bad Are Bananas? The Carbon Footprint of Everything (p23):

• Banana diet – 97 g/CO₂eq
• Cereal diet 135 g/CO₂eq
• Bacon diet 300/CO₂eq
• Air freighted asparagus – an astonishing 4,200 g/CO₂eq

(The figures paint a shocking comparison of the carbon implications of foods regardless of the activity enabled by the food!!!)

+ Good for Health

The Haringey Cycle Action Plan says that “research suggests that regular cycling can produce a number of impressive health gains, including protection against coronary heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, colon cancer, stress, high blood pressure and obesity. On average, people who cycle 20 miles or more a week experience the health of people ten years younger. New cyclists covering short distances can reduce their risk of death (mainly due to the reduction of heart disease) by up to 22 per cent.” And also a “tenfold increase in cycling would result in a reduction of individual pollutants of several million tonnes each year.“

From the Healthy Streets for London Feb 2017.

And the accompanying text below at ‘Getting Around in Haringey’ shows how many trips are well within walking and cycling distance.

+ Advantages over public transport

Haringey’s cycle action plan “says that:

“an average four-mile journey in Central London can take 40 minutes in a car, 30 minutes on the Tube, an hour on the bus and just 22 minutes on a bicycle.”
cyclists are more likely to arrive at work on time, and are more productive and less prone to stress than their counterparts“
“reductions in noise pollution and community severance from heavy flows of traffic and greater independence for children through, for example, safer routes to school and home zones.“

Once a bike has been purchased each trip is cost free compared with public transport or fuelling a vehicle.

The character map of Haringey opposite comes from the State of the Borough July 2020 (p44)

How far are typical trips in Haringey?

• 33% of trips are under 1 mile
• 85% under 5 miles (Haringey Cycle Action Plan)
• average ride by pedal bike 4m (CCC p10)
• average ride by E-bike 9m

Very many trips could be by bike or by foot.

Overcoming obstacles - boosting walking and cycling

What we need

Getting down to basics, we’ll only move away from cars if we have:

• ROADS GOOD FOR BIKES AND PEDESTRIANS
• HELP TO GET BIKES
• HELP TO LEARN TO RIDE

What will achieve this?

At the UK Government level the Department for Transport (DfT) has the UK wide responsibility for road strategy. They say that they “support the transport network…. We plan and invest in transport infrastructure to keep the UK on the move.”

DfT’s cycling and walking plan for England – Gear Change. A Bold Vision for Cycling and Walking July 2020 set out a vision for measures to encourage uptake of active travel, whereby “The ability to deliver a right to cycle requires infrastructure and routes which are accessible to all regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or disability and does not create hazards for vulnerable pedestrians. Improvements to highways should always seek to enhance accessibility for all.” It set out a future in which 50% of all journeys in towns and cities are cycled or walked, up from 29% today.

To deliver this in London one initiative is Walking and Cycling Grants London a GLA programme which supports London’s diverse communities to walk and cycle more often and more safely. It offers grants to projects of up to £10,000 over a three-year period to community groups and organisations, to create projects and programmes that allow all communities across London to enjoy the benefits of walking and cycling.

Locally there are a plethora of schemes and many terms for all the initiatives going on in London – some popular and some controversial. For instance there are

1. Healthy Streets
2. Streetspace for London
           (i)Pavement Widening
           (ii)Temporary Cycleways
           (iii)Low Traffic Neighbourhoods
           (iv) School Streets
3.Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTN)
4.Liveable Neighbourhoods

When roads feel safe

It was notable that road use during lockdown and following the easing of restrictions was significantly different to usual. “Cycling also increased significantly following the imposition of lockdown restrictions, with summer weekends seeing over three-times as many cyclists as pre-pandemic levels. Since the easing of lockdown restrictions, cycling levels have remained high. However, from late September onwards, although still mostly above pre-pandemic levels, the number of cyclists started to decrease.” (Committee on Climate Change)

