Climate Safe Streets

Ealing Cycling Campaign is calling for all candidates in the local elections to sign up to making Ealing's streets 'Climate Safe'. Here's why:

It will take Ealing's trees and grasslands about 190 years to remove all the CO2 we produce in Ealing this year. We are a long way from becoming carbon neutral.¹ So how do we close the gap? 

We think there is something enjoyable we can do that will make a real difference – riding bikes.  The Dutch - who do a lot of it - say they get more joy from a bicycle than a car.² But then they have properly designed cycle routes.

If we are serious about tackling climate change, Ealing needs a proper cycle network so people of all ages, from 8 to 80, can switch from the car to a cycle for local journeys.³ That's why Ealing Cycling Campaign is calling for Ealing's politicians to commit to creating Climate Safe Streets. 

Ealing Cycling Campaign  Climate Safe Streets Asks

1.  Define a borough cycle network that forms part of a London-wide cycle recommended network with high quality, inclusive design and protection suitable for cycle users of all ages and abilities.

2.  Remove through motor traffic from all unclassified residential roads in the borough, to enable cycle users of all ages and abilities to access schools, services, and shops locally and to enable residents to make more use of their most immediate outdoor environments.

3.  Produce a comprehensive long-term plan for the road in front of Ealing Broadway station and Haven Green, as part of the current Local Plan review. 

4.   Audit existing traffic calming measures including speed humps, point closures and barriers and upgrade those that do not comply with the London Cycle Design Standards requirements, or in the case of round top speed humps be removed. 

5.  Borough-wide shared mobility hubs/share scheme offering bookable e-cars, e-vans, e-bikes, e-cargo bikes, and e-scooters, to reduce the burden of car ownership on individuals and the local environment.

6.   Final mile deliveries: Encourage use of cycles, e-bikes and e-cargo bikes for final mile deliveries in preference to petrol driven vans and motorcycles.

Sources:

1. Ealing emits 1,091,000 tonnes CO2 per year. Ealing's trees and grasslands absorb 5,605 tonnes of CO2 per year. Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Local Authority carbon emissions estimates. 2019 

2. Cycling Facts Netherlands Institute for Transport Policy Analysis | KiM, 2018

3.  Concern about road danger is the main reason people give for not cycling in the UK. DfT Walking and Cycling Statistics, England 2019.