On the
#nursesstrike
. I’ve spent most of the last 3 months in hospital with my 10 month old baby. Yes the doctors and surgeons have been exceptional, but my god the nurses…
Nurses working around the clock to give life saving medicines, meticulous measuring/monitoring to raise the alarm when problems arise, and just as importantly the arm squeeze to give comfort when it gets too much, the offer of a cup of tea, such important care and compassion
I wouldn’t wish my last few weeks on anyone, but if you do find yourself in my shoes, more than anything you’ll want to know that those nurses are OK. That they have decent pay and conditions, and are able to get decent rest without needing extra shifts just to make ends meet
P.s. special shout out to Emily, Hadijah, Rev, and Fiona who have worked tirelessly over the last day to look after us at UCLH. I’ve watched them on their 12+ hour shifts barely stop to ensure that everyone’s needs are met. Thank you 🙏
@NHSMillion
@theRCN
And a very very special thanks to Lily and the team on Squirrel ward at
@GreatOrmondSt
who cared for us for most of this time. You are all superheroes ❤️🤩
1/3 Shaking. Just went to pick the boys up from school. Pressed the button on the crossing across Blackstock Road. The pedestrian lights go green. We start walking. Then a stationery car at the lights starts driving into my five year old. I scream at him to stop. I can see he is
A favourite little story from Finsbury Park... during one half term I’d take my sons to the playground daily. We noticed a man would arrive briefly each morning on a bicycle, he would cycle enthusiastically around the pond shouting ‘Henrietta’ at the top of his lungs
2/3 holding his phone, he wasn’t looking when he pressed the accelerator. The driver stops, horrified. 5yo is shaken, but ok. I’m livid, it could have been v. bad. We did everything right, went to the crossing/waited for the light. Why can’t it be safe to walk home from school?
There’s a Dad out walking with his kid on a scooter in front of me. It should be an enjoyable thing. Instead he’s having to give stern warning the whole way, ‘watch for cars’, ‘not to close to the edge’, ‘quickly across the road, quickly’. Why did we let this become the norm?
None of my immediate neighbours have cars anymore. It’s giving this bit of street quite a different feel. Now I’m dreaming up all of the cool things we could be doing with this space instead....wider pavements, parklets?community gardens? Mini-football pitch....
3/3
@IslingtonBC
@garyheatherFJ
@AmblerSchool
- this was a horrible near miss. Would Cllrs and Officers be willing to visit and see how we can make walking routes from Ambler less terrifying for kids (and parents!) please?
Dear Councils, if you are providing bike training for kids but not infrastructure so they can cycle to their school or the shops safely, we are failing. It’s like teaching a kid to read and then not giving them access to any books. It doesn’t make sense.
So we came to know of Henrietta the Heron. Who provided a delicious reminder of small surprises, and probably some form of life lesson on jumping to conclusions.
Last night an elderly woman knocked on our window. Staying in temporary accommodation at the end of our road, she was cold and desperate, and asked for a little food/money. Whenever the next GE is, I’ll be campaigning with everything I have to end this disastrous Tory government
1/3 I cycled with family from Finsbury Park to Ally Pally tonight. The fireworks show was spectacular. The cycle was not just depressingly bad, it was VERY scary. I was embarrassed to think that we’d ever encouraged people to cycle this journey…
I never saw girls cycling like this when I was a kid. I was the only girl I knew at college who would travel in by bike. What a change. This is what happens when councils step up - and are bold in designing streets that are oriented around people not just motor traffic
This is what traffic used to look like outside our local school each morning. It was dangerous for pupils to cross the road, it was noisy and you could taste the pollution in the air.
Once she landed, he cracked open a little tin of sardines to her delight…and ours. In a matter of seconds she gobbled it up, took flight, and the man cycled off down the hill. ‘Well’ said my 4 year old . ‘Well’ I replied with a grin.
