Introduce a Green Bus Zone for Highgate

The Issue

Following a ‘citizen science’ study of air pollution levels in Highgate Ward in Camden, we are calling for bus routes through our area to be prioritised by the Mayor and Transport for London to get cleaner hybrid buses.

Our study found levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution up to twice the legal limit on Highgate Road, Dartmouth Park Hill and Highgate High Street. These very high levels are found next to schools and on streets where many people shop, walk and wait for buses, and we believe the current cleaner buses programme is not giving our area what we need to help clean up our air.

An action meeting for local residents on 14 March resolved to demand a Clean Bus Zone for Highgate, as well as agreeing a range of actions for local people and Camden Council to take forward. Please sign our petition to make this happen. 

According to Transport for London, hybrid buses are better for noise, carbon and air pollution:

  •     30 per cent reduction in fuel use
  •     30 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide
  •     3 decibel [dB(A)] reduction in perceived sound levels
  •     Reduced oxides of nitrogen and carbon monoxide


So far, NONE of the routes through Highgate have hybrid buses, and we are calling on the Mayor and Transport for London to prioritise our routes for new cleaner vehicles because of the high levels of pollution we experience, and the very high numbers of vulnerable citizens breathing our air, due to the concentration of schools in our area.

Our petition:

We are concerned at the high levels of harmful exhaust emissions from diesel engine buses that pass through the Highgate area. So far, none of our routes have hybrid buses and we do not believe it is fair that our area should be left out of this initiative.

We call on Transport for London to introduce low emission hybrid buses on all routes that travel via Highgate Road, Dartmouth Park Hill and Highgate Village by 2016.

These routes are:
Highgate Road: C2, C11, 214
Dartmouth Park Hill: C11, 4
Highgate Village:  143, 210, 214, 271, 603

In December 2013 a ‘citizen science’ study of air pollution in Highgate found levels up to double the legal limits on these busy streets, passing next to many primary and secondary schools, shops, bus stops and routes to tube stations.

The evidence we have collected, and the high numbers of schools and vulnerable people in our area should put Highgate to the very top of the priority list when it comes to the introduction of cleaner, greener London buses.

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Camden Green PartyPetition Starter
Media enquiries
This petition had 88 supporters

The Issue

Following a ‘citizen science’ study of air pollution levels in Highgate Ward in Camden, we are calling for bus routes through our area to be prioritised by the Mayor and Transport for London to get cleaner hybrid buses.

Our study found levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution up to twice the legal limit on Highgate Road, Dartmouth Park Hill and Highgate High Street. These very high levels are found next to schools and on streets where many people shop, walk and wait for buses, and we believe the current cleaner buses programme is not giving our area what we need to help clean up our air.

An action meeting for local residents on 14 March resolved to demand a Clean Bus Zone for Highgate, as well as agreeing a range of actions for local people and Camden Council to take forward. Please sign our petition to make this happen. 

According to Transport for London, hybrid buses are better for noise, carbon and air pollution:

  •     30 per cent reduction in fuel use
  •     30 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide
  •     3 decibel [dB(A)] reduction in perceived sound levels
  •     Reduced oxides of nitrogen and carbon monoxide


So far, NONE of the routes through Highgate have hybrid buses, and we are calling on the Mayor and Transport for London to prioritise our routes for new cleaner vehicles because of the high levels of pollution we experience, and the very high numbers of vulnerable citizens breathing our air, due to the concentration of schools in our area.

Our petition:

We are concerned at the high levels of harmful exhaust emissions from diesel engine buses that pass through the Highgate area. So far, none of our routes have hybrid buses and we do not believe it is fair that our area should be left out of this initiative.

We call on Transport for London to introduce low emission hybrid buses on all routes that travel via Highgate Road, Dartmouth Park Hill and Highgate Village by 2016.

These routes are:
Highgate Road: C2, C11, 214
Dartmouth Park Hill: C11, 4
Highgate Village:  143, 210, 214, 271, 603

In December 2013 a ‘citizen science’ study of air pollution in Highgate found levels up to double the legal limits on these busy streets, passing next to many primary and secondary schools, shops, bus stops and routes to tube stations.

The evidence we have collected, and the high numbers of schools and vulnerable people in our area should put Highgate to the very top of the priority list when it comes to the introduction of cleaner, greener London buses.

avatar of the starter
Camden Green PartyPetition Starter
Media enquiries

The Decision Makers

Mayor of London
Mayor of London
Mayor of London
Responded
“Dear Petitioner Thank you for your email about the petition calling for the introduction of a ‘Green Zone for Buses’ in Highgate. The Mayor of London is committed to improving air quality, including reducing Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) emissions in London to improve Londoners’ health. The Mayor has put in place an ambitious package of measures to do this including tighter Low Emission Zone standards, retiring 3,000 of the oldest most polluting taxis and delivering a network of 1,400 charge points to support the use of cleaner electric vehicles. Since he was elected in 2008 emissions of NOx have been reduced by an estimated 20 per cent and the number of people living in areas exceeding EU legal limits for NO2 has been halved. Buses have historically been a major source of emissions which is why tackling their emissions has been a priority for the Mayor. London now has one of the youngest bus fleets in Europe with an average bus age of 5.9 years. From this year, new buses, whether hybrid or conventional diesel, will also have the new ultra low emission Euro VI engine which will be significantly cleaner for NOx and particulate matter than earlier models. Transport for London (TfL) has pioneered new lower emission technologies such as hybrid-electric, pure electric and hydrogen buses. Thanks to these programmes there are already 700 hybrid buses on London’s streets and a commitment to increase this to 1,700 – around 20 per cent of the 8,500-strong fleet – by 2016. This will be the largest hybrid bus fleet in Europe. Among the 1,700 hybrids will be 600 New Bus for London vehicles which are the cleanest double deck vehicles in the London bus fleet. Subject to negotiations with bus operators, TfL will seek to prioritise hybrid buses on routes which travel through 187 air quality focus areas. These are areas where there are high concentrations of NO2 combined with high levels of human exposure. Areas of Archway and Highgate Hill are classified as air quality focus areas. Cleaner buses travelling along these roads will also bring benefits to surrounding streets, including Highgate Village. TfL has also embarked on a pan-London initiative to improve air quality by reducing the bus fleet’s emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) by 20 per cent a year by 2015. This represents a reduction of around 1,000 tonnes of NOx emissions which will be achieved by retrofitting selective-catalytic reduction equipment to 900 Euro III engine buses by March this year and replacing the remainder of Euro III buses with new Euro VI engine buses by 2015. This will bring all buses in the fleet up to Euro IV standard or better for NOx and particulate matter by that time. Even with these improvements the Mayor recognises more can be done to improve air quality and has asked TfL to look at the feasibility of introducing an Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in central London in 2020. He believes this will spur further development and encourage the take-up of zero and low emission vehicles and will complement other policies to reduce emissions from construction sites and buildings. TfL expect the changes to the London vehicle fleet needed to facilitate the introduction of ULEZ will deliver significant benefits across London, including in Highgate. A public consultation will be held on the proposals later this year and we would welcome your views. Thank you again for writing to the Mayor. Yours sincerely Public Liaison Officer Greater London Authority ”
Transport For London
Transport For London
Transport for London
Transport for London
Stakeholder Engagement Team

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Petition created on 17 March 2014