During spring 2021, the London Road Safety Council held six information sessions to help educate its members on emerging road safety topics.
The sessions took place on consecutive weeks throughout February and March and covered:
- School Streets and air quality
- E-scooter hire
- Cycle and e-scooter enforcement in London
- The Big Bikes Project
- Transport for London’s motorcycle safety campaign
- The Department for Transport’s road safety campaign strategy
All six sessions are now available for LRSC members to access via the members’ area of the website – while any non-members can contact James Parker, the LRSC’s executive officer, via email, for more information.
About the sessions
The first session, which took place on 2 February, was delivered by Olly Samways, head of sales and marketing at Westcotec.
Olly talked about School Streets – which typically involve closing roads around schools to motorised traffic at peak times. They aim to reduce traffic congestion and pollution, as well as making it safer for children to walk or cycle to school.
He outlined how Westcotec are helping with the delivery of School Streets, including through signage which is able to issue automated penalty charge notices (PCNs) and monitor air quality.
The second session discussed e-scooter hire – and was delivered by Johnny Munro, public policy manager (UK) at Bolt, an e-scooter provider.
Johnny provided an overview of the ongoing UK trials, before looking at the plans for e-scooters in London.
He outlined the technicalities of running a rental e-scooter scheme, including: geofencing, parking locations, maintenance and safety issues, sanctions and insurance.
Sgt Steve Wilson from the Met Police’s Cycle Safety Team discussed both cycle and e-scooter enforcement, outlining dates for future Close Pass operations taking place in the coming weeks and months (details of these are available in the members’ area).
He also talked about the Met’s use of virtual reality technology in initiatives such as Exchanging Places and to tackle issues including car dooring.
Beccy Marston, from the Active Wellbeing Society, gave a presentation on The Big Bikes Project which originated in the Midlands and is to be emulated in the west of London. It is a scheme whereby assistance is given by means of training, bicycle provision and ongoing support to citizens living in areas of deprivation.
Meanwhile, Meg Yardley from TfL talked about the issue of motorcycle and powered two-wheeler (PTW) safety. She presented a new social media campaign, delivered by Haringey school teacher Ogmius, in his series The Zen School of Motoring.
And finally, Rachel Smith talked about the Department for Transport’s speed awareness campaign – Be the Mate Who Won’t Speed – and detailed the social media targeting techniques to localise the message.
The sessions were attended by between 35 and 45 members when broadcast live and recordings of the sessions have been viewed within the membership and by colleagues as many as 62 times in the case of the session on e-scooter hire.
Given that its membership currently stands at just under 100, the LRSC says this demonstrates the effective reach of the series.
At the conclusion of the sessions an evaluation was carried out, and most gratifying was the high indication of follow-up activity by LRSC members:
- I found all the sessions really useful – however it was especially useful to get more information on the DfT plans so we can incorporate into our localised planning. I also found the Big Bikes project inspiring and we run a similar project on a really small scale so was great to hear more details on how to scale up if we had funding available
- I found the cycling and e-scooter enforcement useful – however I find it harder to interact when there isn’t a PowerPoint/slides
- Have indicated to schools about the legal status of the e-scooters, as many families are using them in lockdown to travel to school
- Change of leadership in the council is allowing us to revisit School Streets and understand more about e-scooters so this information was helpful to have
- I’ve sent details of the Big Bike Project on to colleagues developing policy and manifesto that it could be a good idea to include
- Not yet but it was very interesting to hear from others about their experiences
- We have signed up to the feasibility report for the Big Bike project and pleased to hear of the TfL motorcycling campaign which will compliment what we have already put in place for motorcycle safety and further demonstrated that we in the right direction for targeting this difficult to reach casualty group
- I have been reassured by how seriously the safety element is considered in the e-scooter pilot. When we were potentially a pilot borough I was very concerned and felt accountable for the safety element
- Youtuber involved in Motorcycle Campaign – I have been in touch with Ivan/Ogmius to find out a bit more about his work with potential to collaborate
- It was really good to learn what I did from the motorcycle safety session
- Arranged for the excellent TfL P2W presentation to be given to DfT teams
- Along with our cycle training manager we are looking at working with the big bike project to launch our own scheme.
- Well organised and kept to time. Provided confirmation of knowledge/updates. P2W session especially helpful
The LRSC adds there is clearly an enthusiasm for more of these sessions, and members have indicated an interest in the following:
- Behaviour change analyst
- The TfL Dashboard
- Evaluation methods
- Session on which cycling initiatives are best (by safety reasons) and good examples of what exists out there
- LTN update
- Projects addressing inequality in road casualties/engagement (cycling etc)/LA projects
- Marketing
- Any road safety school initiatives
- Road safety for SEN
- Vision Zero; 20mph and the significance of lower speeds
- Low traffic neighbourhoods and the role that they can play
- FORS/SUD courses (we are trying to work with HGVs etc due to the increase of collisions they are involved in)
- Inclusive design for mobility/visually impaired people
- Road Safety Week (potentially a case study from a borough who delivers this well and could share best practice with others)
- LTNs and cycle infrastructure but it is useful to have sessions on a range of topics such as the current programme
Responsibility for these sessions lays with the President’s Challenge Action Plan Working Group, who will review the feedback to inform future activity.
The LRSC is keen to run more of these sessions in the future. Any suggestions for topics to be covered should be sent to James Parker via email.
11 May 2021