Urbanism
Environment
Design

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In an initiative to increase cycling in West London, on November 1st and 2nd, a delegation of highway engineers and planners from Ealing Council and WestTrans cycled around Copenhagen and learnt how they had got to 37% of trips being made by bike. In a return match, Danish experts will visit London and plan to cycle the four miles from Brentham to Bedford Park, two historic suburbs, on November 29th  prior to speaking to a packed symposium; Living Suburbs, at the Building Centre on Friday November 30th.  The Living Suburbs event has been organized by URBED and the TEN Group, Ealing Council, and NLA with Sponsorship from Berkeley First, Embassy of Denmark, JMP Consultants Ltd and Peter Brett Associates

The initiative with Copenhagen followed a study tour and subsequent symposium on What London Can Learn from Scandinavia, in 2011, which concluded that cycling was one of the best ways of improving wellbeing, and achieving a more sustainable city. However there are major barriers such as conflicts with motorists, which can only be resolved through changes in behaviour as well as road design. The recent visit to Copenhagen brought out the importance of a long-term strategy (as the City has been gradually, over a forty year period, been giving priority to cyclists through dedicated cycle ways and tracks). It also suggested simple measures, such as de-cluttering the pavements to provide more space, and providing space for turning at junctions.

The Danish delegation for ‘Living Suburbs’ includes their new Ambassador to London Anne Hedensted Steffensen, and the Director of Traffic for Copenhagen City, Niels Tørsløv, who is now turning main roads into the city centre into living streets.  Alison Dutoit who heads Gehl Architects studio, which has played a major role in making city streets more welcoming, has been advising other cities such as New York, where once notorious Time Square has become a place to linger.

The Living Suburbs event is free to attend but registration is essential.  We welcome you to come along by registering at the link above.