Latest news with #CleanCitiesCampaign
BBC News
29-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Bristol 'better than Copenhagen' for kids walking and cycling
Bristol has been ranked the eighth best city in Europe for children to walk, cycle and get around on their own – coming ahead of city was marked higher than anywhere else in the UK by the Clean Cities Campaign (CCC), which looks at cycle lanes, speed limits, and low traffic zones near Pond, chairman of the Bristol Cycling Campaign, which promotes better infrastructure across the city, said he was "a little surprised" by the CCC calculated that 80% of Bristol's streets were designated a "safe speed" of 20mph, compared with only 3% in Copenhagen. However, the Danish capital does have significantly more cycle lanes that are protected from traffic. Paris had made "dramatic progress" to get to the top of the list, the CCC said. Amsterdam, Antwerp, Brussels, Lyon, Helsinki and Barcelona came next in the ranking, with Oslo and Ghent in ninth and tenth, and Copenhagen in eleventh place. 'A lot more to do' Boosting cycling infrastructure would have pushed Bristol's ranking even chairman of Bristol City Council's transport and connectivity committee, Ed Plowden, said he was "pleased" with the result but that more progress could be made."One of the things I've always said that makes a great city and a good transport system is that a sensible 12-year-old can walk around the city and be safe, and that parents aren't very scared about their safety," he said."So it's really nice to see at least a little bit of an endorsement that we're moving in the right direction, but let's not forget there's a lot more to do."The council plans to trial a new red high-friction surface on some sections of segregated cycleways in the city centre, to see whether this improves safety for cyclists and one busy bike lane through the centre is to be resurfaced with black tarmac, because the process for hiring contractors to refurbish the surface is already under way.
Time Out
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time Out
London's congestion charge could increase next year: cost, zone map and everything you need to know
Central London's congestion charge has remained the same price for the last five years. But, according to Transport for London, it's time for it to be increased. The congestion charge is in place to encourage Londoners to use more sustainable modes of travel and decrease emissions in the city centre. TfL wants to raise the charge in order to keep encourage more people to make the eco-friendly switch. Nothing's set in stone yet though. TfL has launched a public consultation over its proposals in order to hear what people living and working in the area have to say. It started on May 27 and will be open until August 5 – you can have your say here. But first, here's everything you need to know about the proposed changes to London's congestion charge. Why is the congestion charge going up? TfL said that it the increase would help further incentivise people to consider electric vehicles or use public transport. It added that if the charge stays the same, there would be around 2,200 more vehicles using the congestion charge zone on an average weekday next year. How much could London's congestion be increased by? As per TfL's proposals, the charge would increase by 20 percent from £15 to £18, if paid in advance or on the day of travel. At the moment, the congestion charge rises from £15 to £17.50 if it's not paid by midnight on the third day of travel. Under TfL's plans, that higher price will rise to £21. When would the charge increase? The price hike would come into place from January 2026. Where is London's congestion charge zone? The congestion charge zone covers central London, including the City of London, Soho, Southwark and Lambeth, bordered by major roads like Euston Road, Commercial Street, Tower Bridge Road and Vauxhall Bridge Road. Who has to pay the congestion charge? The better question is who doesn't have to pay. At the moment, all electric vehicles can go through the congestion charge zone for free, but that exemption is due to end from December 25 this year. TfL's new proposals say that zero-emissions should be given a discount. The 'New Cleaner Vehicle Discount' would come into place from January 2, 2026. Electric vans, HGVs, light quadricycles and heavy quadricycles will have to pay £9 a day (50 percent discount) and electric cars will have to pay £13.50 (25 percent discount). From March 4, 2030, those discounts would be reduced to 25 percent and 12.5 percent. At the moment residents driving non-electric cars enjoy a 90 percent congestion charge discount. From March 2027, that will be abolished for any new applicants. TfL said: 'Those who are already registered for the discount ahead of this date will not see any changes, reflecting that they might be reliant on their current form of transport.' What have people said about the proposals? Oliver Lord, the UK head of Clean Cities Campaign, said: 'We've record numbers of polluting diesel vans in the UK so I'm thrilled the Mayor is helping to reward businesses that invest in greener fleets. By prioritising electric and pedal powered freight, we will all benefit from cleaner air and quieter streets. 'There's no use having a congestion charge that nobody pays so I think today's proposals strike a fair balance between its core aims around traffic and congestion, whilst also advancing our environmental goals.' However, on the other side of the argument, Michael Lloyd, the FSB's London infrastructure champion, said: 'Many businesses, particularly in sectors where margins are so tight, will not able to absorb these extra costs. 'Businesses will look to charge customers in the charging zone a premium for their business services, which will heighten inflationary pressures further. 'The mayor should immediately reconsider the excessive increase and make it more palatable to struggling small firms. We urge the mayor to maintain a zero charge for small van users.'
