‘Significant delays’ and ‘extremely busy’ roads expected for London Car Free Day

Londoners are being encouraged to join in the fun at the biggest Car Free Day or carefully plan their travel arrangements on Sunday 22 September. There will be a wide range of activities at the main central London ‘Reimagine’ event, from a classic cycle ride across Tower Bridge to a festival at Bank junction. The programme will run between 10.30am and 5pm across 27km of traffic-free roads around Tower Bridge, London Bridge and the City of London.

Those working, living or travelling in the area will be hit with ‘significant delays’ to road journeys according to Transport for London. Roads in the surrounding areas around the events will also be ‘extremely busy’. There will be extensive road closures and restrictions in the City of London, Southwark and Tower Hamlets between 07:00 to 19:00 on Sunday 22 September. London Bridge and Tower Bridge will be closed to general traffic. Buses will however still run across London Bridge and there will be access for emergency services. Other forms of wheelchair accessible public transport, like licensed taxis, will not be allowed to operate in the area. Southwark Bridge may need to be closed to northbound traffic at short notice on the day to help manage traffic and Westminster Bridge is closed westbound to general traffic for works as planned. Fifteen boroughs - including Ealing, Hackney, Hammersmith & Fulham, Haringey, Islington, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest - are also running their own Car Free Day celebrations, enabling Londoners all across the capital to experience what their streets would be like without cars. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I’m really proud that London will be holding its biggest Car Free Day celebrations on Sunday, and I encourage everyone to join in the fun. By enabling Londoners to explore our city without cars and traffic, we will inspire them to walk and cycle as part of their daily routine – something which is crucial to clean up our toxic air. I’m delighted that 15 boroughs are hosting their own local Car Free Day events and 24 boroughs are supporting Play Streets, enabling people across the capital to experience what their streets would be like without cars.” Image credit: Pixabay