A Charter For All Road Users (Hammersmith and Fulham Liberal Democrats)

Hammersmith and Fulham Liberal Democrats <info@hflibdems.org.uk>

A Charter For All Road Users

November 7, 2011 10:07 PM

Hammersmith & Fulham Liberal Democrats have proposed a Charter for all road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, residents, motorists, and users of public transport in Hammersmith and Fulham.

As a result of neglect from successive Labour and Conservative administrations, Hammersmith and Fulham has some of the worst traffic congestion, road safety and air quality in London. Our roads are a disgrace. Yet the Council wants to bring even more through-traffic into our Borough, reducing our quality of life still further. Its unambitious target is to increase cycling from 4% to just 5% of total trips, compared with more than 50% in some Dutch towns.

As an alternative to the one-sided Driver's Charter advocated by the Council, we propose a Charter For All Road Users

1 . Safer streets: a 20mph limit in residential streets, with traffic calming where needed to keep traffic flowing smoothly and safely

2. Safer crossings: safer road crossings for pedestrians and cyclists where they're needed, when they're needed

3. Fixing hazards: potholes, pavements, blocked drains, streetlights, broken glass, litter and vandalism fixed within 24 hours (not months as now)

4. Safer cycling: more off-street routes and cycle lanes for schools and work, with specialist training for youngsters and mandatory awareness training for lorry drivers, extending the Barclays bike scheme to H&F

5. Tackling blockages and ratruns: better traffic management to unblock jams and keep through-traffic and lorries out of residential streets

6. Protecting the environment: vehicle emission limits and air quality monitoring, electric charging points, noise restrictions especially at night

7. Reliable public transport: bus lanes and stops where needed to keep buses moving, one-hour bus passes and electronic updates for commuters

8. Effective enforcement: enforcement where needed of crossings, walkways, speed limits, residents' parking, bus and bike lanes

9. Meeting special needs: lower kerbs and other safeguards for families, the elderly and disabled, and help for the visually impaired

10. People-friendly roadsides: maps, signposts, bike stands, street markets, trees and bus shelters to promote walking, cycling and public transport.

We need to reclaim our streets now, to make them fit for people to live in.