Theme: Public Policy | Content Type: Journal article

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and the Paradox of UK Government Control of the Active Travel Agenda

David Banister, Geoff Dudley and Tim Schwanen

Matt Seymour LTN

Matt Seymour

| 1 min read

Low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) are designed to remove motorised traffic from residential streets, while leaving them permeable to pedestrians and cyclists, and they have become a popular means to promote active travel. During the recent pandemic, the government introduced the Active Travel Fund in England to facilitate the rapid implementation of LTNs, but this also resulted in a powerful top-down control element. This in turn has resulted in a paradox where funding is contingent on certain conditions being met, but insufficient and changing guidance has been given to the local authorities charged with implementation. This article outlines this highly unpredictable process, the controversies and the uncertain implementation through the development of the LTN process in England and the experience of Oxford, where many of the issues are currently being confronted.

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  • David Banister

    David Banister

    David Banister is Professor Emeritus of Transport Studies at the University of Oxford.

    Articles by David Banister
  • Geoff-Dudley_avatar.png

    Geoff Dudley

    Geoff Dudley is Visiting Research Associate in the Transport Studies Unit at the University of Oxford.

    Articles by Geoff Dudley
  • Tim-Schwanen_avatar.png

    Tim Schwanen

    Tim Schwanen is Director of the Transport Studies Unit at the University of Oxford.

    Articles by Tim Schwanen
Volume 97, Issue 3

Latest Journal Article

Volume 97, Issue 3

Includes a collection on 'The Political Economy of Tourism', edited by Kira Gartzou-Katsouyanni. Contributions include a piece on climate change in tourism-intensive Alpine regions by Valentina Ausserladscheider; Fathimath Musthaq's comparison between restrictions on tourism in the Seychelles and the Maldives; and Lorenzo Mascioli's investigation into how public policy can be used to make local tourism more sustainable. In our opening commentary, Deborah Mabbett reflects that good policy making is often a tedious process. Other articles include Thomas Quinn, Nicholas Allen and John Bartle on Labour's "Red–Green electoral threat"; Eda Bektas, Korhan Mühürcüoğlu on the paradox of power in Turkey; and Nikhil Datta and Amrita Kulka on Labour's home-building plans. Book reviews include Stephen Coleman's assessment of Matthew Goodwin's latest book, 'Suicide of a Nation'.

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