Chapter one The challenge – of people walking in central London] [Photo transport matters London’s London is one of the most entrepreneurial, international and outward-looking cities in the world. Its dynamism and diversity make it one of the most attractive places in which to live and work. It is home to people from every corner of the globe, to a huge variety of unique neighbourhoods and public spaces and to some of the world’s leading cultural attractions. Transport networks make the city what it is connecting communities, opening up opportunities – and creating the conditions for global economy to flourish. The transport system also London’s lives how much physical activity they do, how long and pleasant shapes Londoners’ everyday – their daily journeys to work, to school and around town are, and even where they choose to live. Careful planning can enable millions of individual decisions to work together in a way that creates a healthy and environmentally sustainable city. In many ways, the transport system is already enhancing others, it is city’s Londoners’ lives. In failing to do so. The way people move around needs to be re-examined in the context of the challenges the city now faces. be for active travel and social interaction, but too often they are “London’s streets should places for cars, not people.” Streets and cars streets should be for active travel and social interaction, but too often they are places London’s for cars, not people. Most of the main causes of early death in London are linked to inactivity, including the two biggest killers heart disease and cancer. This inactivity is in part due to an – overdependence on cars, even for are the first generation that very short trips. Today’s children is expected to live more of their lives in ill health from chronic diseases than their parents. Cars take up a lot of space relative to the number of people they can move around, and reliance on this space-inefficient mode of transport has made streets some of the most London’s congested in the world. This has huge impacts on Londoners causing pollution, making streets unpleasant places to – be and delaying public transport journeys. It also reduces the efficiency of freight and commercial journeys the trips that keep the shops stocked and businesses running. – London’s Motorised traffic is also overwhelmingly responsible for the greatest environmental challenges we face as a city. Currently, road transport is responsible for half of the main air pollutants, with
Chapter one – The challenge [Photo of people walking in central London] London’s transport matters London is one of the most entrepreneurial, international and outward-looking cities in the world. Its dynamism and diversity make it one of the most attractive places in which to live and work. It is home to people from every corner of the globe, to a huge variety of unique neighbourhoods and public spaces and to some of the world’s leading cultural attractions. Transport networks make the city what it is – connecting communities, opening up opportunities and creating the conditions for London’s global economy to flourish. The transport system also shapes Londoners’ everyday lives – how much physical activity they do, how long and pleasant their daily journeys to work, to school and around town are, and even where they choose to live. Careful planning can enable millions of individual decisions to work together in a way that creates a healthy and environmentally sustainable city. In many ways, the city’s transport system is already enhancing Londoners’ lives. In others, it is failing to do so. The way people move around needs to be re-examined in the context of the challenges the city now faces. “London’s streets should be for active travel and social interaction, but too often they are places for cars, not people.” Streets and cars London’s streets should be for active travel and social interaction, but too often they are places for cars, not people. Most of the main causes of early death in London are linked to inactivity, including the two biggest killers – heart disease and cancer. This inactivity is in part due to an overdependence on cars, even for very short trips. Today’s children are the first generation that is expected to live more of their lives in ill health from chronic diseases than their parents. Cars take up a lot of space relative to the number of people they can move around, and reliance on this space-inefficient mode of transport has made London’s streets some of the most congested in the world. This has huge impacts on Londoners – causing pollution, making streets unpleasant places to be and delaying public transport journeys. It also reduces the efficiency of freight and commercial journeys – the trips that keep the shops stocked and London’s businesses running. Motorised traffic is also overwhelmingly responsible for the greatest environmental challenges we face as a city. Currently, road transport is responsible for half of the main air pollutants, with