Oxford 'climate lockdowns' and '15-minute city' - can anyone local explain their views on this?

[unsureatthispoint]

This news has been published in several media outlets and being talked about ATM.

Road blocks stopping most motorists from driving through Oxford city centre will divide the city into six "15 minute" neighbourhoods, a county council travel chief has said.

And he insisted the controversial plan would go ahead whether people liked it or not.

Duncan Enright, Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet member for travel and development strategy, explained the authority's traffic filter proposals in an interview in The Sunday Times.

He said the filters would turn Oxford into "a 15-minute city" with local services within a small walking radius.

Mr Enright said: "It is about making sure you have the community centre which has all of those essential needs, the bottle of milk, pharmacy, GP, schools which you need to have a 15-minute neighbourhood."

The aim is to reduce traffic in the city centre and make city living more pleasant, but critics say the plans will negatively affect businesses and the city centre's economy.

Here's the link

www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/23073992.traffic-filters-will-divide-city-six-15-minute-neighbourhoods-agrees-highways-councillor/

Are local people aware of this and what's their take on it?

Walnuts in most places there is little effective public transport

One bus every other day doesn't cut it - but it's what people in outlying areas may face

Last buses are often the school bus

It would take a huge investment in public transport to make this work

Why not improve public transport first so that people choose to use it and give up their cars voluntarily instead of being forced into it.

Name changed for this, as I don't want a link to my other posts. I emailed Duncan Enright, the Councillor in charge of Transport with my concerns and told him about this thread. He says the report in the Oxford Mail was 'highly inaccurate and gives the wrong impression'. This is a link to the actual plans. letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/traffic-filters-2022. There are positives planned in this strategy (e.g. a new fleet of electric buses). Duncan is happy for any Oxfordshire mumsnet users to contact him. And, in case anyone thinks otherwise, I'm not a member of any political party (not even a steadfast voter for any party) , I don't work for the council and I don't have anything to do with the transport strategy. Just trying to keep the balance. But we will all be watching how things pan out in the future - I'm not convinced this is going to be plain sailing!

No, because

• the people who need to drive often are being penalised financially

• the people driving are stuck with the displacement of traffic caused by LTNs. Don't be fooled by the name. It just means non residents are banned from certain roads so increases the traffic and travel time in others. In London, some sections of road have gone from 5 mins on the bus to 18 mins on the bus which brings me to...

• buses now virtually unuseable in parts of London and sounds like Oxford too. Also penalises poorer people and disabled because buses are cheaper and more accessible than Tube.

as others rightly point out, it's not just causing chaos for people with official disabilities, it's the elderly, anyone temporarily ill, people like me who have variable issues (spinal injury, sometimes fine but not always). If I still drove, I'd be sitting in traffic a lot longer than before LTNs were introduced. My life is massively changed by not being able to sit on the bus for as long as it takes now.

I pointed out to a local councillor that if I choose to spend the money, i might be more likely to return to the car because at least I'm in a private bubble. Neck some painkillers for the longer journeys - maybe better than the bus if you have the cash?

I do think this is all deliberate but I am genuinely floored by some posters. Do they literally have no one in their life who can't cycle everywhere?!

Thanks
immediate thoughts - even within the permit area, it's only free for 100 days?

get ready for increased noise nuisance of motorbikes.

Hello! Thanks for all the comments. Sorry this is a long post.

I largely agree with your comments. I think some journalists have misunderstood.

The article that kicked this off was highly inaccurate, and I can assure you the council always listens (though sometimes it comes down on one side of a contentious argument, and if that isn't your side it might feel frustrating - we do our best). To be sure it was clear that councillors listen, I withdrew from making a key decision on a proposal at the County Council on traffic filters (because I was quoted as saying it would "definitely" go ahead after the consultation but before the formal decision was made). I would rather say "we will definitely try to do something about the traffic congestion which has been awful for decades in Oxford".

There is no way anyone wants to make it harder to travel. I certainly don't - I love to travel. It is our shared ambition to make it easier, cheaper, safer and cleaner to get around. The County Council has consulted on plans and measures to help - particularly given the jams we face on our roads, many of which were built well before cars existed, and certainly which can't handle current levels of traffic.

The objective, informed by many residents (including the 30% in the city of Oxford who don't have cars), is to cut traffic by supporting public transport (buses, taxis, trains where they exist) and also make walking and cycling safer and more pleasant. One thing we hope will help is traffic filters in the city, which will allow most traffic through and give buses a chance of being on time, but which will put some journeys onto the ring road instead of cutting through the city.

The council inherited some schemes from Covid times, and we are wrangling them into shape so they serve those who love the quiet residential streets while allowing better flows for those who need to travel past. We also plan to find ways for some journeys, commuters to city workplaces for example, to have other alternatives such as new bus services. If these plans go right we are on a promise from government and bus companies to get a brand new fleet of electric buses to ferry us about in comfort while keeping the air clean - another problem the city and county (and world) faces.

So - no lockdowns. No bans. Nowhere in the city of Oxford that is currently accessible by car will be inaccessible as a result of the traffic measures proposed. It should be quicker and easier. If this doesn't work we will try something else.

Happy to answer questions if I can. Once again, apologies for the length of this. For more detail on the filters you can click on this link from the County and City Councils:

news.oxfordshire.gov.uk/joint-statement-from-oxfordshire-county-council-and-oxford-city-council-on-oxfords-traffic-filters/

I work in Oxford and live in a nearby village. It's 5 miles away from my main place of work. A normal morning drive is 30-50minutes. When I drive in, I currently have 3 options, two of which join up on the same road eventually.

One of these new bus gate things will mean I have only one route in. Probably along with many other morning commuters. This will mean I can expect my morning drive to be longer, as many other commuters will be forced onto this single route in, rather than us spreading out over 3 different routes.