Times
15-05-2025
- Times
Bristol beats Copenhagen as one of safest cities for cyclists
Hilly and often clogged with traffic, Bristol might not seem an obvious choice but its segregated cycling lanes and 'school streets' have put the city ahead of Copenhagen in a ranking of the safest European cities for children to cycle independently. Bristol was rated eighth out of 36 cities for children independently walking and cycling by the non-profit group Clean Cities Campaign, putting it above the Danish capital, which came 11th. Bristol scored 14.4 on official data collected by the group, which assessed cities on three criteria including the number of school streets, which restrict cars around schools at drop-off and pick-up times. Copenhagen achieved an overall score of 13.6. • The next Copenhagen? Inside Scotland's cycling revolution Cities were also judged on the number
Forbes
15-05-2025
- General
- Forbes
Best European Cities For Child-Friendly Mobility
The ranking was based on official data provided by city halls across Europe that evaluated three ... More benchmarks for making cities and mobility more child-friendly: Number of low or no traffic zones near schools, protected cycling infrastructure and safe speed limits. Paris has made dramatic progress in recent years in its mobility infrastructure and is now considered one of Europe's best cities for children to walk, cycle and get around independently. The City of Light is first among 36 European cities for its relatively new and extensive network of protected bicycle lanes, reduced speed limits and low or no traffic zones near schools. Amsterdam, Antwerp, Brussels, Lyon and Helsinki are close behind. Those are a few highlights of a recent analysis of how the transport systems of 36 European cities prioritize the needs of children. A new ranking and accompanying report were released on Wednesday by the Clean Cities Campaign, a non-profit network of organizations, at the Start With Children summit in Bratislava, Slovakia. 'Children are less free to get around town and less active than they once were, especially girls,' Barbara Stoll, Clean Cities Campaign senior director said in a statement. 'But our ranking shows that parents, teachers and city administrations can make huge and rapid progress.' The ranking was based on official data provided by city halls across Europe that evaluated three benchmarks for making cities and mobility more child-friendly: Number of low or no traffic zones near schools Called 'school streets,' these areas regulate traffic to boost road safety, limit noise and improve air quality, and create more space for children to walk, cycle and play. London has 525 near primary schools, far more than any other city in the ranking. Milan and Paris are runners up. Protected cycling infrastructure The City of Light is first among 36 European cities for its relatively new and extensive network of ... More protected bicycle lanes, reduced speed limits and low or no traffic zones near schools. Children feel safer in cycle lanes that are physically separated from traffic, researchers said. Paris and Helsinki both enjoy a protected cycling network extending nearly half (48%) as long as their road networks, more than any other city in the ranking. Copenhagen comes next with 43%. Safe speed limits Urban speed limits of 30 km/h (about 18-19 mph) are known to reduce pollution and crashes. Paris limits speed on nearly all its road length (89%), more than any other city in the ranking, followed by Brussels and Lyon, Amsterdam, Bristol and Madrid. From the report: 'In 2024, Bologna became the first major Italian city to introduce a 30 km/h speed limit across a large share of its urban road network. Backed by Mayor Matteo Lepore, the 'Città 30' initiative aimed to cut road deaths, reduce pollution, and make public spaces safer and more welcoming for everyone. The policy faced strong initial resistance, but just one year in, the results are striking: traffic collisions dropped by 13%, injuries by 11%, and road fatalities by 49%. For the first time since records began, no pedestrians were killed. Bicycle use, carsharing, and public transport have all increased, too.' Germany and Poland have no cities in the top ten, researchers said, 'owing to a persistent car culture and cities lacking complete control of speed limits and parking.' The 36 cities chosen represent a cross-section of geographical locations, urban sizes, and approaches to mobility, according to the report, and include those with long-standing commitments to safer, healthier, and more sustainable urban environments, like Amsterdam and Copenhagen, and relative newcomers, like Paris, Brussels and London.. Committed city leaders, more than national policies, were often the critical force behind a city's success, Clean Cities noted. The group recommends that governments empower cities more, and that the European Commission improve data collection rules and promote school streets and protected bike lanes in upcoming legal guidance. 'Taking a walk through Paris today is a breath of fresh air compared to 10 years ago,' Stoll, of the Clean Cities Campaign, added. 'It takes vision, leadership and sustained investment, but most cities can and should make similar progress.' To view the complete list of 36 ranked cities and the full report, click here
