How the Greens could make a strong start on traffic reduction

The election on May 7th resulted in a political earthquake for Hackney, with the Green Party winning a historic landslide over the longstanding Labour administration, which will provide a comfortable and stable majority.  

Many congratulations to Zoe Garbett and Hackney Green Party.

The Greens’ manifesto (just like ours!) promised to reduce traffic by 30% by 2030, an ambitious target which will require rapid and radical change. There is much to do.

So what are the immediate challenges stacked up in the in-tray, and what would we hope to see from the Greens first?  

Here are five key challenges, and our thoughts and recommendations of how they could best be approached:


1. Dalston LTN

The previous administration left an ‘oven-ready’, comprehensive and high quality LTN scheme in Dalston which urgently needs to be implemented. 

The Greens supported this too, so we assume it will go ahead.  

However, the previous plan was to phase in the LTN in stages, taking over a year before it is even fully in place. 

We feel this is a risky and potentially chaotic plan that will risk unpredictable short term traffic displacement from a partially implemented scheme, and extend the difficult period of transition when opposition may be highest.  We are doubtful the previously planned phasing is the best strategy, either practically or politically. 

How will this play out?

Low Traffic Hackney view: 

Implement Dalston LTN quickly as per the current design, but implement it in one phase and much faster than previously planned. 

Get all measures installed in the shortest possible period and then have a soft start for enforcement where for a few weeks vehicle contraventions get a warning letter but no financial penalty. 

Do it and do it quickly so disruption is reduced and full benefits show as soon as possible


2. Chatsworth LTN

The Chatsworth LTN is already implemented, and like every major traffic reduction scheme, it initially proved controversial.  Anger spilled over at public meetings organised within days of implementation and protests were held outside the Town Hall.  The Green Party promised to listen and review, not remove the scheme, so we anticipate it will be kept but there is potential for amendments. 

Low Traffic Hackney view:

Take time with this one, the LTN is in and it is still early days.  There is now nothing to be gained from rushing decisions.  The Green mandate is to listen to all perspectives, so we would like to see them take the time to do this, and to monitor traffic as the scheme begins to settle.
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The LTN was implemented at the worst possible point in the electoral cycle and so the ‘panic / chaos’ phase occurred in the run up to an election.

The 'Goodwin Curve' which shows how support for traffic reduction schemes dips around implementation and then builds as benefits start to appear

Further, the LTN suffers from being a partial scheme with timed (i.e. not 24/7) closures and internal displacement routes that leave some local minor roads excluded and some residents feeling resentful, whilst some supporters feel short-changed on a more comprehensive scheme.  

We expect opposition to reduce from its post-implementation peak and support to build as people become accustomed to changes.  

Any review of filter locations and timings should give time for it to settle further to get any necessary changes right. 

Traffic reduction is difficult and opposition is inevitable. Take time to listen to all groups and monitor how traffic reacts over the coming months before making any final decision on what, if anything, to tweak.


3. Hoxton East LTN

The Hoxton East LTN was consulted but is behind the previously mentioned two in its implementation, with no changes on the ground yet. The previous administration promised a further period of monitoring/review and opportunity to improve the scheme.

It is another partial scheme, a little like Chatsworth, that leaves many open internal displacement routes likely to suffer significant increases in traffic (such as Purcell Street).  It leaves Hoxton Street itself partially open as a through-route so fails to address one of the key issues in the area. 

The red lines show the ratrun through-routes left open by the Hoxton East LTN as currently planned

​Perhaps most seriously it also fails to reduce traffic on one of the Borough’s busiest cycle routes (Cycleway 1 at Whitmore Road), and may even make traffic there worse.  

Providing safe high quality cycling routes is critical to reducing traffic and this section is uncomfortable, unsafe and urgently in need of traffic reduction.

