Re-thinking Our Streets
It’s been 18 months since coronavirus and lockdown entered our lexicon, transforming our lives so comprehensively. In a rush to create space for social distancing on pavements and safe routes for key workers to cycle into town, new temporary street measures have been installed by Councils (including here in Southwark) and Transport for London, supported by Government, using experimental traffic orders.
18 months is an important milestone, because legally it is now time to either make those schemes permanent through consultation, or to remove them.
So, it is an opportune time to reflect upon whether we should just revert to what we previously had, or adjust our thinking at this critical juncture about what streets can do for us in the future.
Some of the main changes locally that are now being consulted upon include:
On London Bridge, traffic is restricted to buses and taxis, with cycle lanes in both directions.
Access into Tooley Street is restricted from certain roads, with some new cycle lane facilities.
A point closure on Bermondsey Street at Tanner Street has removed through traffic, and cyclists are now able to cycle north from the tunnel
St Thomas Street is now one-way for vehicles and cycles, with a wider footway near Borough High Street
Increasing and extending the congestion charge
Enabling a licence for tables and chairs outside a premises
In my work at Team London Bridge, I engage all sorts of business in how space is managed. The broad push that I get is (i) to make it as friendly for walking and enjoying the outdoors as possible, (ii) to make cycling a safe and attractive option, and (iii) to ensure essential deliveries can access the areas they need to. On the final point, businesses have always been open to making those deliveries more sustainable where possible, like the efforts of Guy’s hospital having blood samples delivered by cargo bike and cutting the majority of incoming vehicles through their consolidation centre.
While businesses don’t seem to be coercing staff back, they certainly want them to choose to come back to the office. This puts additional responsibility on us to make London Bridge not just a place you have to commute to, but a place you choose to come to for its distinctive spaces, the places to go out, and the vibrant cultural offer. Streets that prioritise the enjoyment of people have to be part of this. People know about air pollution and climate change, and they want London Bridge to be a place that is part of the solution (like we are delivering through Bikes for Business).
So, when we respond to consultations to make temporary measures permanent, we will make sure to address essential business needs (and I know the authorities are liaising with needs around health and security), but we must emphasise the need to make London Bridge the best place it can be, to help elevate the experience of our communities, and find solutions that help us create the streets for the future.
Jack Skillen, Placeshaping Director