To make matters worse, my job involves visiting different schools all within the Oxford ring road to see pupils for a disability reason. Except I'm not employed by the NHS, I'm employed by the County Council, so will not be given a pass. This will increase my journey time between visits, meaning I can make fewer visits each day.

I can't cycle in or get public transport, because I can visit 3 or 4 different schools in one day and sometimes have equipment to take.

The City Council don't seem to care that not only will my commute be increased, but my work within the city will be impacted. Van delivery drivers will be allowed to go wherever in quicker times, yet children with disabilities will have to wait longer for their entitled services. Says it all, really.

You've got to build the infrastructure first though. Not make the public transport unworkable and then fine people for not being able to use it.

Wheover said like it or not this is going to happen needs to be reminded that they are an elected official there to serve the community, not indulge in their favourite population control fantasy

Exactly this

Instead of concentrating on providing the important basic services, far too many of these types are getting way above themselves and interfering in issues where they're not wanted - even worse if it involves a "partnership" where they pay someone else to do what should have been their job, usually at an extortionate rate

And then they whine that they're short of money

Presumably the good people of Oxford voted for these councillors, knew the platform they were standing on when they elected them and engaged in the wide ranging public consulation on the matter?
Surely if the voters in Oxford did not like the proposals it is simple enough to vote for someone standing on a different platform, perhaps the community should organise and elect people more to its own liking?

If they want people to be able to access all essentials within a '15 minute neighbourhood' maybe they should make sure these essential services are actually in place, accessible, well-funded and up-to-scratch. I'm sure many people would prefer to walk 5 minutes to the Post Office than drive 20 minutes across the city, but it's impossible if you do not have a local Post Office or if it's not open hours that suit you. The Post Office is just being used as an example.

Rather than punishing people for using things that are outside of their immediate vicinity by making their lives even harder, make their lives easier for a change by actually providing the services you want them to use. It's a lot easier to just cause a lot of hassle for everyone though.

@Rainbowshine a few people have said how bad the ring road is. Why is it so bad? Do you think if public transport within Oxford was better more people would use park and ride which might help?

Given the reports on here of the traffic in Oxford as I understand it presently one could get further in a 5 minute walk than a 20minute drive anyway.

The thing is I have to use my car and the ring road, because what I do is very important, but everyone else just gets in my very important way, and if only they would be good and use public transport instead everything would be grand.

Possibly!

My point was more that many people would love to use services that are close to them, but they have to be available for that to happen.

If the councillors stood on a ticket of doing this then I'd agree, jgw1, but frankly I'd be very surprised. From experience I find it much more likely they'd flag up "dealing with city congestion", but that this kind of manic idea was dreamed up later in some committee - and committes often take no notice of public consultations no matter how wide ranging

I had to smile though at the officer's remark about supporting public transport (buses, taxis, trains where they exist) - my italics. That's what ours said about 7 years ago, and since then bus services have reduced almost to the point of invisibility

@DuncanEnright Thank you for coming on here. I am a commuter who lives in a small village, very limited public transport and use the Headington-Cutteslowe stretch of the ring road. I don't even want to go inside the ring road.

However, with all these new measures, the ring road is going to be gridlocked. The queues at the various roundabouts are horrendous most of the time already. How do you envisage the ring road working when all the traffic is being forced onto the ring road.

The Thornhill Park and Ride is my nearest but I don't want to have to go all the way into the city so that I can then go across the middle and then all the way out the other side. I work long hours and don't want to be carrying my bags/laptop etc all the way in the dark, wet weather. I already have a disability although not enough for a blue badge. If everyone is to be using the P&R , there won't be enough spaces anyway. Not to mention the cost of parking and then using numerous busses.

It will mean a 20 minute journey will take a minimum of 1.5 hours each way. I understand some of the reasoning but the LTNs are causing so much congestion that some busses are being scrapped, yet there are going to be more restrictions rather than relieving some of the additional ones. It's bonkers

@jgw1

Those people getting in your way on the ring road can't use the busses as they don't go that way. And yes I realise you are being sarky but it just highlights another issue.

That's not true at all. I am disabled and can't drive. I'd be lost without my bike, it's the only way I can visit friends, see the doctor, or shop for groceries. When i can't ride a 2-wheeler any more I'll use an adult's tricycle. After that I'll use a mobility scooter or the small cars designed for the disabled, both of which can be used on bike paths. I wish no able-bodied person was allowed to own a car, they're fucking dangerous for people like me. Don't wail on behalf of the disabled, we're just trying ro cross the road withour dying thanks.

Fifteen-minute neighbourhoods do need public transport and cycling infrasfructure but first they need a mindset shift, namely for all able-bodied people to get off their arse, put on a raincoat and try something other than their cars.

Personally I think a lot of people need to get with the reality that we will all need to spend a lot more time at home from now on, and travel will need to become a lot harder to save the planet.

Covid taught as that the vast majority of work, socialising and leisure can take place from home. It is better for the environment. Let's not forget covid is still with us and staying at home reduced case numbers.

Of course there will be significant birthdays and things which people will still celebrate in person but the government wants us all at home more from now on, and I can see why with the benefits it has.

@Mogwire try* *this news.oxfordshire.gov.uk/joint-statement-from-oxfordshire-county-council-and-oxford-city-council-on-oxfords-traffic-filters

I'd like to respond to this but I have no words.

I say this as an introverted homebody.

Covid taught as that the vast majority of work, socialising and leisure can take place from home.

I hated every minute of all this, so fuck that.

Instead the government can get up off its arse and improve public transport as well as incentivising greener means of travel

Let's not forget covid is still with us and staying at home reduced case numbers.

🙄 🙄 🙄

sorry forgot to do that