There has never been a more important mayoral election. The decisions take over the next 3 years will impact London for the next decade.

We need the next mayor to build on the proactive response to the covid crisis, transforming the streets so that walking, cycling and public transport are the natural choices. Creating a city where the air is clean, neighbourhoods are heathier and where London is playing its part in responding to the Climate Emergency. London Cycling Campaign the Climate Safe Streets Report and made several key policy recommendations laying out what needs to be done to ensure the quality of life of all Londoners.

This is within the next mayor’s gift. Road transport is responsible for over 20% of London’s carbon emissions, and it’s one of the areas the mayor (and councils) have most direct power. Failure to take the opportunity to act now will leave Londoners stuck in gridlock, choking on fumes and facing a bleak climate future.

We are calling on all the candidates to commit to these three pledges. Do email them now and demand action. This will create a London that will help protect the planet and millions of its inhabitants and create a better city for everyone — one with fewer cars, less pollution, greener streets and much, much more high-quality cycling infrastructure. Brent in particular has some of the worst polluted streets in London and cycling provision lagged behind other boroughs.

To achieve that goal, action needs to start now. Therefore, over the next 3 years of the mayoral term, it will be essential that the next mayor commits to the following three pledges:

1. Rapid expansion of the Strategic Cycling Network, at the highest quality. By 2024, complete at least half of all corridors and routes in TfL’s Strategic Cycling Analysis (of existing, top, high and medium potential corridors) to the highest quality*
2. Develop and implement a London-wide Smart Road User Charging System. By 2024, undertake and complete the research and consultation necessary to make specific proposals for implementing the system.
3. Coordinated expansion of easy access to low-carbon shared mobility services. By 2024, everyone in London to live and work no further than 300 metres from their nearest car club bay and shared cycle/e-scooter geo-fenced access point (which should ideally be located together).

* The first pledge recognises the current TfL cycle route “Quality Criteria” are not sufficiently stringent to deliver high-quality routes for all ages and abilities. We have proposed a tightening of the criteria we expect the mayor and boroughs to deliver to here: https://lcc.org.uk/pages/tfl-quality-criteria

Tell the candidates that it’s decision time for London’s future. You want them to take the right decision for Londoners and the world. Please ask them to say Yes to Zero Carbon Roads by 2030, and to promise to take the three actions above if elected to be London’s next Mayor.