News Articles Archive - Page 71 of 140 - Cross River Partnership

With thoughts turning to recovery and how to build back better, CRP is pleased to be engaged in projects that will support a transition to a cleaner future. Our EV Fleet Centred Local Energy System (EFLES) project, part of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund’s Prospering from the Energy Revolution challenge, is helping to unlock the challenges of electrifying vehicle fleets through an integrated smart charging and energy resource management platform, based in Camden.

Last month we launched this 12 month partnership project with UK Power Networks Services, UPS and Moixa. We are now busy gathering data for the project and also looking across the other projects in the challenge as we work towards a greener, more resilient future for energy and transport.

For more information, please contact CRP Project Manager Tom Linton-Smith.

CRP’s Healthy Streets Everyday (HSE) project is rapidly and proactively helping the 17 Borough, landowner and BID partners to make lasting and transformative change to streets throughout London, in full alignment with TfL’s Streetspace programme, and adding extra benefits to Londons’ COVID-19 response.

As part of our Steering Group Meeting in May this year, we facilitated a round table discussion to share information and ideas on partner Streetspace plans. It was great to hear about the wide range of initiatives being carried out across London, with examples including road closures in Hackney, School Streets in Richmond Upon Thames and Pocket Parks in the Northbank BID.

As well as supplementing Streetspace initiatives, HSE is also focused on providing guidance and support to aid green recovery for both partners and the wider community. For example, the HSE School Streets Hotline provides partners with guidance and information on implementing School Streets, whilst CRP’s LiveShares aim to educate both partners and the wider community on topics such as the benefits of active travel, London’s active travel network, and enabling business recovery.

The first LiveShare event was a great success with the focus being placed on journey planning. The session discussed how to use tools such as CRP’s Clean Air Route Finder, a journey planner that provides alternative walking or cycling routes to reduce exposure to air pollution for NO2, PM10 and PM2.5. HSE is fully committed to helping partners in light of COVID-19, taking this opportunity to create streets that are pleasant for all people, creating environments that can accommodate and encourage increases in sustainable and active travel and that are pleasant, safe places that all Londoners can enjoy.

For more information, please contact HSE Project Manager Fiona Coull.

On Friday 5th June, World Environment Day, CAV3 officially launched! CRP is delighted that the launch featured in Air Quality News, the UK’s air quality and emissions news and information site. Edie, who report on sustainability, energy and the environment, have also featured the project launch in their Sustainability Success Stories of the Week! CRP has funding from Defra’s Air Quality Grant to deliver the CAV3 project, with additional match funding, with Westminster City Council as the leading partner. For further information, please contact CRP CAV3 Project Manager Kate Fenton.

Two new boards have been established to oversee London’s recovery from the pandemic.

The London Recovery Board, which has already met, will be co-chaired by the Mayor of London and the Chair of London Councils, and will focus on the longer-term economic and social recovery. The City of London Corporation’s Catherine McGuinness is one of the many eminent individuals sitting on this Board.

The London Transition Board, co-chaired by the Mayor of London and the Communities Secretary, will look at transition out of lockdown into the next phase. CRP’s Board Co-Chair Simon Pitkeathley is sitting on this Board.

CRP is fully committed to supporting both of these Boards to lead London out of its initial lockdown safely and sustainably.

This week, Londoners will once more be able to visit shops and places of worship. They may find it tricky to move around while maintaining physical distancing. CRP’s Clean Air Route Finder is a useful journey planner for active travellers – mainly – pedestrians and cyclists – with the additional benefit of highlighting the average amount of air pollution along a given route.

CRP Strategic Partner, Transport for London, is working with London’s boroughs to create more space on the roads for active travellers via its Streetspace for London Plan. Additionally, to help maintain distancing on public transport, the number of passengers on public transport will be capped – some may find it more convenient to walk or cycle for some or all their trip.

CRP has years of experience of making active travel a healthy, pleasant experience for Londoners. Previous reports include:

– Walkable London: Best Practice Guide for a Walkable City

– The Walking Tube Report in Central London: A feasibility and implementation Guide

– Clean Air Walking Routes: Monitoring Reports

For more information, please contact CRP Project Manager, Sefinat Otaru.

Change is in the air and Cross River Partnership is helping to keep you informed. Our LiveShare sessions bring together industry experts to present, explain and discuss the many changes that are currently underway in London, whilst allowing you to have your say through our interactive platform.

