South London boroughs has been ranked in an annual survey measuring how healthy their streets are for cyclists and pedestrians.

The Healthy Streets Scorecard London sets out data to reveal the impact of the capital’s roads according to nine indicators.

The scorecard is produced by a coalition of transport, health, road safety and environment organisations: London Living Streets, CPRE London, Sustrans in London, RoadPeace, London Cycling Campaign, Future Transport London, Possible and Wheels for Wellbeing.

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Sutton and Croydon have been shown up as poor performers, ranking 28th and 23rd out of London’s 33 boroughs with scores of 1.81 and 2.98. 

Richmond and Wandsworth performed better, ranking mid-table in 16th and 11th, with scores of 4.71 and 5.38.

The criteria by which boroughs are judged are divided into four ‘outcome indicators’ and five ‘input indicators.’

The input indicators monitor to what extent boroughs are putting in place measures to dramatically improve air quality and road safety, boost active lifestyles and reduce carbon emissions.

The outcome indicators are the proportion of trips made by different forms of transport, the proportion of residents making at least five journeys by cycling or walking weekly, the number of road casualties and car ownership rates.

Sutton has one of the lowest rates of adults regularly walking or cycling in London.

Car ownership rates are among the highest in London with 105 cars per 100 households and it is one of only a handful of boroughs where more than half of trips are made by car.

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Sutton has done very little to make its streets healthier when compared to other boroughs, with only 5% of the borough’s streets in a Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN).

It is now one of only two boroughs with no school streets at all and only 4% of streets have protected cycle lanes, compared to 12% in leading borough Outer London borough Waltham Forest.

The report’s conclusion is that Sutton “has simply not done enough and needs to take urgent action to improve the health of its streets.”

Croydon is praised for taking some positive action, but the borough’s overall score is brought down by high levels of car ownership (92 cars per 100 households).

It has low use of controlled parking (only 20% of borough roads are controlled), the second lowest score for protected cycle track of all boroughs; andjust 4% of roads with potential for low-traffic restrictions now have an LTN.

Croydon has lower than average rates of road casualties amongst those walking though the rate is higher than average for cycling.

Use of sustainable modes of transport and levels of regular walking and cycling are below London average levels and are far away from the target levels needed to support healthy streets in Croydon.

The report concludes that Croydon must prioritise more Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and protected cycle tracks to improve its ranking.

Richmond moved up to 16th in this year’s overall ranking (up from 21st) and now sits third among the Outer London boroughs. 

It is praised for implementing a 20mph speed limit across nearly the whole borough and installing many School Streets.

It is also in the upper quartile of boroughs for the proportion of residents regularly walking and cycling and has the distinction of having the lowest pedestrian casualty rate of London’s boroughs.

Richmond falls down on its provision of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) with only 7% of suitable roads in an LTN.

The report urges the borough to apply the level of ambition it has put into delivering 20mph and push forward on protected cycle tracks and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods.

Wandsworth is one of the lower scoring inner London boroughs.

It suspended seven Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) within weeks of implementing them in 2020.

Only 14% of roads are within a LTN (compared to leader Hackney with 55%) and only 4% of roads have protected cycle track (compared to leader City of London with 21%).

And only 61% of roads have controlled parking in Wandsworth, whereas there are now nine boroughs with over 87% of roads covered and five with 100% covered.

Wandsworth has introduced 20mph speed limits across 81% of borough roads, and has plans for the remaining roads.

And it has introduced a number of School Streets, where traffic is restricted around schools at arrival and departure times, with 17% of schools now covered (though this is much lower than leading borough Merton at 41%).

The report concludes that much more action is needed on LTNs, cycle tracks, School Streets and controlled parking.