These road schemes described below, should help to boost walking and cycling but, as well these Haringey residents also need:

5.Advice and subsidies for getting and storing bikes
6.Cycling lessons accessible for all

1. Healthy Streets

Healthy streets is the vision for London – explained by TfL to improve air quality, reduce congestion and help make London’s diverse communities greener, healthier and more attractive places to live, work, play and do business. The Healthy Streets indicators are shown in the Designing Better Streets panel below. The Mini Holland scheme in Waltham Forest and the Liveable Neighbourhoods trail in Crouch End are explored below.

Mini Hollands. The GLA explains the Mini-Hollands programme “is part of the Mayor’s Healthy Streets approach. Substantial investment – around £100 million – is helping three outer London boroughs transform into cycling hubs, equipped with high specification Dutch-style infrastructure. Changes include redesigned junctions that are safer for cyclists and pedestrians, segregated cycle lanes on busy roads and reductions in the amount of traffic using residential streets.” For details of the three Mini Hollands see:

2.Streetspace for London

Streetspace for London Transport for London manages some road directly eg Red Routes. TfL allocates funds to boroughs for roads controlled by them according to the following London Streetspace Plan categories:
(i) Pavement Widening– to enable social distancing in town centres, on approaches to stations, outside schools etc.
(ii)Temporary Cycleways– to improve the cycle network
(iii)Low Traffic Neighbourhoods – to protect neighbourhoods from rat running, traffic, air pollution and road danger.
(iv) School Streets– to enable social distancing, tackling air pollution and providing safer walking and cycling routes to schools.. In December 2020.

All the Haringey successful and unsuccessful bids for these measures are listed here.

(i) Pavement widening and walking trails and maps
Walking routes
- Haringey Council publishes a selection of walks around the Borough, including the Moselle (often culverted) river, from Alexandra Palace. and the Walkit app to plan routes on less polluted roads. It also links to local walking groups and to the Smarter Travel Walking Guide below.
- The Highgate Society publishes a series of walks to the west of Haringey and across Hampstead Heath.
- The Ramblers publish a pan London map of proposed Greenways that would link up green spaces
Haringey Smarter Travel Walking Guide.

Widening pavements – Transport for London (TfL) manages ‘red routes’ directly, shown in the map here. For the red routes, TfL is working with Sustran who produced this map of Street Space measures across London.

(ii) Temporary Cycleways and maps

In June 2020 the DfT announced a£250m emergency fund to encourage active travel as part of opening up the economy when Covid subsides. It is part of a £2bn package to provide pop-up bike lanes with protected space for cycling, wider pavements, safer junctions, and cycle and bus-only corridors. TfL published Interim Guidance for delivery using temporary and experimental schemes in March 2021.

Cycleways – TfL manages London’s cycleways (previously called cycle super highways and quietways) and has a comprehensive set of maps – eg:

Main library of maps.

Cycleways and planned cycleways

Leisure Routes

(iii) Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and mythbusting

TfL guidance on Low Traffic Neighbourhoods says that “Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) form a key part of the Streetspace for London programme. LTNs offer a cost-effective way of delivering safe and attractive streets for walking and cycling by preventing through traffic from using residential neighbourhoods to avoid main roads(often known as ‘rat running’), while retaining local access for residents and visitors. A successful LTN makes walking and cycling more convenient than the car for short trips, while maintaining essential access. It will also enhance the quality of place and reduce local air and noise pollution and road danger.

SUPPLEMENTARY GUIDANCE ON LOW TRAFFIC NEIGHBOURHOODS says that “

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) form a key part of the Streetspace for London programme. LTNs This can be achieved by various approaches to design to limit the movement of motor vehicles on certain streets and improving conditions for walking and cycling.

Haringey’s Low Traffic Neighbourhoods – Haringey was awarded funding to begin engaging with the community and developing designs for three LTNs in the borough, introducing these features.

