We need StreetSpace

We are hospitals calling on all UK councils to ensure that our staff and the populations we serve can get to work safely in the coming months.

We need councils to prioritise street-space for active travel,  it is the best course of action to improve the health of local communities and to ensure that staff can continue to use the healthiest and cleanest modes of travel -  walking and cycling.

Why?

• Councils are starting to announce emergency transport plans for when lock-down eases.
• In some areas a 85% drop in public transport capacity is expected.
• The surge in demand for walking & cycling will come into conflict with surging car use
• Councils need local support to look at significant re-allocations of space - widening pavements, creating emergency bike lanes and closing residential streets to through traffic.

What do we need you to do?

• We need letters from Hospital Chief Executives addressed to Council leaders.  If you work in a Hospital, talk to others and then approach the Chief Exec’s office.
• Contact each council that impacts transport for your staff - a single group letter will also work.
• Letters need to get to councils as soon as is possible. Use this template or look at other letters from Hospitals
• N.B - Councils leaders have told us that these letters will be useful as they introduce significant changes to roads space allocation.  

In 2014 NHS trust voices make a difference to Transport In London

Letters from all of the Major Trauma Units in London in 2014 were critical to the Mayor of London committing to building the first fully protected bikes lanes in central London.

These letters appealed to the Mayor to consider the needs of NHS staff walk and cycle more than average and all too often suffer from road violence.