Thursday, 24 March 2022

Brent Cycling Campaign calls for local election candidates to commit to 5 key pledges

 

 


The local branch of London Cycling Campaign, has launched its #ClimateSafeStreets campaign to get Brent’s next council leader to commit to bolder action on climate and zero carbon roads transport by 2030 – when the Mayor of London says the entire city needs to be carbon neutral. Brent Cycling Campaign is asking the candidates likely to be council leader, as well as other candidates, to commit to a set of borough-specific pledges including: 

  1. Protected space to cycle on major roads,

  2. Activate places by enabling inclusive active travel access to all places where we work, live, study, shop and play;

  3. Children-friendly neighbourhoods with more school streets and low traffic neighbourhoods;

  4. Double cycle parking provision for short and long stays;

  5. Create logistics hubs to limit Heavy Good Vehicles traversing through the borough.

In the run-up to the 5 May local elections we are asking residents to go to lcc.org.uk/climate to find out more about the borough campaign and send an email to candidates supporting it.

After putting in your postcode you will land on this page:

Brent Cycling Campaign said:

Tackling the climate crisis demands bold action and fast. In Brent, road transport emissions account for 49% of NOx and 22% of CO2. We need our next council leader to hear loudly and clearly that they need to do more to swap cars for walking, cycling and public transport whenever possible. We’re asking candidates to commit to our pledges before the local elections. We will be hosting a Hustings on 20th of April, organising a Climate Safe Streets Ride and sharing a short video to make the climate crisis, our polluted, congested roads and healthy, active alternatives to cars a big issue they can’t ignore.

New app turns any street ‘Climate Safe’ in minutes

The Brent Cycling Campaign will also be using exclusive London Cycling Campaign access to new visualisation tool BetaStreets throughout the local election period to showcase what streets in the borough could look like if made ‘Climate Safe’. LCC will also be shortly releasing a new video showing how Londoners are being enabled to ditch their cars and switch to cycling by new schemes being rolled out across London.

Those responding to LCC’s social media most frequently indicated the following as the worst streets in London:

  1. Lewisham Gateway, Lewisham

  2. Old Kent Road, Southwark

  3. Green Lanes, Haringey

  4.  A406, North Circular 

  5. Holloway Road, Islington

We are looking forward to re-imagining Brent streets with this tool, based on suggestions sent by Brent residents who have enough of polluted, congested and dangerous roads. 

For more information on Brent Cycling Campaign’s Climate Safe Streets campaign: lcc.org.uk/brent and a summary of our asks here.



13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm a cylist and these demands are not realistic. It is more like bullying which appears to be endemic among some cyclists.

Brent Cycling Campaign said...

Thank you for your comment Anonymous. What would you suggest instead, to enable anyone who wishes to cycle whatever their age or ability level? And what is your solution to ensure we reduce enough motor traffic so we can cut down toxic emissions such as Nox, Co2? What exactly do you find unrealistic in those asks? Protecting people who cycle whether they are on main roads, junctions or minor streets is perfectly achievable, there are blueprints all over the world that show that this is indeed already a reality elsewhere. Looking forward to reading your answer. Best, Sylvia

David Walton said...

What about Brent's 8 Growth Areas where market development decides?

Market development decides interest in cycle route networks is about the same as its interest in public parks- zero as both "waste" land they want to build on in these 8 Brent colony zones.

Anonymous said...

I see the blinkered bullying cyclist are still there. Just because you think you are right does not make it so.

There are a lot of cycle ways that fit your criteria, however, they are not used are they? They are just a waste of money and resources and bring the councils into disrepute and you still don't see it do you?

David Walton said...

Brent cycleways. They are and they are not/ bits and pieces/ is it or isn't it a cycleway?

Plugging South Kilburn 48 hectares mega population density active travel routes into the adjacent already excellent City of Westminster joined-up cycle network would sure make sense given SK extremely low car ownership and high air pollution levels, plus new HS2 vent.

