TfL Launches Plan To Rapidly Transform London’s Streets

We very much welcome the announcement of TfL’s London Streetspace programme, which will repurpose London’s streets to serve an unprecedented demand for walking and cycling, and also the recently announced government fast-tracked support for local authorities, including TfL.

The programme focuses on three key areas; rapid construction of a strategic cycling network, the transformation of town centres to enable local journeys to be safely walked and cycled, and reducing traffic on residential streets to create low-traffic neighbourhoods, enabling more people to walk and cycle as part of their daily routine. Creating new walking and cycling routes along major corridors, including temporary cycle lanes in Euston Road. TfL is also looking at creating temporary cycle lanes on Park Lane.

As London Streetspace gets underway, it gives us time to re-imagine our journey to work, as we will not be able to use public transport as before, and instead will travel to the quarter via cycling or on foot.

We have recognised that people will need to be reassured that suitable provisions have been put in place to ensure their journey into the Quarter is safe and have made this a key element of BakerStreetQ’s recovery framework for the area. With London’s public transport capacity potentially running at a fifth of pre-crisis levels, we identified the need for more space for cycling, cycle parking, pedestrians and queuing, as well as suggestions for better managing deliveries and last week joined with others BIDs in writing to the Chancellor to ask for reassurance that the government will provide the support TfL needs at this critical time to operate the London public transport system.

We are also in regular conversation with Westminster City Council, other Business Improvement Districts and landowners in the West End regarding the measures needed to ensure people feel safe returning to the area once lockdown measures begin to be lifted. We had similar discussions with Transport for London, which have also focused on the need for space at key stations including at Baker Street.

Locally we are refocusing our own street team and cleansing programmes as well as working with others to progress measures to enable distancing and safe travel to and through the area.

Find out more about London Streetspace and please do make sure you complete this short business survey to inform TfL’s vital plans to get London moving and working again, safely and sustainably.

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