Low-traffic schemes benefit most-deprived Londoners

Low traffic neighbourhoods, (LTNs) do not disproportionately benefit more privileged communities as the latest study shows. The full report can be downloaded here

The study looked into LTNs across London and concluded that the main criticism of the schemes, that they result in traffic moving from more affluent areas on to more deprived areas was not true.

There has been objections to LTNs since they were introduced.  LTN roads are blocked off with planters and bollards to prevent motor vehicles using the roads as cut throughs. This then leaves the routes safe for pedestrians, cyclists and scooter users. 

But the new study from Westminster University in London, uses detailed and sophisticated data to compare streets. The study looks in to the age, ethnicity, disability, car ownership, , including occupants’ age, ethnicity, disability, employment and car ownership.

The team examined all of London's LTNs (around 70) and found that across the city, people in the most deprived quarter of areas were 2.7 times more likely to live in one of the new LTNs than the least deprived quarter of people.

People without cars were more likely to live in an LTN overall, and BAME Londoners were slightly more likely to than white residents, although this varied by ethnicity.