Bromley

It’s the exact same position in 2022 as 2021 for Bromley coming 27th of 33 London local authorities in the Scorecard, with some of the lowest scores on Scorecard indicators among all London boroughs. It has the highest % of trips made by car in the whole of London at 53% (and a target within the Mayor’s Transport Strategy to reduce this to 40%).
After the positive news in 2021 that 5% of Bromley’s schools had School Streets, where traffic is restricted around schools at arrival and departure times, it is disappointing this has reduced to 3%, and is now much less than the London average of 15%. Bromley’s School Streets all rely on marshals and physical barriers rather than ANPR camera enforcement (as used in leading boroughs Islington with a School Street rate of 49% and Hackney, 45%). The requirement of volunteer marshals rather than ANPR cameras is likely a reason for a decline in School Streets and would also be a barrier to other schools that may want to join the scheme.
Despite falling slightly from 105 to 103 cars per 100 households, car ownership rates remain extremely high, especially when compared to best borough Islington with just 33 cars per 100 households. Along with Barnet, it continues to have the lowest score for 20mph speed limits (just 5% of roads compared to 13 boroughs with over 90% coverage); the lowest proportion of roads covered by controlled parking; relatively low provision of protected cycle track; and the fifth lowest provision of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (just 7%, all of which are historic, compared to borough leaders Hackney on 70%). Low Traffic Neighbourhoods are areas which are access-only to motor vehicles, while through-routes are still available for people walking and cycling, as well as buses in some locations, and they are a key part of the solution to achieving healthy streets.
One positive is that Bromley has achieved the best score for the schools STARS behaviour change programme among the 33 London local authorities again this year. As a behaviour change strategy STARS excels in changing people’s views on active travel, however, without the physical infrastructure and enforcement from implementing high quality School Street schemes (with the onus for implementation and enforcement being on the Council, rather than the school), 20mph, protected cycle tracks and new LTNs, then there is no long-term strategy to reduce short car journeys and enable residents to be active on safe, healthy streets in Bromley.
Looking at new data published this year to reflect population density, Bromley scores lower than it should, when taking account of its density. When we account for density Bromley would currently expect to achieve an overall score of 2.9, more than its overall score of 2.2.
Big changes are needed urgently, and Bromley can build on the positives to move up the Scorecard by taking action in the next year.
"Bromley Council need to increase their ambition and spend on active travel & healthy streets in the borough. We would like to see the Council commit to improving the conditions for walking, wheeling and cycling, while making driving a little more inconvenient, in the coming year. This would involve committing to creating high-quality 'liveable neighbourhood' schemes, taking responsibility for enabling School Streets as one of a menu of options for schools, making 20mph speed limits on appropriate residential roads and increasing the protected cycle lane provision to enable Bromley residents to switch their short journeys from the car to active travel."
Dr Jen McArthur, Bromley Living Streets
The Healthy Streets Scorecard combine scores for nine indicators to create an overall Healthy Streets score for each borough. See the graph below for 2022 results (includes 2019 – 2021 results for comparison). For more detail visit the London-wide overview of the 2022 results. You can also:
Scorecard (factored score) chart explained
In the chart above, each borough has been given a factored score. Factor scores are composite variables which provide information about a borough’s placement on a scale. Factor scores are given by F=XB, where X is the indicator normalised score for a borough and B is the factor score coefficient (or weight). Each indicator is weighted as 1, or 0.5 if there are two parts to one indicator, for example Modeshare has a weighting of 1, Active travel – walking has a weighting of 0.5 and Active travel – cycling has a weighting of 0.5. The borough’s total factored score is the sum of all indicator factored scores which is then factored to 10 (multiplied by the number of indicators/10) to give a value on the scale between zero and 10. We can then compare boroughs against each other on the scale.
See your borough’s LTNs – and all LTNs in London in the London LTN map
For results analysis visit Low Traffic Neighbourhoods indicator results
Instructions for map (below)
To navigate the key, click the top left hand corner.
To open in a new window, click the top right hand corner.
Zoom in and out using the + and – buttons.