3/3 We try to teach our kids that cycling is an accessible, healthy, fun mode of transport for their futures. It can be! But until Haringey sorts out it’s infrastructure, cycling will only be for the brave, it’s very sadly, just too dangerous
A month ago
@haringeycouncil
with leadership from
@mikehakata
and
@perayahmet
delivered a scheme in St Ann’s to prioritise people over traffic. This was the street outside the school this morning. The change was incredible.
Was a joy to see a boy cycling solo to school along CS1 this week - kudos to
@jonburkeUK
@hackney_cycling
for making this possible. I wish it was a more normal sight across the UK!
1st morning volunteering at school street. Takeaways:
a. Watching kids scoot/stroll freely is joyful
b. It wasn’t controversial - everyone was fine
c. The space created conversations - I learnt about food bank coordination/school laptops/parklets
d. Our head has a cool dog
This is the LTN I grew up next to in Finsbury Park, Hackney in action. It created streets where my friends could walk to school safely, an accessible route for cyclists between town/Haringey, and streets where neighbours could convene/speak - credit to
@mum_on_bike
La Rose Lane this morning versus 2019.
@haringeycouncil
is creating streets for people, and it’s brilliant.
A group of Haringey’s children learning that their local streets are for them too
Two children have been hit by cars outside our school in the last fortnight, We are extremely lucky they are OK. But this is not good enough. What’s the point in all of the planning to protect them from COVID-19, when they are then put at risk of fatal injury at the school gate?
@CSmiles_News
Our local authority has asked us to walk and cycle where we can to reduce traffic in our local area. They offered cycle training. We all had lights. We tried to attend a local fireworks show. Drivers saw us, they were angry we were there and slow. I’m just asking for safe routes
Cycled with the kids to Broadway Market. LTNs in Islington and Hackney made the journey possible and safe. This view was some cherry on the cake - boroughs getting it right and delivering fast
I would smile politely… I hoped he was OK…and that someone was looking out for him. This continued for some days. Then on our last day, as the man completed his second circuit/Henrietta chorus, we saw a heron swoop down to meet the man on the bike.
So Copenhagen spends £35 on cycling per head annually, but in England (outside of London) the trajectory is 37p per head. With the UK government pledging 30bn to road improvements- primarily benefitting motorists. Climate Emergency anyone?
@perayahmet
@mikehakata
@haringeycouncil
@HaringeyCyclist
In response to some of the comments. Our local authority is asking more residents to walk and cycle for short journeys. It’s important for health, air quality and reducing carbon emissions. They train kids to cycle. But this is the reality when we try. We need to do better
I don’t live in an LTN. But I live next to a small one in Haringey called the Gardens. For the last 8 years it’s provided us with a safe walking and cycling route to Green Lanes. It’s a mini-oasis which every neighbourhood in Haringey deserves
We will need to see how the schemes bed in over time, and to see the monitoring data of their impact. However after living here for 10 years, I cannot believe the transformation which has been possible. A massive thanks to all those involved 🙏
Tree planting in the carriageway 😍 an excellent small step in creating greener/healthier streets - reallocate a parking space for beauties like this, whilst keeping pavements wide/accessible - win/win!
How on earth have we got to the point where some people are arguing motor traffic keeps women safe? I spent an evening last week listening to a group of women in my community vividly describe how current levels of vehicles and speeding in the area heavily impacts their safety
So it’s not perfect, and it needs extending/more protection, but for the first Saturday ever I had a section of protected clear cycle lane to Finsbury Park and it’s made me SO HAPPY. Thank you
@HaringeyCyclist
for campaigning and
@haringeycouncil
2/3 We decided on a route through Fins Park, up Wightman, on then Station Road. There are no real protected lanes… or alternative routes. We started single file, but after 3 extremely close passes, the group held the lane to protect the younger cyclists. Then the beeping ensued
When lockdown eases I never want to see scenes like this outside schools again. At a time like this we must provide clean air for vulnerable lungs.
