Latest Healthy Streets Stories

Study reveals world’s most walkable cities

The world’s most walkable cities include London, Paris, Bogotá and Hong Kong, according to a report. The UK capital outranks almost 1,000 cities around the world on citizens’ proximity to car-free spaces, schools and healthcare, and the overall shortness of journeys.

Regent Street plans unveiled to deliver a greener, cleaner, safer and more accessible West End

The Crown Estate and Westminster City Council have unveiled plans to transform London’s iconic Regent Street – helping to deliver their shared vision for a greener, cleaner, safer and more accessible West End.

Ethnic minorities and deprived communities hardest hit by air pollution

A new study has found big differences in air pollution across communities in England, with deprived and ethnic minority areas the worst affected.

Town Hall increases fine for engine idling to £80 in Finsbury Park – with more areas to follow

Hackney Council has upped the fine for drivers caught unnecessarily running their engines while stationary to £80 in Finsbury Park, with the new penalty to be introduced in more areas over the coming weeks. The increase from £20, which came into force yesterday on Clean Air Day, is intended to curb pollution caused by engine idling in high-footfall town centres where people are particularly vulnerable, including around schools and GP surgeries.

75% of air quality zones are in breach of the legal limits

75% of air quality reporting zones still have illegal levels of air pollution, according to environmental lawyers. ClientEarth found that in 2019, the government was still breaching legal limits for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution – in 33 out of the 43 national reporting zones. The data shows that air pollution was in breach of the legal limits right before the Covid-19 pandemic and while lockdown saw air quality improvements in some areas, pollution is already on the rise in many towns and cities.

New ‘lollipop’ to measure air pollution during the school run

Renault has created a new ‘lollipop’ that monitors air pollution during the school run in a bid to raise awareness of the impact that idling engines have on air pollution. The highly accurate air quality monitor looks like a traditional road safety lollipop but on one side of the lollipop displays the exact concentration of particulate matter (PM2.5) in real-time and the reverse side shows whether this is ‘good,’ ‘okay,’ or ‘poor.’

Royal Greenwich Residents’ Rainbow

During September, colour burst into every corner of Greenwich as part of the Royal Greenwich Residents’ Rainbow. In fact, eight locations were transformed by technicolored light installations, community arts pieces and ribbons sharing residents’ heartfelt thanks and well wishes for the future of their communities hung on wishing trees.

Spectacular short walks in London

To celebrate Transport for Londons 20th anniversary, they have partnered with Go Jauntly on 20 local London walks to help you see the city and stay active - plus, they only take 20 minutes!

‘Dramatic’ plunge in London air pollution since 2016, report finds

Air pollution in London has plunged since Sadiq Khan became mayor, with a 94% reduction in the number of people living in areas with illegal levels of nitrogen dioxide.

TfL opens latest protected Cycleway in southeast London

With the uptake of walking and cycling in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Transport for London (TfL) has opened a major new Cycleway between Tower Bridge Road and Rotherhithe, which is set to make cycling and walking safer and easier for thousands of people in the area and beyond. The 3.6km section of Cycleway 4 follows a key corridor along Jamaica Road and Tooley Street and connects southeast London to central London via a fully protected cycle route for the first time.

London parents call on local authorities to make it easier for families to walk and cycle to school

A recent survey commissioned by Sustrans found that 81% of London parents say it’s essential local authorities now take steps to make it easier for families to walk and cycle to school.

DHL Inaugurates Package Delivery Using Water Transportation In London

In London, DHL, one of the world’s largest package delivery companies, it recreating the Thames river as a commercial highway. Every morning, package arriving at Heathrow airport are transported to a nearby dock on the Thames by electric vehicles. Once on board, they speed down the river to London, where they are unloaded and placed on pedal powered cargo bikes for delivery to their final destination in the city.