Of course this will never happen, development colonial wants to double vehicle roads in SKGA and development colonial development will double vehicle roads in SKGA by 2041, residents will quite literally have to breath this bad growth 'deal' in.

Brent Cycling Campaign said...

Dear David, thank you for your comment. This is why one of our asks (Activate Places) is to demand better coordination between council's departments (Health, Transport, Environment, Regeneration, etc...). It needs to be a collaborative, coherent approach from the onset, as buildings influence behaviours and impact either positively or negatively on our health. It is really hard to correct afterward if you make it impossible for people to get to and from there other than by car for instance.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

Brent Cyclists should spend their time educating the existing cyclists in Brent who think it's their right to cycle on the pavements weaving in and out of pedestrians, and ensure they have lights and bells, before preaching to us.

Anonymous said...

Anon 27 March 2022 at 10:38 Totally agree as I'm sure most pedestrians do, it appears that many cyclists (especially those that preach on Social Media) think they are better than all other highway users and therefore have a automatic priority over other users. The level of hubris and bullying of some of the Brent Cycling Campaign is unbelievable and unacceptable to others.

Swearing at others who are not cycling and who get in their way is not winning cyclists any new friends. Approaching pedestrians from behind at speed on their cycles and then swearing at them for not getting out of the way is unacceptable, but to many cyclists, they have the right and pedestrians and cars shouldn't get in their way.

Quiet roads, including those turned into maizes to create higher polution levels (Low Traffic Neighbourhoods they are called in Brent I think) should be respected by all, whereas the cyclists seem to think they own the areas and can travel through them as fast as they like and ignore the Highway Code without any thought for others safety or nerves.

It is time that all wheeled users af the road carry at least third party insurance and a registration number, as for lights, many cyclists appear to think they don't need such rubbish.

By the way I am a long term cyclist and am ashamed of many of my fellow two wheel compatriots. Oh yes, Brent is deinitely not cycle friendly, but that's because it wasn't designed to be, and as for the areas with new developments, they are even worse, but of course they are privte and the private security can and do stop cyclists, and have become no go areas. Just try cycling around Wembley Park.

Tobias said...

Unconstructive comment adding no value hiding in anonymity. How is engaging on politics bullying?

Martin Francis said...

EDITOR'S COMMENT: Re the anonymous comment 27th March at 11.48. I would expect someone representing an organisation to use their name and also cannot find a link to that organisation. Could you provide these. If not provided I will delete the comment. Thank you.

David Walton said...

Post lockdown phase of the ongoing pandemic, vehicle congestion has become worse than ever in West London. Cycling is an excellent alternative way to get about quickly between locals and cycle parking is rapid and easy.

Both new Kings Cross and new Battersea Power Station with excellent public transport are interesting for being mega housing density but car free and based on people walking. Both of these re development sites are of comparable size to Kilburn Growth Area 48 hectares re development site which likewise has excellent public transport and the lowest car ownership levels of anywhere in Brent.

What is the doubling of vehicle roads idea and opening up more roads in this Kilburn 48 hectares re development all about? Decades of zoned sanctions, infrastructure, environmental, flood defences destruction unchecked? The word colony springs to mind.

Suami Rocha said...

This is great, well done to all involved.

If we don't tell the next leadership loud and clear that we NEED to act quickly on climate and that the roads network can be used for the benefit of the majority and not only for those who own a car we will be F*CKED.

FLOODS, HEATWAVES, STORMS have all become more frequent and we're already experiencing the effects of global warming in London. I've messaged my leaders and expect them to pledge to delivering on the asks. They often talk the climate talk but it only take a second to look out of my window to see that the most polluting forms of transport is prioritised - whilst the greenest and most accessible (cycling) is not even considered and left only to the brave. I want to live in a city where everyone can choose to cycle, not just the brave - that's why I support Climate Safe Streets. Thanks for all the work you're doing to get more people to see it too.