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Recent data from the Urban Road Safety Index has revealed a significant shift in Londoners’ attitudes towards road safety initiatives, marking a positive turning point for the city’s approach to urban transport. While only 50% of residents felt confident about road safety measures in 2022, new findings show that 72% of Londoners now believe local authorities are taking the right steps to improve conditions[1]. This shift suggests growing public trust in the city’s ability to manage road safety across diverse urban environments.
This newfound confidence extends to various aspects of road safety. A remarkable 72% of respondents reported feeling safe using London’s cycle paths, placing the city ahead of its European counterparts in cycling infrastructure. Such sentiment is a testament to the improvements in London’s cycling network and reflects the increasing emphasis on promoting safer, more sustainable travel options.
Despite recent media criticism of 20mph speed limits, the report found that 72% of Londoners view the measure as a positive development. This sentiment is backed by data from Transport for London (TfL), which shows that reducing speed limits has had a tangible impact on road safety. Since the introduction of 20mph limits, the number of collisions on key roads has dropped by 25%, as too has the number of collisions involving death or serious injury. Vulnerable road users, including pedestrians and cyclists, have seen a 36% reduction in collisions, with incidents involving people walking down by a staggering 63%.
However, the report also highlighted areas where improvement is needed. While London ranked 10th overall in urban safety, 51% of respondents expressed concerns that the city is not fully equipped to handle emerging forms of urban transport such as e-bikes, e-scooters, and cargo bikes. In particular, 54% of respondents suggested that TfL should focus on better separating road, cycle, and bus lanes to further improve safety.
So, what do these findings mean for Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) and Active Travel initiatives? With 70% of Londoners now expressing support for more travel interventions in the city, it’s clear that these schemes have stronger public backing than before. This data offers local authorities a clear mandate to continue implementing LTNs, without fear of opposition from a vocal minority. The growing approval of road safety measures reflects a maturing public opinion, one that values safer streets and prioritises sustainable, active travel options.
As London continues to evolve, it’s evident that road safety is becoming an increasingly important priority for both residents and local authorities alike. With public opinion onside and tangible benefits already being felt, the city is well-positioned to build on this momentum and lead the way in creating safer, more inclusive urban environments.
Stay Tuned
Next week, ECF will be launching its new monthly newsletter, covering major LTN and Active Travel news across England, including updates on new funding, schemes, and emerging data.
Interested in staying informed? Sign up by emailing us at info@engagecf.co.uk.
How ECF Can Help
At ECF, we’ve been proud to support several LTN and active travel initiatives across London, working closely with local authorities in areas like Haringey, Enfield, and Newham. Our experience in community engagement and communications ensures that these schemes not only reflect the needs of residents but also foster greater public understanding and support. Whether it’s assisting in stakeholder mapping, facilitating public consultations, or providing strategic advice, we’re committed to helping cities build safer, more sustainable neighbourhoods.
Testimonial
“Partnering with Louise, Oliver, and the team from ECF really helped to lift our engagement objectives to the next level and have helped shape what is now considered to be Newham’s gold standard approach to informative, educational, and collaborative engagement for Active and sustainable transport initiatives.
ECF were pivotal at key stages over the 12 month project, in the early “fact finding” of our public perceptions surveys and later in creating a comprehensive engagement strategy; leading on a new and creative ways to ensure key messaging is communicated to the local community and stakeholders in the right places at the most convenient times, encouraging really rich, open, honest conversations with community members that gave us insight into their lived experiences.
Collaboration and community engagement are crucial when introducing schemes, especially in areas of public controversy where opinions may differ. The ECF team are highly skilled and knowledgeable in capturing this information, analysing, and disseminating feedback into robust and transparent reports for decision makers and for the general public alike. The team have true insight into the subject matter and immerse themselves into the project seamlessly and professionally.
I look forward to working with the team on our next phase of Newham’s active travel schemes, confident in the knowledge that we are safe in the hands of market leaders shaping and continually improving engagement for London complex transport challenges.”
Craig Nicol
LUF Project Manager
Newham Council
[1] The Urban Road Safety Index, p. 7, 2024.
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