An official study of low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) ordered by Rishi Sunak amid efforts to stop them being built has instead concluded they are generally popular and effective and the report was initially buried, the Guardian has learned.
The long-delayed review by Department for Transport (DfT) officials was commissioned by the prime minister last July, as Sunak sought to capitalise on controversy about the schemes by promising drivers he was “on their side”.
The report is another blow to Sunak in his attempt to attract votes by blocking schemes that encourage active travel, set out in September in a “plan for drivers”, promising a clampdown on LTNs, bus lanes and 20mph speed limits, and moves to prevent councils from fining people for infractions.
As part of the latter policy, it is understood that the DfT plans to launch a consultation on denying councils access to centrally held data from automatic number-plate recognition cameras if it is felt that they are enforcing road rules too vigorously.
LTNs are modal filters, a common traffic management tool used for decades that stops motor vehicles from using smaller, residential streets as cut-throughs, using camera-enforced signs or physical barriers but allowing full access for pedestrians and bikes.
The report found some evidence of the schemes encouraging people to walk and cycle, as well as interim findings that LTNs tended to lead to a reduction in road danger and street crime, while saying more research was needed.
The original article contains 830 words, the summary contains 240 words. Saved 71%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
This is the best summary I could come up with:
An official study of low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) ordered by Rishi Sunak amid efforts to stop them being built has instead concluded they are generally popular and effective and the report was initially buried, the Guardian has learned.
The long-delayed review by Department for Transport (DfT) officials was commissioned by the prime minister last July, as Sunak sought to capitalise on controversy about the schemes by promising drivers he was “on their side”.
The report is another blow to Sunak in his attempt to attract votes by blocking schemes that encourage active travel, set out in September in a “plan for drivers”, promising a clampdown on LTNs, bus lanes and 20mph speed limits, and moves to prevent councils from fining people for infractions.
As part of the latter policy, it is understood that the DfT plans to launch a consultation on denying councils access to centrally held data from automatic number-plate recognition cameras if it is felt that they are enforcing road rules too vigorously.
LTNs are modal filters, a common traffic management tool used for decades that stops motor vehicles from using smaller, residential streets as cut-throughs, using camera-enforced signs or physical barriers but allowing full access for pedestrians and bikes.
The report found some evidence of the schemes encouraging people to walk and cycle, as well as interim findings that LTNs tended to lead to a reduction in road danger and street crime, while saying more research was needed.
The original article contains 830 words, the summary contains 240 words. Saved 71%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!