Survey research offers long term perspective on the low-traffic neighbourhood debate
New research from climate charity Possible suggests people living in established, older low-traffic neighbourhoods are positive. This, they believe, implies the popularity of new filters can be expected to increase.
Research earlier this year from the Bike Is Best campaign revealed that the UK already had over 25,000 modal filters prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, and local councillors had pointed out that they never received demands from residents to remove any of these filters. Looking to dig deeper, Possible set out to conduct citizen science survey research within neighbourhoods living with existing traffic filters to finally ascertain what the public thought about them. The results were overwhelmingly positive - residents affected most directly by traffic filters want to keep them, and think that they make their streets safer as well as decreasing traffic congestion and noise.
272 households were surveyed across Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds and London, 84.9 percent of whom want to keep their traffic filters, with just 8.1% wanting them removed. On top of this, a process of changing opinions was also observed. While 62.5 percent of households were not living on the street with the traffic filters when they were installed, of those that were, 64.5 percent initially had a positive perspective on the filters which then rose to 71.0 percent immediately after they were installed, and finally, at the time of the survey, standing at 75.8 percent.
People also perceive their streets as much safer because of their traffic filters. They noted that if the filters were removed, motor traffic, noise and pollution would all increase while decreasing the amount of space for people. This means that people are well aware of the benefits they are afforded thanks to their filters, benefits that allow their people to play and socialise in streets and more safely traverse their areas.
Transport is the most significant contributor to the UK’s carbon emissions and as the UK progresses on its journey to reduce those emissions, initiatives like the installation of traffic filters and low-traffic neighbourhoods will be vital in addressing reliance on private vehicles. As the Climate Change Committee noted in its recommendations back in June, people need to be incentivised and empowered to be able to use active travel options and public transport - LTNs and traffic filters are vital tools in these efforts.
Rob Bryher, Car Free Bristol campaigner at climate charity Possible, said:
“It was heartening for me, and the rest of our Car Free Cities team, to hear such resounding positivity regarding LTNs and traffic filters on doorsteps around the country. Ever since the expansion of LTNs during the pandemic, a toxic discourse has spread thanks to their vocal critics. What this research shows is that traffic filters have a real and tangible positive impact on people’s lives, and any controversy over their introduction is likely to be short-lived. What we need to do now is to inspire people by showing them what traffic filters can do for their communities and empower them to take grass roots action to expand the number of traffic filters and LTNs so we can reduce the negative impacts of car traffic on people and the planet.”
Hirra Khan Adeogun, Head of Car Free Cities at climate charity Possible, said:
“With this research we’re able to tell the truth about LTNs and traffic filters - that people who live with them overwhelmingly love them , especially over the long term. We’ve recently seen an expansion of these initiatives across the country and it’s essential that this growth continues long after the pandemic. LTNs and traffic filters are bold and inventive ways of reshaping our cities to serve people rather than vehicles. With the impacts of the climate crisis becoming more menacing and COP26 just around the corner, this shift is more vital than ever.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
For media enquiries and further information please contact press@wearepossible.org or 07806431577.
For the full report and infographics on the data please click HERE.
Rob Bryher, Car Free Bristol campaigner at climate charity Possible, is available for comment. Please contact press@wearepossible.org for more information.
Possible is a UK based charity that brings people together to take positive, practical action on climate change. Combining individual and local actions with larger systemic change, we connect people with each other, and communities with ways to address the climate crisis. wearepossible.org.
Possible changed its name from 10:10 Climate Action on 10th October 2019.