#buildbackcleanerair
Is this the type of leadership we want? A PM using their platform to slam schemes that make streets healthier/safer for people? We need decision makers who can articulate why total car dependency/lack of alternatives is a problem and outline a better vision for the future…
This is what cycling looks like in Haringey at the moment. With limited public transport we have never needed protected routes more - cycling in our borough must be accessible and safe. If you agree, please tell
@haringeycouncil
you need a safe route, and join
@HaringeyCyclist
.
@SianElizabeth0
We were seen by the drivers who drove dangerously close to us when we initially cycled single file - they looked me in the eye. They were in a rush. The drivers beeped because they didn’t like that our speed was slowing them down. Yes roads are for everyone, it didn’t feel it
Two videos taken 3 minutes apart. If the driver of this car had taken this turn a few minutes earlier the consequences would have been deadly. Families must be able to cycle without this type of risk.
Was enjoying one of the few filtered areas in my borough yesterday...and the most interesting bit is all this calm is created by two concrete blocks. Low traffic neighbourhoods don’t have to be expensive, they just need political will
Tried to get a bus home from Manor House. Ended up walking to the Arena as traffic was so backed up. Felt for those left at the bus unable to do the same. Green Lanes is awful. The number and behaviour of drivers is impacting everyone’s health - this transport model is broken
We cycled along Green Lanes and St Ann’s Road to get to school. These are both boundary roads. This was Green Lanes at 8.30am this morning, and St Ann’s at 9am.
@tickedybooo
I know too much driving in our area is having a negative impact on the poorest- from air pollution/road danger/health impacts. Our family are trying to make a travel choice which is better for us and the community - and our experience was scary because there is no infrastructure
@perayahmet
@mikehakata
@haringeycouncil
@HaringeyCyclist
A happier update - this was our cycle this morning through Hackney. Finsbury Park to Britannia. Along mostly filtered streets and protected lanes. It was calm and enjoyable. The centre is full of parked bikes because
@hackneycouncil
is building streets that welcome them
I’m gutted that this was our school gate this morning. The pollution from these cars is damaging the lungs of our kids and nothing has been done to protect them
@HaringeyLiving
Took the baby & 3y/o to the South Bank this morning by myself, on the bike, for the 1st time. We explored our city at a gentle pace. I wouldn’t have dared it without the totally brilliant cycle infrastructure which is transforming London - it was glorious 🚲❤️💪thank you
@TfL
Hi
@haringeycouncil
can you please send some parking enforcement to Wightman Road? There are cars completely obstructing the pavement at the moment - impossible as a pedestrian to get through without walking on a very busy road.
Today my 3 year old cycled to nursery for the first time. Because
@ChestnutsPark
@haringeycouncil
built a new gate in our park so kids can access their school without navigating a busy main road. It’s totally brilliant - thank you!
Tired of seeing dangerous driving like this on our local streets. It means parents will rarely feel confident letting their kids pop to the local shops or cycle independently to school. We need streets for people and community
@tonight_frying
Watching drivers deliberately beep and driver dangerously at kids trying to cycle in the local area is a problem. A lack of sustainable travel options impacts air pollution, road danger, and physical health. Accumulatively massive problems for society
@hugorifkind
It’s freedom. I’m quite pregnant, can’t walk very far at present, but today our electric cargo bike meant I could take my two older kids on a 5 mile trip with bags in the bike, no trouble. It was comfortable, enjoyable, and I got some much needed exercise
Green Lanes...impossible to keep 2 metre distance on pavements, but visitor parking remains...surely we can be looking at expanding our pavement space?
