The Low Traffic Hackney Aims and Manifesto 

​Our Aims

We campaign for policies to reduce the number of miles driven on Hackney’s roads, reduce the dominance of motor traffic, and create streets which are safer, healthier, more social and more inclusive. 

We do this by:

• Lobbying Hackney Council, TfL and politicians who have the power to achieve these aims

• Raising awareness of the causes and harms of excessive motor traffic in Hackney

• Challenging car-centric thinking and arguments 

• Countering misinformation around traffic-reduction policies

• Promoting alternatives. Being constructive in recommending practical solutions to reduce dominance of motor traffic, based on the best available evidence of what works​

Our Manifesto 2026

5 Ways to achieve this by 2030:

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods

Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) coverage extended borough-wide, using filters to make local roads safer and more pleasant for walking and cycling. LTNs should be designed to prevent all through traffic across their defined area and existing LTNs should be adapted to achieve this where necessary. (2)

Kerbside and Parking strategies

Implement kerbside and parking strategies including clear targets for conversion of private parking space to fair and sustainable uses. Parking permits to be limited and new permits reduced annually. Permit pricing should be amended to reflect vehicle size, weight and emissions in light of increased SUV usage. (3)

Children and School Travel

Every school in the borough (including Secondary Schools) should have a car-free School Street. School Street schemes should be expanded to include more roads around schools so students and families can walk or wheel safely for most of their school journey. Every child in Hackney should have safe active routes to school. (4)

Cycling support

Publish an implementation plan for a cycle network that achieves the Mayor's Transport Strategy 2041 target (100% of Hackney residents to live within 400m of a high-quality cycle route). Expand the 'Zero Emissions Network' cargo bike scheme and increase support for businesses and families to use cargo bikes. (5)

Bus priority

Buses should always have priority on Hackney roads, especially main roads. Bus lanes should operate 24 hours. Bus routes should be prioritised for parking removal and all car parking should be removed from bus lanes. (6)

Why are we asking for this?

We want to see measures that will reduce traffic, eliminate road danger, and create a safer, more pleasant street environment.

Reduced traffic and emissions from transport means:

• Cleaner, less polluted air for all in Hackney, to improve health
• Fewer emissions will contribute to mitigating climate change
• Reduced noise pollution from traffic

Reduced road danger means:

Fewer traffic casualties and deaths (128 deaths or serious injuries in Hackney in 2023 means we are off-track to meet the 2041 zero target)

• Improved freedom for children to travel and play independently
• Real growth in active travel; tackling the inactivity crisis and associated stresses on health services

A safer, more pleasant street environment means:

• Increased social interactions on streets not dominated by traffic
• Better resilience to the effects of climate change
• Improved access to green space

​See our Evidence page for more facts and figures

Who we are

Low Traffic Hackney is an organised group (an Unincorporated Association) of local residents supportive of efforts to reduce motor traffic levels in Hackney, all with our own political persuasion. We run local social media accounts and an umbrella website: http://www.lowtraffichackney.org/