pgc all green working and signpost with lettering new colour 2
pgc all green working and signpost with lettering new colour 2
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Waltham Forest Council has released a short video outlining the achievements of the "Enjoy Waltham Forest" project since it began five years ago, when the borough was one of three to win bids for "Mini-Holland" funding from the Mayor of London and Transport for London.

Over the last five years through the Enjoy Waltham Forest programme we've have delivered more than 22km of segregated cycle lanes, created 40 modal filters to prevent local streets being used by motorists as rat runs, two part-time motor vehicle closures in local high streets, improved 100 junctions, trained more than 7,500 school children to ride a bike and 5,000 adults, planted more than 700 new trees and created 15 pocket parks. In this video we hear from Councillor Clyde Loakes, deputy leader of Waltham Forest and residents about what these improvements mean to them.


Like Enfield, Waltham Forest ran into serious opposition to its scheme, especially during consultation over early elements, such as the creation of "villages" (low-traffic neighbourhoods) in Walthamstow, but many people now agree that these have been very successful in improving quality of life the the residents of the streets in question, and there is hard evidence of "traffic evaporation" having occurred.

The name chosen -  "Enjoy Waltham Forest" - contrasts with that used by Enfield - "Cycle Enfield" - and emphasises the fact that the transformation is designed to improve life for everyone, not just people who ride bikes.  And it's interesting that, despite starting with the "village" schemes rather than with bike lanes, Waltham Forest has already created more miles (or kilometres) of segregated bike lanes than Enfield - and when it comes to creating genuinely "quieter neighbourhoods", well, there's simply no contest.  Time for Enfield to get its skates on (or maybe its bicycle clips) and do some catching up.

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Christie Wagland posted a reply
04 Apr 2019 08:47
As someone who lives in Palmers Green and has worked in Walthamstow for many years, I saw the changes being implemented there, and now here. There is no comparison. Waltham Forest Council seems to have a genuine passion for their area, and a clear vision of how the borough can work...for everyone. They grabbed the bull by the horns and just did it, and it’s fantastic. Even where my office is, right in the middle of the industrial part, they’ve pedestrianised some roads, closed others off to through-traffic, created new walkways, implemented one-ways, 20mph speed limits etc. So many more people walk and cycle now, it’s brilliant. It started with them pedestrianising the Village, then rippled out through the rest of the borough. It’s much more sociable, there’s a real sense of community. Well done them!
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