The first LiveShare of the series went live on Wednesday 10th June, made possible by support from Defra and the Mayor of London, informing the 66 viewers of the new active travel opportunities that have arisen in London due to COVID-19. During the session we were joined by active travel and sustainability specialists from Transport for London and Sustrans who provided their expertise on the current changes to the active travel network. Click here to view the full LiveShare session!

TfL provided an update on their London Streetspace Programme, outlining some of the immediate modifications that are currently underway to London’s walking and cycling network. Sustrans highlighted the array of tools and resources that are available to make cycling and walking easier in the capital. CRP also informed viewers of the Clean Air Walking Routes tool, providing an insight to new routes for walking and cycling around London.

Our next LiveShare session, ‘High Streets Emerging from Lockdown’, will be held on Thursday 2nd July, 2-3 pm. This session will focus on sharing best practice from the lessons learnt around re-opening business on the high street post lockdown. A link to sign up will be posted shortly!

For more information, please contact CRP Project Manager Tomos Joyce.

Bike Week is taking place from 6th to 14th June; a week of events dedicated to improving the awareness of cycling and its benefits and to encourage people to use bikes for transport. These events are taking place in different countries throughout the world and has been taking place in the UK for nearly 100 years. This year, due to the pandemic, sessions are offered online. The #7daysofcycling campaign has been launched to encourage people to share their own experience of cycling during Bike Week. To show the advantages of cargo bike use, particularly around air quality, CRP has produced a number of best practice case studies.

CRP is proud to run programmes which tie in with Bike Week: Clean Air Villages 3 (CAV3), Healthy Streets Everyday and the Central London Sub-Regional Transport Partnership (CLSRTP). Clean Air Villages 3 will be engaging with businesses, hospitals and communities via cargo bikes, promoting active travel and encouraging behaviour change about bike usage. Like CAV3, Healthy Streets Every Day has works to encourage bike use and behaviour change providing information and guidance about Active Travel. CLSTRP developed a study last year, evaluating best practice in cycle logistics and worked on a project on installation of dual-purpose cycle stations to support active travel.

Did you know that nearly half of London’s NOx comes from road transport? Temporary changes have been proposed in support of Transport for L ondon and boroughs’ response to the coronavirus pandemic, and this week TfL welcomed views on these changes. The suggested changes include increasing the daily change to £15 and removing the £1 Auto Pay and Fleet discounts, extending the charging hours to 07:00-22:00, seven days a week, and closing the Residents’ Discount to new applicants. If confirmed, the changes could be implemented from 22nd June 2020 on a temporary basis, helping to keep London’s air clean.

During the pandemic, we have learned that there are disproportionate effects of coronavirus on the BAME community. This has led to an investigation into the causes of why this might be. It has been suggested that the structural issues that often affect the BAME community, coupled with disadvantages within the community, such as lower social/economic status, are relevant factors. Public Health England has published a review of disparities in risks and outcomes of coronavirus, which tried to address some of the problems. We look forward to seeing how these impacts can be mitigated and also how these communities are being supported with possible solutions. It is even more important that we engage meaningfully with communities as ‘structural inequality doesn’t disappear in a pandemic, it is exacerbated’. We hope that more recommendations can be made, and that government, business and communities can work together to mitigate these circumstances.

Let’s continue the conversation.

By Chioma Wuche, CRP Project Support Assistant.

CRP and its government, business and community partners welcome the paradigm shift in urban space to walking and cycling. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a London that is fairer, safer and healthier.

London’s Boroughs and Business Improvement Districts are working at a phenomenal pace with the Mayor of London, his Walking and Cycling Commissioner Dr Will Norman, and Transport for London, to deliver his Streetspace programme as a key plank of the Covid Response.

Walkable London and Cyclable London is now in sight for many more of London’s communities. Please see CRP’s Clean Air Route Finder to help you plan a healthy journey.

Let’s keep working together!

Archives: News Articles

EV Fleet-centred Local Energy System – plotting a course for a green recovery

Healthy Streets Everyday Programme Update

Clean Air Villages 3 (CAV3) Launch

London Transition Board and London Recovery Board

Getting Around London

CRP’s LiveShares

Celebrating Bike Week!

Recent Congestion Charge Consultation

COVID-19 and BAME Communities

Walkable London