The maps of these three LTNs are:
• Bounds Green LTN Proposed map
• Bruce Grove LTN Proposed map
• St Ann’s LTN Proposed map

LTN Mythbusters

The Guardian listed 8 common objections and why they are wrong in Nov 2020.

1.     They disproportionately benefit privileged people
2.    Roads are closed/blocked
3.    They are undemocratic
4.    They disadvantage disabled people
5.    They slow down emergency services
6.    They increase air pollution on other roads
7.     They are bad for local businesses
8.    Only well-off white men cycle

(iv) School Streets

Haringey’s School Streets – Haringey Cyclists said in March 2021 that “A School Street is a timed street closure during drop-off and pick-up times outside a school. Usually these last for 1-1.5 hours at the start and end of the school day, tailored to each school’s start and finish times. The School Streets will operate Monday-Friday during term times.

Only people walking and cycling, and those with vehicle exemption permits are eligible to enter the zone. Anyone else driving into the zone during the stated times will receive a fine. You do not need to have an exemption permit to exit from the School Street.”

The Liberal Democrats announced in March 2019 their campaign for more School Streets in Haringey March 2019 “Transport is the third largest source of emissions in the borough, and private transport is associated with poor air quality, noise, social isolation, and health issues within the borough. Furthermore, congestion issues are not solved by making every car electric.”

In March 2021 Haringey listed the two School Streets at that time (Chestnuts and Lordship Lane Primary) and the ten awaiting implementation by Sept 2021.

3. Livable Neighbourhoods

Liveable Neighbourhoods in Crouch End Transport for London awarded Haringey Council £4.8 million for a Liveable Neighbourhoods scheme in Crouch End. “The scheme aims to encourage walking, cycling and the use of public transport for residents, business and visitors, as well as improving health and air quality and reducing car trips.” In October 2019 a two-week trial was undertaken, but in May 2020 work was stopped due to funding constraints as a result of COVD-19, with full details on the Haringey web page. Briefly the funding for Liveable Neighbourhoods Crouch End was to support:

• Improved walking and cycling in Crouch End town centre by improving pedestrian and cycling conditions
• Tackling congestion and improving air quality and residents’ well-being

The proposals still to be consulted on include:

• Creating a new square and public space around the clock tower, currently surrounded by traffic on all sides
• Segregated cycle routes to feed the town centre
• Upgraded more frequent pedestrian crossings along the Broadway
• Reduced traffic on residential streets by restricting general traffic

TfL’s funding for Your Borough says that this scheme can now continue.

4.Advice and subsidies for getting & storing bikes

Affording a Bike

Sustran explains the Cycle to Work scheme “The Cycle to Work scheme is designed to help you save money on a new work bike and spread the cost of the bike over monthly tax-free instalments through your employer.” The DfT ‘Gear Change and Bold Vision for Cycling and Walking’ p37 “We will establish a national e-bike support programme, which could include loans, subsidies, or other financial incentives, using the learning from other schemes in the UK and abroad for e-bikes, adapted e-bikes and other e-vehicles.”

The DfT announced a £2bn package to create new era for cycling and walking in May 2020. Some items include:

Trials of rental e-scooters to be brought forward
Vouchers will be issued for cycle repairs, to encourage people to get their old bikes out of the shed, and plans are being developed for greater provision of bike fixing facilities.
We are amending secondary legislation to allow trials of rental e-scooters to begin across the UK.

Trying a Bike

Haringey is one of the Councils supporting the Peddle My Wheels scheme where you can book two 2-hour sessions for a range of bikes, including electric, adaptive and cargo bikes. You can try a brand new or nearly new bike for a small monthly fee, (which includes lights, lock, helmet) and is fully refundable if you buy the bike. It also includes free maintenance call out.

If hills or distance for usual journeys are a problem Peddle my Wheels also has ebikes to try out.