The Guardian
14-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Paris races to top of European rankings of cycling-friendly cities for children
Paris was once notorious for speeding traffic and a parking technique involving gently nudging cars to squeeze into a spot – but now it has topped a European ranking of cycling-friendly cities for children, leaving Amsterdam in second place and Copenhagen in the dust. Analysing 36 European cities in terms of their cycling infrastructure's suitability for children, the report found that the French capital had raced to the top thanks to investments for the 2024 Olympics and a €250m (£210m) initiative to build 112 miles (180km) of cycling lanes under Socialist mayor Anne Hidalgo. Using data on segregated cycling lanes, low road speeds of 30km/h (18mph) and 'school streets' on which traffic is limited, the non-profit Clean Cities Campaign (CCC) put the Belgium city of Antwerp in third place, before Brussels, Lyon, Helsinki, Barcelona, Bristol, Oslo and Ghent. 'Among the leading cities, some – such as Amsterdam and Copenhagen – are widely recognised as longstanding pioneers in progressive urban mobility, having started the re-design of transport infrastructure decades ago,' the report said. 'Others – like Paris, Brussels and London – have achieved remarkable progress in just the past 10 years. This demonstrates that meaningful change is possible within a relatively short period of time.' Child cycling mobility in cities is a key measure, the report says, because 70% of the EU population lives in urban areas, 14% of residents are under 14 and children are vulnerable road users. But Barbara Stoll, senior director of the CCC, said it was under pressure. 'Children are less free to get around town and less active than they once were, especially girls,' she said. Eight cities, primarily in southern, central and eastern Europe, were deemed by the report to be 'under-performers,' including Marseille, France's second city, Rome, Florence, Krakow, Budapest and, in last place, Sofia in Bulgaria. Across the continent, no city, Paris included, had done enough to warrant an 'A' grade from the report's authors. Clément Drognat Landre, co-ordinator of the CCC in France, said that while low emission zones polarised opinion, most people supported safer bike space for children. 'One of the huge advantages is the reduction of pollution, which is a big health risk,' he said, adding that the creation of school streets had high levels of public support. 'So far, it's been a one-way journey.' In Amsterdam, traditionally seen as a haven of two-wheels travel, there are concerns about the rightwing government increasing motorway speeds and a declining tradition of child cycling. 'There's a big difference between the cities and the national level,' said Maud de Vries, co-founder of cycling advocacy organisation BYCS. 'Amsterdam is focusing on making sure people really feel a part of public space. But nationally, things need to speed up.' Belgium – particularly the Flanders region – has invested seriously in cycling infrastructure, according to Wies Callens, policy officer for its Fietsersbond cycling association. 'The adage is 'build it and they will come',' he said. 'Ghent's circulation plan has meant a big improvement for cyclists, especially children and young adults cycling to school because there's less car traffic.' Sign up to This is Europe The most pressing stories and debates for Europeans – from identity to economics to the environment after newsletter promotion Employer salary sacrifice bike schemes are often used for 'bakfiets' (cargo bikes) or longtail bikes with a back seat to carry children – although the last Brussels government's cycling policy had its critics. 'There was a huge protest from the rightwing against what they call in Flemish bakfietsbobo yuppies,' said Callens. Helsinki recently reduced speeds to 30km/h on almost all local streets in residential areas – which has certainly 'reduced the number of crashes,' says Roni Utriainen, a traffic engineer in the city.
