Will you consider granting TfL licensed driver guides access to specific roads which are currently closed to general traffic so as to assist on architectural tours?

The Healthy Streets Approach provides a framework for putting human health and experience at the heart of planning streets in London and is a key feature of my Transport Strategy and the London Plan. It is an approach which aims to create a healthier, fairer and more sustainable city by designing streets in a way that prioritises active, efficient and sustainable modes of transport.

The first policy in my Transport Strategy aims for 80 per cent of journeys to be by an active, efficient and sustainable mode by 2041, which relies on reducing non-essential car use. Cars take up more road space relative to the number of people they move around, resulting in congestion on London’s streets. This has a huge impact on Londoners and visitors alike; causing air pollution, road danger, discouraging walking and cycling, and delaying bus journeys. All of this negatively affects the health of Londoners, and disproportionally those Londoners who live in the most deprived communities, and worsens health inequalities.

In line with the Healthy Streets Approach, Transport for London (TfL) and London’s boroughs may decide to restrict access for some users on certain streets to encourage more walking, cycling and public transport use. TfL has no current plans to consider TfL licensed driver guides in exemptions for any of its restrictions. Borough roads are a matter for the boroughs.