The London Assembly Transport Committee has written to London’s deputy mayor for transport asking what the future for the Streetspace active travel scheme now holds and what Transport for London (TfL) will do to respond to the recent High Court ruling.
TfL launched its Streetspace for London scheme in May 2020, aiming to accommodate up to 10 times the increase in cycling and a five-time increase in walking across the UK capital.
The scheme kicked off as Londoners turned to walking or cycling instead of public transport to get around safely during the Covid-19 pandemic.
It involved introducing bus-only corridors, developing the cycling network, and repurposing footways to provide more space for social distancing.
However, On 20 January 2021, the High Court ruled that parts of the Streetspace scheme, including bus-only corridors and stopping access to taxis, were considered unlawful.
The High Court quashed the Streetspace plan, Interim Guidance to Boroughs and the A10 Bishopsgate Traffic Order.
Dr Alison Moore AM, chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, said the High Court judgment on TfL’s Streetspace for London expansion had left many questions unanswered about the knock-on effects for schemes across the capital.
“The future of Streetspace could well be hanging in the balance,” said Moore. “The Transport Committee has written to the deputy mayor for transport asking how TfL now plans to respond to the ruling and what will happen to existing Streetspace schemes.”
