Oxford’s radical plan to ban Internal Combustion engine vehicles from an ever-expanding area has gained positive feedback from its residents and now London is planning to ’rebalance’ its transport system.
In Oxford, the Zero Emissions Zones received support, with 71 per cent “strongly supporting” or “supporting” the 2020 proposals, 69 per cent the 2025 proposals, and 68 per cent the 2030 proposals. “This is an exciting time for Oxfordshire County Council to be leading the way with the City Council on reducing pollution.”
Paris has similarly announced a plan to ban diesels from 2024 and petrol cars from 2030.
The London Plan will set strategy up to 2050, with a stated aim of moving towards a Zero Carbon City.
Sadiq Khan, “I also see the London Plan revolutionising the way we get around our city – enabling a boom in active travel, with walking and cycling becoming the primary, default choice for millions of Londoners because we have made it far easier and safer.”
The plan states that, ’Cycling is a space efficient mode compared to cars so making streets attractive for cycling can bring benefits to all road users while also improving the experience of living, working and spending time in the city. ‘
It is noteworthy that 3.5% of trips in inner London are identified as cycling, but only 1.5% in the outer regions. It is mainly the inner city that has seen investment in cycling infrastructure.
The provision of car parking spaces is under pressure, and minimum cycle parking requirements for businesses and residential are mandated in the plan.
’Car-free development should be the starting point for all development proposals in places that are (or are planned to be) well-connected by public transport. ‘
The race to zero emission transport in UK cities has begun. Oxford is in the lead, London is moving in the similar direction. Where next?
