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Sadiq Khan to close 12 miles of London roads for car-free day in September

British Medical Association asks Mayor of London to introduce permanent network of traffic-free arterial routes

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced that 12 miles (20km) of roads will be closed to cars in Central London on September 22. Boroughs will also hold events promoting walking, cycling and public transport. “I encourage as many Londoners as possible to join in the fun and see the city from a different perspective,” said Khan.

World Car-Free Day takes place every year on or around September 22. When Paris first had a car-free day in 2015, Airparif, which measures city pollution levels, said levels of nitrogen dioxide dropped by up to 40 per cent in parts of the city, while there was almost one-third less nitrogen dioxide pollution on the Champs Elyées compared to a similar Sunday.

The Guardian reports that this year in London roads will be closed around London Bridge, Tower Bridge and across much of the City of London.

“London is leading the way in innovative measures to improve air pollution and I want this year’s Car Free Day events to be the best of any world city," said Khan.

"This will be a great opportunity for us all to leave our cars behind and explore our streets by foot, or by bike.

"We’ve called our range of events ‘Reimagine’ so that Londoners get an idea of what some of the busiest parts of our city would be like without cars and traffic.”

Areeba Hamid of Greenpeace UK said: “It’s exciting to see London adopting the idea of having a car-free day, something great cities across the world from Paris to Bogotá have been giving a try … Reducing toxic air pollution and carbon emissions are vital, but they are far from the only benefit of reclaiming our streets.”

Dr Audrey de Nazelle, an academic at the Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial College London, said: “Being aware of the scale of air pollution health problems is not enough. Actually living the joys of a car-free or carless city will do much more to create a positive vision of what a future healthy London could be like.”

The British Medical Association (BMA) has written to Khan, urging him to go further. As well as urging him to bring forward the expansion of London’s ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) the doctors’ union suggests creating a network of arterial routes only open to "green" forms of public transport.

“Taking action in this way not only helps to decrease levels of pollution, but also provides an opportunity to improve the health and fitness of Londoners through encouraging active travel, such as walking and cycling.”

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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12 comments

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handlebarcam | 4 years ago
4 likes

Hopefully the twelve miles will include the streets outside Jeremy Clarkson's flat, Tory Central HQ, and the American embassy. They already think Sadiq Khan is satan, so why not properly screw with them?

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Joden | 4 years ago
1 like

I wonder if  those two doctors on  a money, sorry mercy dash through Regents Park endorse the BMA’s Clean Air Strategy?

“Tackling the overuse of cars and lorries by expanding clean air zones is a priority, and improving information for consumers on carbon emissions and promoting physically active transport through cycle lanes and safe walking spaces could see vast improvements in air quality.”

Avatar
zero_trooper replied to Joden | 4 years ago
1 like

Joden wrote:

I wonder if  those two doctors on  a money, sorry mercy dash through Regents Park endorse the BMA’s Clean Air Strategy?

Nope, trying to endorse their own Clean Away Strategy.

#bigfail laugh

Avatar
dare99 | 4 years ago
3 likes

Good on him. The tabloid gammon is always going to hate him anyway, so why not wind them up  1

I may pop down for that. Be nice walking in London withough having to clear black muck out of your nose after.

Avatar
ktache | 4 years ago
6 likes

I think mandatory helmets for the gammons in this case, minimise the damage to others when their heads explode with indignation.

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Awavey | 4 years ago
0 likes

How many miles of London roads are 'closed' to motorised traffic for Ride London? and also including the Classique,Free cycle...just to give it some context

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zanf | 4 years ago
3 likes

Needs to be a monthly event like Ciclovias around the world, not just a novelty 1 day a year tokenist joke but thats whats come to be expected of Khan

 

Avatar
OldRidgeback replied to zanf | 4 years ago
2 likes

zanf wrote:

Needs to be a monthly event like Ciclovias around the world, not just a novelty 1 day a year tokenist joke but thats whats come to be expected of Khan

 

Maybe your comment would be better suited to being posted on a Daily Mail article. You probably haven't noticed but Sadiq Khan is taking action to reduce air pollution in London by introducing the ultra low emission zone (ULEZ) earlier than was originally planned. It's in operation now in the congestion charging zone. It will be expanded to take in the area within the North Circular and South Circular in September 2021. That will make it the largest low emission zone in the world and its implementation is being followed with interest by other cities around the world.

The reason he's doing this is because he was shocked at the air pollution levels in the centre of London and the hugely damaging effects this is having on the population, children in particular. Contrast this with the actions of his predecessor when confronted with mounting evidence over air pollution in London, who simply had water spray systems installed round the monitoring equipment so as to make the problem look less serious.

I do get tired of anti-Khan comments. They are generally hugely misinformed. He puts up with a lot of Islamophobic and racist comments, some blatantly so, some more subtle.

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matthewn5 replied to zanf | 4 years ago
0 likes

zanf wrote:

Needs to be a monthly event like Ciclovias around the world, not just a novelty 1 day a year tokenist joke but thats whats come to be expected of Khan

Ciclovias started as a one-off event, too.

Avatar
ChrisB200SX | 4 years ago
6 likes

Spoiler alert, 22 September is a Sunday.

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brooksby replied to ChrisB200SX | 4 years ago
3 likes

ChrisB200SX wrote:

Spoiler alert, 22 September is a Sunday.

That hasn't stopped certain tabloids frothing at the mouth about how hard working commuters are intended to get to work while all these middle class do-gooders signal their virtue and play on their toys... no

Avatar
chrismayoh | 4 years ago
14 likes

Could the car-free area be extended to the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea?

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