Even cyclists need the use of a car occasionally throughout the year

The Mayor of London’s transport policy aims to shift travel towards walking, cycling, and public transport (80% of trips by 2041) using the Healthy Streets Approach to create healthier, safer, and more sustainable journeys, reduce car dependency, improve air quality, and support new housing and jobs through better connectivity.

Key goals include Vision Zero (eliminating road deaths/serious injuries), achieving Net Zero for TfL operations by 2030, expanding the ULEZ, and major investments in the Tube and bus networks. So a core aim and goal is modal shift, using transport jargon. That is get 80% of London trips made by walking, cycling, or public transport by 2041.

Another is Healthy Streets, prioritise health and personal experience, making streets better for walking, cycling, and spending time in. Then we have of course Vision Zero: Eliminate all deaths and serious injuries on London’s roads by 2041, starting with buses by 2030. Linking it up with Mayoral climate commitments we have Net Zero: Make TfL’s operations Net Zero carbon by 2030. Which will also help Congestion & Pollution Reduction: Decrease traffic, improve air quality, and reduce noise. And finally Economic Growth of course, using transport investment to unlock new housing and job opportunities.

So key strategies & priorities were the Public Transport Focus – to enhance the experience on public transport to encourage shifts from cars. Active Travel –  invest in cycling infrastructure and making walking easier and safer. ULEZ Expansion – widen the Ultra Low Emission Zone to tackle pollution. Tube & Rail Upgrades – Modernise lines (Piccadilly, Central, District, etc.) and improve network coverage (4G/5G). Bus Network –  Transition to zero-emission buses and improve services, especially in outer London and finally  road safety – implement stricter standards for vehicles (Direct Vision Standard for HGVs) and better road design.

Yet in this strategising of Transport Policy in London, the place of car clubs has clearly been non-existent. This when over 250,000 London members of Zip Car, one of the major car clubs in London is now pulling out of the London market. This critical required working with London Councils on matters like parking charges for their cars has been long overlooked along with other local issues which need to be covered in a overall memorandum of understanding between operators, London Councils and TfL. 

And whilst the FT Lex Column can say the ZipCar business model run out of road because of their high fixed costs, it suspects rivals should buckle up. And the London Assembly Transport Committee Report, Stalling Car Clubs  issued before the Christmas break,  identifies a clear policy failure as TfL’s approach is seen as hindering growth, with concerns that their caution about increased car trips outweighs benefits like reduced private car ownership along with recommendations and calls for action. 

All l can say, it was a major oversight of the Mayors Transport Strategy particularly on shifting people into public transport, one should not forget that even keen cyclists need the use of a car! Those journeys where they may need a car or van over a year could amount to dozen times a year, but can quickly add up a few million trips in total in London over a year at the aggregate level. As a result, also trailing behind its rival cities on EV car clubs. Clean Cities’ 2023 report ranked London just 30th out of 42 European cities for deployment of electric car clubs, behind Paris, Rome, Brussels and Berlin.