References and resources
Background information about Oxfordshire County Council wider strategy to make active travel and public transport quicker, safer and more convenient, benefitting residents’ quality of life, air quality and the environment, and the funding that will enable this vision to be achieved:
- Oxfordshire makes ambitious new bid for active travel funding. Accessed August 10, 2021. https://news.oxfordshire.gov.uk/bid-for-active-travel-fund/.
- Oxfordshire County Council | Active travel – 2020-2022. Accessed July 26, 2021. https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/roads-and-transport/emergency-active-travel-fund/active-travel-2020-2022.
Benefits of LTNs
Impact of low traffic neighbourhood schemes on road safety – road injuries halved in LTN areas:
- Low-traffic schemes halve number of road injuries, study shows. The Guardian. Published July 23, 2021. Accessed July 26, 2021. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/23/low-traffic-schemes-halve-number-of-road-injuries-study-shows
Air quality
Analysis of air quality in established low traffic neighbourhood scheme in Waltham Forest: no significant increase in air pollution on main roads, possibly due to overall reduction in traffic volumes. Compared with 2013 air pollution levels remaining unchanged, the reduction in air pollution in 2020 was estimated to translate to the population of Waltham Forest gaining 41,000 life years in improved life expectancy across the population:
- Dajnak D, Walton H, Stewart G, Smith JD, Beevers S. Air Quality: concentrations, exposure and attitudes in Waltham Forest. :34. https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/sites/default/files/WalthamForest_Kings%20Report_310718.pdf (pages 8-9, 26)
https://www.headingtonliveablestreets.org.uk/air-pollution/
https://www.headingtonliveablestreets.org.uk/why-needed-cars/ – 75% of air pollution in Oxford due to road traffic, and children’s lung growth stunted by 14% in Oxford – the highest of any UK city
Carbon emission and climate impact of increasing proportion of people using active travel:
- Get on your bike: Active transport makes a significant impact on carbon emissions | University of Oxford. Accessed July 26, 2021. https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2021-02-02-get-your-bike-active-transport-makes-significant-impact-carbon-emissions
Mythbusting
Article addressing common myths about LTNs:
- Mythbusters: eight common objections to LTNs – and why they are wrong. the Guardian. Published November 16, 2020. Accessed August 8, 2021. http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/nov/16/mythbusters-eight-common-objections-to-ltns-and-why-they-are-wrong
Pledge by councillors to consult residents:
- Pledge to listen to people on future transport schemes. Pledge to listen to people on future transport schemes. Accessed August 8, 2021. https://news.oxfordshire.gov.uk/pledge-to-listen-to-people-on-future-transport-schemes/
Concern of traffic displacement and how ‘traffic evaporation’ means this does not happen:
- Comparison of vehicle numbers before and after the scheme and during the trial | Enjoy Waltham Forest. Accessed August 8, 2021. http://enjoywalthamforest.co.uk/work-in-your-area/walthamstow-village/comparison-of-vehicle-numbers-before-and-after-the-scheme-and-during-the-trial/
Reducing roads can cause traffic to ‘Evaporate.’ Accessed August 8, 2021. https://www.rapidtransition.org/stories/reducing-roads-can-cause-traffic-to-evaporate/
Impact of emergency service response times – scientific analysis finding no difference in fire service response times after LTN implementation:
- Goodman A, Laverty AA, Aldred R. The Impact of Introducing a Low Traffic Neighbourhood on Fire Service Emergency Response Times, in Waltham Forest London. Findings. Published online December 15, 2020:18198. doi:10.32866/001c.18198. https://findingspress.org/article/18198-the-impact-of-introducing-a-low-traffic-neighbourhood-on-fire-service-emergency-response-times-in-waltham-forest-london