The latest meeting of the Transport and Infrastructure Expert Panel included a series of presentations on some of the big issues (and opportunities) that will impact on London’s streets and transport network in the coming years. These insights will help inform the deliberations of the sub-groups that have been established to develop proposals for the New London Agenda under the topics agreed at the previous meeting:

·       Managing and responding to uncertainty and change

·       Fair, equitable and efficient use of street space 

·       Eliminating dependency on the private car

The first presentation was from Laura Putt, panel member and Street Analysis Manager at TfL. Laura summarised the most recent scenarios that have been developed to help TfL understand and plan for uncertainty. The five scenarios describe a range of plausible futures for post-pandemic London (see Travel in London 14 for more details). These scenarios are used to develop an alternative forecast for future travel demand that informs detailed modelling work. As Laura noted, while the pandemic has amplified uncertainty it is important to remember that pre Covid-19 London was already seeing changes in travel behaviour and new business models.

One of those new business models was the arrival of dockless cycles on London’s streets in 2017, with for hire e-scooters added to the mix last year. These are two examples of micro-mobility – defined by the Centre for London, in their recent report on the subject, as “small vehicles, powered by electric motors, pedalling, or both, that can be safely ridden alongside conventional bicycles in cycle lanes”. Josh Cottell, Research Manager at the Centre for London, provided the panel with an overview of the report’s findings and recommendations. Done right, micro-mobility will likely play a key role in supporting a shift towards more sustainable ways of travelling in the Capital.

Josh also shared the transport related recommendations from the London Futures Review. These include the need for sustainable financing for TfL to support a transition to low-carbon transport; road user charging; and greener last mile deliveries. All issues that have also been identified by the panel and that will be considered as it continues to refine proposals for the New London Agenda.

Camilla Siggaard Andersen, Urban Research Lead at Hassell and Chair of the Built Environment Technology Expert Panel provided the final presentation. Camilla outlined the need for a people centred approach to adopting and supporting new technologies; one that will help create a more democratic, pleasant, and sustainable city. Making the most of the opportunities that new technology can provide will require us all to think differently about how London looks and works. It also needs better coordination of data collection across projects and developing and activating networks to connect people developing new solutions to the people that can best implement them.

Judging by the questions and discussion that followed, including our ability to be more reactive with transport planning, all three presentations have given the panel much food for thought. There was still time, however, for brief updates from the three sub-groups. These touched on the following points:

-        the need to think radically post Covid-19,

-        the potential for meanwhile uses to inform long-term designs, 

-        managing competing priorities for streets and public realm,

-        taking advantage of the relative flexibility of streets to respond to change,

-        avoiding a blanket approach to reducing car dependency, 

-        the possible impact of autonomous vehicles,

-        the potential for neighbourhood mobility hubs and much more besides. 

I look forward to further discussion on these thoughts and ideas when the panel meets in person for the first time in June.