Bromley

2025 Healthy Streets Scorecard results

Bromley’s Healthy Streets score rose by 0.2 points this year, from 1.81 to 2.01 – lifting the borough from 31st to 29th place London-wide, and from 17th to 15th of 19 Outer London authorities. The ranking gain reflects modest progress in walking and school‑travel indicators, though deep structural gaps persist.

Travel behaviour shows mixed movement. Combined sustainable modeshare slipped from 51.0 % to 49.8 % as car trips reclaimed ground. The number of people walking 5x a week edged up from 33.0 % to 33.8 %, and once-a-week cycling inched from 7.9 % to 8.0 %, but active travel still accounts for barely a third of journeys.

Car‑dependency metrics remain stubborn. Cars per household were slightly down from 0.99 to 0.98, yet the share of households without a car fell from 24.6 % to 23.2 %, underlining continued reliance on private vehicles. The proportion of polluting cars improved slightly from 6.74 to 6.58, indicating slow uptake of cleaner models.

Street‑management coverage is among London’s thinnest. Bromley retains the lowest 20mph coverage in the capital at just 4.9 % of borough‑managed roads, and the lowest CPZ coverage at 10.4 %. Low Traffic Neighbourhoods cover only 7.3 % of suitable streets, unchanged since last year, and protected cycle track provision covers a meagre 0.6 % of roads. With only 2.4 % Bus priority length, public transport struggles to compete with the car.

The Travel for Life scheme is Bromley’s standout strength. The borough now boasts the highest Travel for Life participation in London, rising from 62.3 % to 68.9 %. Nevertheless, School Streets coverage remains stuck at 2.7 % of schools, leaving most pupils exposed to heavy traffic at the gate.

To consolidate its small ranking rise, Bromley must confront its street‑management deficits: expand 20 mph limits, roll out new CPZs and LTNs, invest in protected cycle tracks, and introduce more School Streets. Combined with a serious programme of Bus priority corridors and cleaner‑vehicle incentives, these measures would give residents realistic alternatives to car travel and help move the borough toward healthier, safer streets.