A consultation was held which showed strong popular support for traffic reduction in Hoxton, despite not reaching a very representative sample of the local population (the consultation did not reflect the age profile of Hoxton and was disproportionately completed by those who use a car as their primary transport).  As with other schemes there is a small but very vocal opposition.  

How the Council reacts to this will be a key test of its commitment to meet a 30% traffic reduction target. To meet this target, bold action is required.

Low Traffic Hackney view:

The LTN can be greatly improved with a single additional filter on Hoxton Street between Purcell Street and Stanway Street.  Many people raised this issue in the consultation.  Re-consult on an improved scheme that properly cuts all traffic routes in the area, and aim to get it implemented within a year. 

Just like its sister Hoxton West LTN, it will become uncontroversial in time.  

This area has extremely low car ownership (below 20% in some parts of the area), and high levels of deprivation, meaning action here is particularly urgent and a matter of basic environmental equality.  


4. Make progress on Hackney’s main Roads

For effective traffic reduction, main roads must not be an after-thought.  Traffic in Hackney is not currently falling at anywhere like the pace needed to meet the manifesto 30% traffic reduction target.  Bus speeds are not good enough. Too many main roads offer a poor pedestrian environment. Real and radical action is needed. 

Low Traffic Hackney view:

There are easy wins on main roads, and some more difficult policies that mean working with other Boroughs and the Mayor of London.  56% of traffic on Hackney's main roads is local in-Borough traffic meaning effective policies to reduce local car use will significantly improve main roads here.  Parking policies are a hugely under-used tool to control local traffic that uses Hackney’s main roads, and far more effort should go into using parking to reduce local car ownership and use.  We would like to see a strategy to reduce parking and convert it to more sustainable uses, parking permit caps and waiting lists.

The council can make quick progress on main road pedestrian crossings, accessible side road cross-overs, cycle lanes, bus gate timings and removing parking in bus lanes.  One example is the planned Queensbridge Road cycle lane which is a disappointing scheme that gives up at bus stops and leaves gaps in the protection. Improving this is an easy win for a key main road.

Fast, visible progress is needed.  The Green manifesto promised an SUV charge, which we fully support but we suspect may take time and complex work with TfL and the Mayor of London to achieve. Don’t wait for this to make other changes to reduce traffic on main roads.


5. Fix poor enforcement

Many of Hackney’s LTN filters are being ignored and left unenforced whilst 57% of the school streets have no permanent enforcement at all. This should be an easy win to deliver quick change on the ground.

Low Traffic Hackney view:

Invest in ANPR cameras for all major filters and every school street. Use fire gates for minor filters where emergency services allow; in the long run they are more resilient and less controversial than enforcement that results in fines. Invest in additional mobile enforcement camera cars for locations that can’t sustain fixed cameras.


Do it fast and do it early

Overall our message to the new Council administration is to work fast on traffic reduction and front-load it as much as possible to the beginning of their term.  

The last administration made most progress at the very end of their term when it was too late to see results.  If there is one lesson on difficult and controversial traffic reduction measures it is: ‘Do it fast and do it early’.


On improving listening

The Green Party promised to listen better to all groups and this is something we support in principle, with the caveat that meaningful change is difficult and it is never possible to satisfy everyone.  

Consultations have not been representative, and have not heard from excluded groups and people who benefit most from schemes.  We also recognise traffic reduction measures can be difficult for some people, and some groups may require adaptations and extra support.  

There is no way to avoid strong opposition to traffic reduction schemes from a vocal minority, but very few people will want to go back 3 years down the line. 

82% of voters in the Mayoral election chose to vote for parties that support active travel and traffic reduction, with under 14% choosing parties that opposed LTNs.  The Green Party manifesto was unusually detailed on traffic reduction. There is now an extremely strong democratic mandate to make radical changes quickly here and we hope Hackney Green Party plans to make good use of it.

Best of luck to the incoming administration, and we in Low Traffic Hackney are here to support any work to reduce traffic and car-dominance in Hackney, and to hold politicians to account on their promises.

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