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*Extremely Salt-N-Pepa voice* Let's talk about consultation baby
By this point odds are you've come across someone - maybe a neighbour or a friend, but probably a black-cab driver on the internet - complaining about the "lack of consultation" on emergency LTNs around the country
By this point odds are you've come across someone - maybe a neighbour or a friend, but probably a black-cab driver on the internet - complaining about the "lack of consultation" on emergency LTNs around the country
We're not going to mince our words here -- they're lying to you.
Because consultation is happening, it's happening right now on every single LTN across the country.
Because consultation is happening, it's happening right now on every single LTN across the country.
Let's use Railton LTN as an example because it's where we live (duh)!
Right now, @lambeth_council is collecting feedback from anyone and everyone on the Railton LTN using their Commonplace website https://rtstreets.commonplace.is/
Right now, @lambeth_council is collecting feedback from anyone and everyone on the Railton LTN using their Commonplace website https://rtstreets.commonplace.is/
Think traffic might have increased in your street? You can add a comment letting the council know. If enough of your neighbours agree, they might send out someone to survey traffic levels. If they find it to be true, they can adapt the LTN. You know why?
It's because it's being consulted on. Right now.
Instead of asking people to imagine a different world and comment on what they might think about it, councils all over the country have created that world and are asking for feedback in real time.
Instead of asking people to imagine a different world and comment on what they might think about it, councils all over the country have created that world and are asking for feedback in real time.
As that feedback comes in, they can make adjustments to the LTN.
In Oval, @SOSFentimanRd and @SaveOvalStreets have seen changes to road signs.
In Walworth, @HealthyStsSE17 have seen exemptions for cab drivers after lots of locals called for them
In Oval, @SOSFentimanRd and @SaveOvalStreets have seen changes to road signs.
In Walworth, @HealthyStsSE17 have seen exemptions for cab drivers after lots of locals called for them
All over the country, LTNs are being tweaked and adapted in response to community feedback.
That means if something doesn't work for you, it can be changed. It's best practice design.
That means if something doesn't work for you, it can be changed. It's best practice design.
Now don't get me wrong -- if you love driving 500 metres down the road to your local shopping centre and this scheme scuppers your ability to do that -- you might not receive much sympathy.
That's because this scheme, in part, is designed to do just that.
It's designed to make the short and unneccessary car trips that make up the majority of journeys in London *just annoying enough* that those who can walk or cycle instead, choose to.
It's designed to make the short and unneccessary car trips that make up the majority of journeys in London *just annoying enough* that those who can walk or cycle instead, choose to.
But if you're someone who needs a car to get around because of mobility issues and this scheme has made your life worse -- that's the exact kind of thing the council want to hear during this consultation.
Every single one of these LTN schemes are temporary. And only time will tell whether they become permanent.
For those, like Railton LTN, that are succeeding in making the choice to walk or cycle an easy one -- we hope they will be made permanent.
For those, like Railton LTN, that are succeeding in making the choice to walk or cycle an easy one -- we hope they will be made permanent.
But to pretend that consultation isn't happening is disingenuous.
And to co-opt someone else's circumstances as an argument against LTNs instead of being honest about your own reasons is disingenous too.
And to co-opt someone else's circumstances as an argument against LTNs instead of being honest about your own reasons is disingenous too.
(Just to be clear yes that last tweet was a subtweet about all of those who are suddenly vocal advocates for their disabled and elderly neighbours despite never having spoken to them or asked about their specific needs in their life).
And for those of you reading this thread and asking yourselves "why are @RailtonLTN encouraging people to say bad things about the LTN in a consultation?"
It's because we want our LTN to work for everyone, and we want it to be as brilliant as it can be. Feedback is a gift.
It's because we want our LTN to work for everyone, and we want it to be as brilliant as it can be. Feedback is a gift.
So again, here's the link to the consultation happening RIGHT NOW about Railton LTN. We hope you'll feed into it.
And we hope other LTNs will encourage their followers to do the same. https://rtstreets.commonplace.is/
And we hope other LTNs will encourage their followers to do the same. https://rtstreets.commonplace.is/
