Pic: Negative space

Inner London boroughs have been commended for having the “healthiest streets” in the capital. Whilst London’s suburbs were accused of prioritising cars over people.

The royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea ranked the lowest of the inner London boroughs.

last month the borough blocked TFLs plans for a £42 million segregated cycle lane in Holland Park Avenue and Notting Hill Gate. It would have been the first of its kind in the borough.

Dr. Will Norman, London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner told the Evening Standard that he was “disappointed” by the decision

The rankings were created by transport campaigners London Living Streets, London Cycling Campaign, CPRE London, RoadPeace, Sustrans and Campaign for Better Transport London.

Official data from the capital’s 33 boroughs was used to monitor progress in reducing car use and road danger, improving air quality and encouraging the use of public transport, walking and cycling.

The City of London came out on top, followed by Tower Hamlets, Camden, Hackney, and Islington.

Havering and Redbridge were deemed worst, followed by Bexley and Bromley.

Despite having the capital’s busiest roads, Tower Hamlets ranked second due to low rates of car use and high use of public transport.

Capital’s top 10 ‘healthy’ boroughs

1 City of London
2 Tower Hamlets
3 Camden
4 Hackney
5 Islington
6 Hammersmith & Fulham
7 Southwark
8 Westminster
9 Lambeth
10 Haringey

Borough councils control 95 % of the capital’s roads. In 2016 Tower Hamlets council introduced its cycle strategy to lower emissions and improve the health of residents.

The strategy pledged  To double the volume of cyclists in the borough by 2025, increase the proportion of residents cycling to work to 12%, reduce the risk of cycle accidents by 40 % and to increase the number of children cycling to school by 25%.