Four years have slipped by and it’s time to gear up for our local elections on Thursday 7 May.
Which party and councillor will get your vote ? Do they deserve your vote based on their record ?
In 2022, we had a list of 5 Asks which might have been a step, or cyclewheel revolution, too far. Following an update in September 2023 when it was sadly obvious that targets would not be met, our volunteer time was spent elsewhere.
So this time round, we’re keeping it really simple – we’re campaigning for a safe, connected cycle network in Islington. While we have some excellent cycling infrastructure, it’s not always joined up (Market Road is a case in point). It’s not always safe (C50 spits cyclists out at its most dangerous pinchpoint under the bridge at Finsbury Park) and in the case of Clerkenwell Road, where women have lost limbs, progress to make a key east/west stretch safer seems to have stalled. For years.
We have asked the main political parties in Islington to include this 2026 Ask in their respective manifestos and as at March 2026, the status is:
– Greens have agreed to fully support our Ask.
– Labour’s manifesto states: Create more safe spaces for cycling across the borough and work with Transport for London to ensure Islington’s roads are safer for people who are walking and cycling.
– the Lib Dems are still discussing our Asks
We have yet to hear from Islington Community Independents and we continue to chase responses.
What do we mean by a safe, connected cycle network in Islington ? We want to encourage active travel by making cycling safe, convenient, fun and accessible to all and in particular
- Aim to achieve Vision Zero* in the Borough by 2030.
- Prioritise high quality cycling infrastructure on main roads and at junctions.
- Continue the roll out of Liveable Neighbourhoods and School Streets with an aim to complete the Borough by 2030.
- Ensure Liveable Neighbourhoods are connected to achieve a continuous cycle network throughout the Borough, including crossing TfL roads.
* a global road safety strategy aiming to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries. The London Mayor has an objective of reaching this by 2041 which for us is too many avoidable and tragic deaths.
The council declared a climate emergency in June 2019, recognising the need to drastically reduce carbon emissions in the borough and making a pledge to work towards being a net zero borough by 2030. Reminder, that’s only four years away. To make that in any way meaningful, active travel such as wheeling, walking and cycling needs to increase and the use of private vehicles for the majority for short trips, discouraged. Car ownership in Islington is around 33%.
You can help here. Visit your local Councillor surgery and/or write to your local Councillor (you have three in your Ward) and simply ask them if they (or their candidates if they are not standing for re-election) will agree with our Ask and get them included in their manifesto, if they are not already there.
And please respond to LCC’s London-wide campaign by emailing our local political party leaders here
STOP PRESS; Climate Hustings in Islington on 23 April