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On May 9th, Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, announced a £2 billion package to create ‘a new era for cycling and walking’. The tide suddenly seems to be turning very fast!
In response, on the weekend of the announcement EFTAG’s George and Jack wrote individually to most of our councillors, at District and County levels, and have received some very positive responses. The time is now. We are encouraging councillors themselves to ask and push for initiatives in Epping Forest, and have suggested some easy wins from the partial implementation of our proposals for cycle routes. For example:
- Widespread adoption of 20mph speed limits wherever people live, shop, play and learn.
- ‘Pop-up’ cycleways where safe space for cycling could be provided quickly:–
- Introducing ‘school streets’ – closing roads to motor traffic at places where children and parents congregate to walk to school, for example during weekday pick-up and drop-off times.
- More cycle parking – in shopping streets and in high-density residential areas
Petition to Essex County Council
Further to the announcement above, EFTAG is petitioning Essex County Council to spend some of the money they have now been awarded on immediate measures in Epping Forest. These are:
- A protected Cycle-way from Epping Forest Retail Park to Palmerston Road (along Oakwood Hill, Valley Hill, etc).
- Improvements to the Essex Cycle Network route along Baldwins Hill and Staples Road.
- Connections from the Oakwood Hill route to the Essex Cycle Network route, via Loughton High Road and Loughton Station.
This petition will be presented to the Essex County Council meeting on 14th July 2020. You can sign it here.
Initiatives in London and elsewhere
Sadiq Khan and TfL have announced dramatic changes in Central London, including the possibility of traffic-free streets in most of the City of London. But it isn’t just London: here, as an example, are Bristol’s plans.
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