Brighton and Hove Living Streets

1. Build a network. We are a group of local residents, part of the national Living Streets network. We work entirely on a voluntary basis and want to build a diverse network of activists in neighbourhoods across the city, and find the right ways forward for each place.

2. Reduce traffic speeds across the city.  Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC) has introduced very welcome 20mph speed limits on some roads, but their partial use is confusing and they are rarely enforced. We need 20mph across the city, with enforcement on all vehicles.

3. Increase safe crossings.  Traffic still dominates much of the city, in spite of some excellent improvements by BHCC. We need more controlled crossings, zebras, traffic islands and refuges throughout the whole city, especially on major routes (e.g. the seafront) to help slow traffic down and remind drivers of the priority and vulnerability of people on foot.

4. Remove physical barriers to walking. Removing pedestrian railings (removal is proven to reduce collisions with pedestrians), pavement clutter, poorly sited waste and recycling bins; and building wider pavements – to create safer walking spaces. We support programmes to increase walking to school, to work and to all local facilities.

5. Green our streets and neighbourhoods, and improve our public realm. Greening helps tackle pollution and climate change, improves air quality and increases the attractiveness of streets to walk and linger in as well as supporting biodiversity and providing shade. We will campaign for street tree-planting, as well as supporting low-cost, community initiatives such as seed swaps, guerilla gardening etc. and more public toilets, seating and open community spaces.

6. Work with others. We collaborate with many other groups interested in walking, cycling, heritage and conservation and active travel as well as politicians, community and neighbourhood associations. We have been engaged in discussions on Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and 20 Minute Neighbourhoods, and in relevant BHCC programmes and strategies to improve travel and transport in the city. We can all achieve much more together.