Living Streets
Encyclopedia
Living Streets is an organisation which advocates
for the rights and interests of pedestrians and aims to 'create safe, attractive and enjoyable streets, where people want to walk'. The registered charity
works with local groups, professional organisation and has lobbied
for political change since its formation in 1929.
who was increasingly concerned about road safety about his emerging idea. A first meeting was held in 1929 at which it was announced The Association was formed at a meeting held in the Essex Hall, London, on August 13, 1929. The meeting was convened jointly by Messrs J.J. Bailey and T.C. Foley, and was one by private invitation to people who had written to Viscount Cecil about pedestrians grievances or who had written to T.C. Foley following a letter he had sent to the press .
The Pedestrians Association explained is purpose as follows: in view of the serious danger of motor traffic today an Association be formed for the defence of public rights, especially of pedestrians.
Viscount Cecil of Chelwood, who was president from 1929 until 1944, was a high profile peer had recently established the League of Nations
and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
in 1937.
The following year the Road Traffic Act 1930
removed the existing 20 mph speed limit for motor cars
at a time when UK road casualties
were running at a rate of 7,000 per year (which is nearly three times the current rate).
They also helped write the very first Highway Code
which was first published in full in 1934.
During the 1930s its campaigns helped to persuade the British Government to introduce the driving test
, to reinstate a speed limit
for motorcars and pedestrian crossing
s. A speed limit of 30 mph in urban areas and for driving tests was within the Road Traffic Act 1934
.
As a result of lobbying during WW2 The Association lobbied the government to amend its regulations to allow pedestrians to carry a small hand torch and to painted the sides of the road white to increase pedestrian safety.
In 1950, following his retirement, Hore-Belisha
was made vice-president. and in 1952 the organisation changed its name to the Pedestrians Association for Road Safety.
The organisation changed its name to Living Streets in 2001.
Its strategic objectives are:
. It also runs the Walking Works Campaign, to encourage people to walk some or all of their way to work.
They run a campaign to combat pavement parking, aimed at the practice of vehicles parking on pavements and verges (a form of overspill parking
).
Advocacy
Advocacy is a political process by an individual or a large group which normally aims to influence public-policy and resource allocation decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions; it may be motivated from moral, ethical or faith principles or simply to protect an...
for the rights and interests of pedestrians and aims to 'create safe, attractive and enjoyable streets, where people want to walk'. The registered charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
works with local groups, professional organisation and has lobbied
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
for political change since its formation in 1929.
History
A young journalist, Tom Foley, became aware of the issue of road safety and contacted Viscount Cecil of ChelwoodRobert Cecil, 1st Viscount Cecil of Chelwood
Edgar Algernon Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 1st Viscount Cecil of Chelwood CH, PC, QC , known as Lord Robert Cecil from 1868 to 1923, was a lawyer, politician and diplomat in the United Kingdom...
who was increasingly concerned about road safety about his emerging idea. A first meeting was held in 1929 at which it was announced The Association was formed at a meeting held in the Essex Hall, London, on August 13, 1929. The meeting was convened jointly by Messrs J.J. Bailey and T.C. Foley, and was one by private invitation to people who had written to Viscount Cecil about pedestrians grievances or who had written to T.C. Foley following a letter he had sent to the press .
The Pedestrians Association explained is purpose as follows: in view of the serious danger of motor traffic today an Association be formed for the defence of public rights, especially of pedestrians.
Viscount Cecil of Chelwood, who was president from 1929 until 1944, was a high profile peer had recently established the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
in 1937.
The following year the Road Traffic Act 1930
Road Traffic Act 1930
The Road Traffic Act 1930 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom introduced by the then Minister of Transport Herbert Morrison following the 1929 election which resulted in a hung parliament in which the Labour party won the most seats for the first time and Ramsay MacDonald became...
removed the existing 20 mph speed limit for motor cars
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
at a time when UK road casualties
Road Casualties Great Britain
Reported Road Casualties Great Britain , formerly Road Casualties Great Britain and before that Road Accidents Great Britain is the official statistical publication of the UK Department for Transport on traffic casualties, fatalities and related road safety data...
were running at a rate of 7,000 per year (which is nearly three times the current rate).
They also helped write the very first Highway Code
Highway Code
The Highway Code is the official road user guide for Great Britain. In Northern Ireland the applies while the Republic of Ireland has its own Rules of the Road. It contains 306 numbered rules and 9 annexes covering pedestrians, animals, cyclists, motorcyclists and drivers...
which was first published in full in 1934.
During the 1930s its campaigns helped to persuade the British Government to introduce the driving test
Driving test
A driving test is a procedure designed to test a person's ability to drive a motor vehicle. It exists in various forms worldwide, and is often a requirement to pass the exam to obtain a driver's license...
, to reinstate a speed limit
Speed limit
Road speed limits are used in most countries to regulate the speed of road vehicles. Speed limits may define maximum , minimum or no speed limit and are normally indicated using a traffic sign...
for motorcars and pedestrian crossing
Pedestrian crossing
A pedestrian crossing or crosswalk is a designated point on a road at which some means are employed to assist pedestrians wishing to cross. They are designed to keep pedestrians together where they can be seen by motorists, and where they can cross most safely across the flow of vehicular traffic...
s. A speed limit of 30 mph in urban areas and for driving tests was within the Road Traffic Act 1934
Road Traffic Act 1934
The Road Traffic Act 1934 was Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom introduced by the then Minister of Transport Hore-Belisha after the 1931 general election which was won by the Conservative Party by an absolute majority of the votes cast...
.
As a result of lobbying during WW2 The Association lobbied the government to amend its regulations to allow pedestrians to carry a small hand torch and to painted the sides of the road white to increase pedestrian safety.
In 1950, following his retirement, Hore-Belisha
Leslie Hore-Belisha, 1st Baron Hore-Belisha
Isaac Leslie Hore-Belisha, 1st Baron Hore-Belisha PC was a British Liberal, then National Liberal Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister. He later joined the Conservative Party...
was made vice-president. and in 1952 the organisation changed its name to the Pedestrians Association for Road Safety.
The organisation changed its name to Living Streets in 2001.
Activities
The charity has around 100 local branches and affiliated groups across the UK, and also undertakes consultancy work for local authorities.Its strategic objectives are:
- Walking the Natural Choice
- Putting People First
- Quality Spaces for All
Walk to school campaign
The charity is best known for the national Walk to School campaignWalk to school campaign
The Walk to School Campaign is a British campaign promoting the benefits of walking to school. It is a founder member of the IWALK organisation....
. It also runs the Walking Works Campaign, to encourage people to walk some or all of their way to work.
They run a campaign to combat pavement parking, aimed at the practice of vehicles parking on pavements and verges (a form of overspill parking
Overspill parking
Overspill parking is the parking of vehicles beyond the main area provided for the purpose. It can occur because provided parking spaces are insufficient for demand or considered unsatisfactory for some reason...
).
Further reading
- Murder most foul published in 1947 - by J.S.Dean