Support for Disadvantaged and Disabled riders - click for more
For disadvantaged riders – The Haringey Cycle Action Plan says that“Londoners with lower incomes actually cycle only about half as much as higher income groups. In addition, cycling in London is half as popular among women as it is among men. The London Cycling Action Plan suggests that possible barriers to cycling among lower income groups include the cost of cycles, lack of storage space and lack of security at home.

London Cycling Campaign’s All Abilities Cycling Group demonstrates clearly that disabled people can benefit from the fitness, inclusion and independence that cycling can bring.”

The scheme caters for the less able with Social Prescribing and points to adapted bikes from a choice of:

Wheels for Wellbeing “run inclusive cycling sessions for disabled people and their families, carers or friends, from three bases in south London.”

Bikeworks which “have a range of adapted cycles including tandem tricycles, side-by-side and platform tricycles” and Bikeworks runs All Ability Cycling Clubs that are free to access and open to all.”

TomCat “Tomcat is one of the largest suppliers of special needs tricycles in the UK, building an average of 700 tricycles for children and adults of all abilities year on year. Each trike for the home market is custom made. Our success rate is near 100% despite the severity of some disabilities. “

Combatting theft. The DfT says that “more than 300,000 cycles are still stolen each year – about three times the number of cars taken. Many who lose their bikes in this way never return to cycling. We will consolidate existing ownership registers allowing police to trace the owners of stolen bikes. We will explore mandating retailers to number all bikes they sell on the new database, and to offer customers the opportunity to register at the point of sale. “

5.Cycling lessons accessible to all

Todays ‘Cycling Proficiency’

The Department for Transport announced funding in April 2021, managed via the Bikeability Trust charity. It is to”go toward delivering high-quality, practical on-road cycle training as a modern day equivalent of the ‘cycling proficiency’ scheme many parents will themselves have undertaken during their school days.” The Haringey courses can be found here.

Transport for London has a set of resources here and a selection of courses here including:

• learning with an instructor (suspended during the pandemic)
• a Bikeability cycle training programme for children

Choosing and looking after a cycle

• looking after a cycle
• cycling safely
• keeping a cycle safely
• choosing a cycle

Haringey’s roads reimagined

Imagine a world where people, not cars, ruled our streets. Imagine our children being able to walk safely to school, to play safely in the streets. Imagine streets as pleasant places for everyone to walk cycle and enjoy without fear of cars. Imagine being able to breathe clean air instead of pollution that causes xxx deaths a year.

All this is possible, and more walking and cycling are part of it.

The first step is to redesign the streets and there has been plenty of research and discussion as to how to do this, it just needs leadership and action.

Designing Better Streets

: Department for Transport principles

: London's Healthy Streets

: A Highgate proposal

In the new world of streets designed for people not traffic the mix of traffic will be quite different and will include pedal and (low carbon) electric power last mile delivery, trikes for the less able, ebikes and escooters.

• Low carbon deliveries – In 2018 TfL awarded funding “to six business groups to make deliveries more efficient and reduce congestion in London like micro-consolidation, cargo bikes and preferred supplier schemes.” But according to this press release from Caroline Russell in November 2020 these schemes were put on pause when funds were withdrawn. The Sun Rider featured below generated 50% electricity from the sun on an average day – 100% on a sunny day.
• Trikes for the disabled – Although some people are unable to walk or bike many more will be able to use a trike – if funds allow.
• eBikes – these can make commuting by bike far more possible, and work schemes can make them affordable. Prices range from several hundred poundts to several thousands of pounds. With a Swytchbike conversion kit any bike can be converted to an electric bike.
• eScooters – these could be very popular, but would not be welcome on pavements and legislation is not currently enabling them on the roads – where riders seem very vulnerable (especially without crash helmets)

: Solar powered

: Last Mile Groceries

: Adapted for disabled

: Top of the Range

: e-scooter hazard?

: Kids on the go