@haringeycouncil
@HaringeyLiving
Watching some kids playing hide and seek on the street. It’s a strange state of affairs that something which should be completely normal stopped me in my tracks. Streets for more than through traffic are the future ❤️
Last night it became policy within
@TottenhamLabour
to enable active travel through the provision of protected cycle tracks, low traffic neighbourhoods, School Streets, to report and reduce traffic deaths, enforce 20mph, reduce net car parking spaces, and increase bike parking
Trying to get to an appointment at the
@WhitHealth
by bike. This cycle lane on Highgate Hill is consistently blocked just by the hospital entrance. Any chance
@IslingtonBC
we could get some enforcement and protection on this route? FYI
@CycleIslington
For 3 hours today our road was transformed. It was closed to through-traffic, and became a playstreet. Ours kids reclaimed the street immediately - new friendships were forged, we played, talked, and drank tea. It was SUPER (before & after pics)
@haringeycouncil
@HaringeyLiving
Wondering why we gave priority for this car to be parked over providing a safe route for a resident to cycle along their high street? Haringey needs protected lanes....
To confirm, I’m not criticising parent technique! He seemed like an awesome Dad. Just sad that the constant fear of danger from traffic meant the walk was so stressful for both.
I love our school street, but it has its limits. It’s one small stretch of child friendly street space outside the school-gate. In reality, if we want to see a major shift in how children travel to school they need safe/ accessible routes door to door on foot, bike, and scooter.
1st morning volunteering at school street. Takeaways:
a. Watching kids scoot/stroll freely is joyful
b. It wasn’t controversial - everyone was fine
c. The space created conversations - I learnt about food bank coordination/school laptops/parklets
d. Our head has a cool dog
The best bit was seeing just how many more people were still out cycling these routes. Not just men in Lycra (no offence to you) - but families, pensioners, students. It was super.
Wow. Islington absolutely smashing it. Clear link between healthy streets and fairness. Not waiting for TFL funding, just getting on and delivering a better vision for their streets and residents. Inspirational stuff 👏
As part of budget plans for a
#FairerIslington
we will create our first Liveable Neighbourhood scheme in the Mildmay and Highbury East area to cut traffic and boost walking and cycling🚶♂️🚲🍃
@MilesPe93494755
Yes! Agreed. And a wider pavement! The school kids are always overflowing at the pavement by the crossing at drop off/home time as it’s so narrow
Currently on maternity leave...so this is what
#cycletowork
looks like for me today (the ability of cargo bikes to send both kids to sleep at the same time should be used in the sales pitch)
#IamHaringey
@HaringeyCyclist
A happy day! The traffic lights outside school have been upgraded - now include a pedestrian countdown with time to cross. Kids shouldn’t have to run at crossings because there isn’t enough time to get over. This a massive improvement. Thank you
@haringeycouncil
FYI
@mikehakata
!
@6ettinold
@CSmiles_News
It’s a short journey in our community. We didn’t want to drive - the streets are clogged with traffic. I’m sorry to say it doesn’t feel any safer when it’s light outside. We need better routes for those trying to cycle in our area
We’ve waited for over three months and this cycle lane on Green Lanes is still not safe. Is there nothing that can be done to get this moving faster
@haringeycouncil
?
@cmdkenyon
@HaringeyCyclist
@CllrKirsten
We will add this location to our minor batch schemes and we will look to implement measures in line with Hackneys measures with the installation of double yellows and loading restrictions to enable safer cycling.....Cont
Active travel needs strong leadership in Haringey. We have that in
@mikehakata
.
@haringeylabour
needs councillors like Mike if it ever wants to see a robust response to the climate emergency, healthy streets, and to leave behind its terrible record on environmental issues
I really hope one day very soon, Haringey will be bold enough to create streets for people, and not just through traffic. Well done
@hackneycouncil
@HackneyLivingSt
@elaine_paige
@TfL
@SadiqKhan
I can safely report complete gridlock across many areas in London which don’t have bike lanes or enough pedestrianised streets. It’s the cars which are doing it....but surely enabling more people to walk, cycle, take the bus will help?
