Danger to women in Low Traffic Neighbourhoods

[Carosse]

I live in Sands End East in Fulham and they have just made a camera scheme permanent which prevents out of borough traffic travelling through the neighbourhood. The trouble is that also includes Uber and Minicabs. There are roundabout ways for them to get into the area but because they are confused they often drop residents away from their home. The streets are now deserted at night and this is a violent area. I have complained long and hard to the council. I think this is a real violation of womens rights to get home safely. What can I do about it ?

I'm not sure I'm.following correctly?

So any women getting a lift home from a friend or relative or a taxi has to be dumped somewhere, or be taken via dimly Lit side streets and back roads ?

That will surely be even worse and more unsafe ?

Hounslow council have done the same thing in the Grove park area of Chiswick.

Sounds like a bonkers not-properly-thought through scheme:

Gah. Auto-post again. Found an article on it:

www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/pioneering-traffic-scheme-keep-non-18396039

The first thing that springs to mind - is someone in the council getting a kickback from the APNR camera suppliers? Seems like such a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

A lot of people with disabilities are opposing these LTNs too as it limits where they can go if they need to use a vehicle.

If these schemes don't work for disabled people or for women it would be interesting to see the Equality Impact Assessment the council did before implementing the scheme. Perhaps ask to see that, so you can read what consideration was given to people with either of those two protected characteristics. My betting's none whatsoever.

If the scheme is permanent, surely residents will soon be familiar enough with the layout to be able to explain to any confused cab driver how to get to their address? Also, if it's permanent, satnavs should be updated so any drivers relying on those should be OK.

@Alekto

If these schemes don't work for disabled people or for women it would be interesting to see the Equality Impact Assessment the council did before implementing the scheme. Perhaps ask to see that, so you can read what consideration was given to people with either of those two protected characteristics. My betting's none whatsoever.

^^Spot on. Please do this.

The longer journeys bump up the cost though.

Amd I don't know about you but I'd be a bit scared about being down some dark street with a taxi driver. I've had a get that have made me feel very uncomfortable. I'd rather they Stickney Stic to a main road thBks

I'd rather they stick to a main road.

Sorry for typos

You can read the Equality Impact Assessment here: democracy.lbhf.gov.uk/documents/s118746/Appendix%204%20-%20Fulham%20EqIA_Draft%20for%20report.pdf
This is what it says about the protected characteristic of sex:
"Due to increased journey length, women may be disproportionately impacted by increased traffic as the primary escort providers to school children and may experience subsequent delays when travelling/commuting to work in the area.
However, according to traffic data, currently delays on WBR are considered to be insignificant on journey times. The removal of shortcutting via residential streets the proposed scheme is likely to benefit women largely as the primary escort providers to school aged children. The reduction in traffic and congestion in the area will improve the safety of the roads and encourage active travel. However, according to traffic data, currently delays on WBR are considered to be insignificant on journey times."

WBR = Wandsworth Bridge Road

It sounds like there is an easy fix to this, which would be to exempt taxis, minicabs and Ubers from the ban when their destination is in the LTN. This could be done by allowing them to provide proof that they are a taxi driver and were taking a passenger to a destination in the LTN zone when the cameras pick them up and they are sent a letter fining them.

From reading the article, it sounds like your council doesn't want to respond to suggestions. But you never know.

Do you know your neighbours? Can you find other people who are concerned? It's better if there are a few people, but you don't need many. Most local councillors are worried about the effects a few voters can have, because most people don't vote at all or respond to 'consultations'. Those who shout loudest tend to get their way even if there aren't very many of them. Get to councillors' surgeries, or better still, neighbourhood meetings if they exist. (Covid might have stopped neighbourhood meetings though.) Can you find anyone who is disabled and affected by this?

You could practise your sad face and get the local paper involved. But be aware that pro-LTN keyboard warriors hate taxis, so if you do this you will get misogynistic abuse. (They all seem to be young, male, fit and selfish, with no concept that anyone might not be able to walk far or might need to take elderly relatives to appointments.) I hate to say this on FWR, but if you get some men onside it will mitigate the abuse.

Here's my example. A few years ago, our local council introduced a LTN that didn't include our street, but we were badly affected by displaced traffic. The council held regular 'neighbourhood meetings'. DH and three other people from our street turned up, for the first time ever, as did a bunch of people from another badly affected road, which was good because they could join forces. At the first meeting, the councillors were frankly rude - one played on her phone while people were making their case. But when they realised we weren't going away, the council actually made changes. Shouting loudly can work. Good luck.

Here's what it says about disability:

"The proposed scheme is unlikely to impact those with a disability directly as the area will remain largely the same, with no expansion or alterations to existing footpaths.

The council operates a taxi-card scheme which enables disabled residents to use black taxis which are exempt from the scheme. Due to the reduction in through traffic the black taxis will have better access to the area.

The proposed scheme may impact those with disabilities, particularly learning difficulties, when providing visitor permits online and via telephone. The scheme allows for a nominated advocate to operate the technology on their behalf. The council’s cancellation policy also caters for any fines received by drivers visiting disabled residents.

Reduced congestion and traffic has been found to improve local air quality and therefore reduce the associated health risks – this is especially notable for people with respiratory conditions."

@Bordois

A lot of people with disabilities are opposing these LTNs too as it limits where they can go if they need to use a vehicle.

Yes, and a disabled woman in south London tried to take her local authority to court over it. Her freedom to get around has been negatively impacted.

Good point too about women being adversely affected. Aside from anything else, these schemes have already delayed ambulances (putting lives at risk). Presumably this could impact on pregnant women particularly if there's any birth complications.

Not everyone who is disabled is eligible for the taxicard scheme.

Also

Reduced congestion and traffic has been found to improve local air quality

It doesn't reduce congestion or traffic. It simply moves it somewhere else - and has so far significantly worsened matters for those unfortunate people living in the rerouted areas.

Ambulances are normally exempt from the ltn restrictions, and may in fact be less likely to be delayed due the reduced amountof traffic.

www.lbc.co.uk/news/paramedic-tells-lbc-he-lost-a-patient-after-being-delayed-by-an-ltn/

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/ambulance-boss-says-low-traffic-22262795

Delays caused by LTNs, however rare, are likely to be more salient that delays reduced by LTNs, even if the later are more significant.

There are different types of ltn. Where they use actual barriers, it will obviously impact ambulances. Signs and cameras should not.

I know Fulham well and tbh some of the worst, most entitled driving I've ever witnessed has been there. So many times I've seen groups of people with children cut off from each other by drivers of huge SUVs ignoring zebra crossings.

However OP I think your concerns are very legitimate. Do you know why your neighbourhood has this zone the whole time? I live in a different borough and we have a sign/camera stopping non local traffic, but only during morning rush hour. So walks to school are safer and less polluted, but evening taxis unaffected.

In theory there are other ways into Sands End East and the council keep stating this but there are lots of reports about women being dumped and having to walk the last 1/2 mile home

Have women also been dumped. This sounds dreadful and scary too

This article was written when the experimental
Scheme was introduced. It has now been made permanent despite loads of residents campaigning against it. The council are apparently going to improve street lighting to make us safer! You couldn’t make it up!