Reducing emissions from transport

A big thank you to everyone who joined our discussion and survey on reducing emissions from transport back in March.  

Over the course of three weeks, almost 1,400 of you took our survey. Together you posted over 700 comments and supported other member comments nearly 1,800 times.  

We’ve now analysed what you told us and shared your views with our colleagues in the transport and environment teams, and with Transport for London (TfL).    

Read more about what you told us below and how you can have your say on specific proposals and the future of road user charging, in TfL’s new consultation.

Although our analysis is not a representative sample of Londoners — and probably skews towards those with more of an interest in clean air or transport - the findings are nevertheless a starting point for further discussions.  

Concern for air quality, climate change and congestion​ 
Our survey showed that almost 80% of you see net zero carbon as important to achieve. This means reaching a goal where the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere is no more than the amount removed, so that, overall, the amount of planet-warming carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is not increasing. 

An equal proportion of you worry about the impacts of air quality, climate change and traffic congestion.​ 

Impact on Londoners’ lives​ 
You thought that air quality has the most impact on Londoners’ lives, followed by traffic congestion, with climate change ranked third. Asked about the impact on London’s economy and personal impact, you ranked traffic congestion first, climate change second and air quality third.​ 

Some of you recognized that these impacts were already happening.​ More of you thought each of the impacts would be happening in 15 to 20 years. ​About 10% of you said that the suggested impacts don’t exist or wouldn’t happen. 

Future use of transport modes and solutions​ 
Our survey asked about your willingness to change behaviour to achieve net zero carbon. About 80% of you said you were willing to walk or use public transport and 50% willing to cycle.​ 

​Increased charges and car clubs are the least popular solutions, with about two in five of you supporting them. About half of you said you were not willing to join a car club, car share or pay more to drive private vehicles. 

Those of you who already use active transport solutions once a week or more favour walking more and further, as well as using public transport over car clubs or charges. Those who currently cycle or walk less often than once a week favour car clubs, charges and cycling.​ 

​Those of you who use their car once a week or more often also favour walking more and further as well as using public transport rather than car clubs, charges or cycling. Whereas those of you who rarely use taxis or cars are more willing to join a car club or pay more to use private vehicles. 

Your comments on the discussion 
We identified a number of themes in our lively discussion thread, including: 

• opinions of TfL 
• road charges 
• urban planning and active travel 
• car sharing 
• banning cars 
• electric vehicles 
• Silvertown Tunnel 
• scrappage schemes, and 
• low traffic neighbourhoods  
   

Of all the themes mentioned in the comments, 620 were positive and in favour of more action, compared to 261 which were negative. There were another 154 comments that covered other themes, including the scrappage scheme (65) and low traffic neighbourhoods (19).​ 

The theme with the most comments (133) was in support of electric vehicles, including e-scooters, cars, delivery vehicles and public transport. Alongside support, you also told us about the current barriers to using electric vehicles that still needed to be overcome. 

“Electric scooters in cycle lanes are the best solution to London's traffic and pollution woes.”​ [40 year old, Indian man from Southwark]

Unlike in the survey results described above, support for increasing road charges was the second most frequent theme in the discussion comments. That support came largely from those of you living in inner London, where ULEZ is already active.   

You also posted almost 70 comments that were anti road charges. Many of you were concerned with the impracticalities of diverting away from using private cars. You shared your personal reasons, including: 

• living with disabilities 
• school runs for multiple children at different schools 
• the lack of a suitable or accessible transport network 

“Expanding ULEZ to the suburbs will affect residents unfairly... having a car is a necessity when you live on the outskirts of London.” ​
 [52 year old, White and Black Caribbean woman from Richmond upon Thames] 

Thanks again to everyone who took part. 

What’s next? 
From 20 May until 29 July 2022, Transport for London ran a consultation on the proposal for a London-wide expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone.  

On 25 November 2022, the Mayor of London announced that he will expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) London-wide to tackle the triple threats of air pollution, the climate emergency and congestion, and to ensure five million more Londoners can breathe cleaner air. The expansion will come into effect on Tuesday 29 August 2023 and will operate across all London boroughs up to the existing Low Emission Zone boundary.  You can read more about the decision on the TfL consultation page.