Listening to
@willnorman
reflecting on the enormous change we’ve seen to London’s streets over the last year with
@LDN_LS
. We need these changes more than ever for a healthier, happier, greener city. Closing note to campaigners - ‘thank you, but don’t stop’
@noel_donal29900
We all had lights. The area is well lit. The drivers who closed passed us and beeped at us could see us clearly. They were angry we were slowing down their journey.
The responses to
@EmilyThornberry
being knocked off her bike are chilling. This is not OK. All Londoners should be able to cycle around our city without the risk of being hit by a car. I very much hope Emily makes a full recovery.
I used to cycle this stretch of Seven Sisters to get to 6th Form. 18 years later and it’s still exactly the same terrifying route for pupils. Feels like there might be space to do something better - can you help
@TfL
?
@hackney_cycling
@CycleIslington
#FR2
Starting a morning tour of car free day. Stop no.1 Church Street, Hackney. The whole street has transformed - cafes and shops have spread onto the street, kids are playing, walking/cycling through is relaxed 👌
The majority of households in Haringey don’t own a car. Is this a fair distribution of road space? Could more space on our roads be used to provide protected cycle routes/wider pavements? How can our community ensure clean air for vulnerable lungs post-lockdown?
#StreetSpace
Maybe instead of partially used parking spaces along Green Lanes we could have a segregated cycle lane? It's time to take active travel for Haringey seriously - cycling in the borough must to be for the many not just the brave...
@haringeycouncil
@HaringeyCyclist
@CllrEjiofor
Yes! At the moment in London we have busy pavements in residential areas with people trying to access parks, yet massive amounts of street space is allocated for motor vehicles during lockdown....it’s time for a fairer distribution of street space.
Have you ever noticed how pedestrians deal with crowded sidewalks on Nairobi's streets while empty cars are stored on public land next to them and more space is used for vehicle traffic with cycling as an afterthought?
@NziokaWaita
@pstransportke
@Ma3Route
@KenyanTraffic
Very honoured to have been highly commended by
@London_Cycling
in the category of Active Travel Campaigner of the Year! It’s been an intense year of campaigning. So looking forward to finally seeing change on the ground in Haringey!
@HaringeyLiving
@HaringeyCyclist
We're having our Annual General Meeting - in person, and with remote attendees. We'll keep you informed of important developments in this thread - as well as our awards a little later in the evening 😃
@WEP_UK
@SadiqKhan
As a parent I don’t think safe places to cycle overlooks my needs - it means I can cycle to work safely. So that someone who isn’t able to cycle has the space they need on public transport. It means those who haven’t been brave enough to cycle could be in future
It’s
#CleanAirDay
! I’m off to visit the brilliant staff of
@RoyalLondonHosp
who are leading the way in speaking to patients about the impact of air pollution to health. Looking forward to my cycle in!
I listen to health professionals on a daily basis describing the devastating impact air pollution is having on their patients health. We need our decision makers to be bold in implementing policies that will clean up our air. Well done to
@SadiqKhan
for showing that leadership
Residents in St Ann’s Ward, Haringey came together today to create a new vision for our streets. We don’t have money (yet), but we do have a group who are determined to create greener, safer, fairer streets in our community. Thanks to
@mikehakata
@DavidLammy
for joining the ride!
From walking toddlers to school along routes with multiple recent crashes, dangers trying to cycle to work, to simply crossing the road. Some of the filtered streets in our area are the safer routes we have. They are not ‘deserted’ streets they are full of our neighbours
Haringey committed a budget of £3m for school streets in Dec 2019. In May the Government called for swift action from councils to provide school streets. Where are they? Why have they not implemented at speed across the borough?
@HaringeyLiving
@HaringeyCyclist
@haringeycouncil
A message to all councillors - we’re asking for your urgent support on healthy streets. This is a matter of duty of care:
- to prevent more Covid-19 outbreaks from people cramming onto public transport because we gave them no safe alternatives (1)