The truth about low traffic neighbourhoods

We’ve conducted the biggest ever study into the impact of LTNs and the evidence is in: they work.

Substantial falls in traffic

We have worked with the University of Westminster’s Active Travel Academy to publish the most comprehensive study of low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) ever, showing that streets within LTNs experience substantial, overall falls in traffic and, implying significant changes in street use.

This report shows that most streets within low traffic neighbourhoods see reductions in traffic, improving the experience of walking and cycling. Two-thirds of these neighbourhoods now have vehicle flows below 1000 vehicles a day, compared to only two-fifths before. Across London the average traffic reduction within LTNs was 46.9%.

Little impact on boundary roads

What’s more, there is little indication of this traffic being simply displaced onto boundary roads. Average motor traffic counts showed that on boundary roads, traffic changed relatively little - with a less than 1% increase on the mean average of 11,000 vehicles that pass through boundary roads on a typical day.

Average decreases in motor traffic on roads within LTNs are almost ten times higher than average increases in motor traffic on boundary roads. This suggests that not only do LTNs have substantial benefits inside their boundaries by creating an overall reduction in traffic, but they can also contribute to wider traffic reduction goals.

The report also notes the importance of the substantial variations as LTNs have no consistent impact on boundary roads across individual LTN schemes. These variations, the report points out, are not likely to be primarily caused by LTNs but could, instead, be caused by other contextual factors such as major local works or wider background trends. 

We need to go further

The report emphasises the need to consider that boundary roads are highly likely to still be polluted, unsafe, or difficult to cross or cycle on. Removing LTNs is unlikely to alleviate these issues so it is vital for local authorities to consider other measures that could (such as expanding low emission zones, urban greenery, increasing public transport provision etc).

In this climate crisis, we need our policymakers to make bold, data-led decisions; this report gives them that information. Now we need action to drive down traffic, make our cities happier and healthier, and directly address the climate crisis.

We are calling on local authorities to use the report’s findings to introduce more LTNs and to challenge misinformation about the direct impacts on boundary roads as well as to call for further measures to address traffic on these boundary roads. Follow the link below to show your local councillors you support LTNs.

Low traffic neighbourhoods are good for people and planet. So let’s have some more of them.