Clapham: Lambeth Council finds fake cyclists to peddle low traffic neighbourhood schemes

Lambeth Council finds fake cyclists to help peddle Low Traffic Neighbourhood schemes

A video made by Lambeth Council in which the same three people can be seen cycling in different 'Low Traffic Neighbourhood' (LTN) locations is not likely to diffuse an increasingly bitter war between local residents and Lambeth councillors.

In the minute long video released last week, clips of cllr Danny Adilypour, Lambeth's cabinet member for Sustainable Transport, Environment and Clean Air, are interspersed with shots of flowers in LTN planters and what initially look like local residents using an LTN road closure to travel by bike.

The authenticity of their journeys is called into question after two men and one woman who appear at 0:16 seconds cycling northbound on Atlantic Road, re-appear at 0:46 seconds.

Staged at a different stretch of Atlantic Road, the trio cycle southbound towards Coldharbour Lane in the direction we have just seen them come.

While the woman on a blue bike wearing a yellow jacket and the man in a blue shirt with a brown rucksack do not change their attire between scenes, in a seeming desire to adopt disguise, the second man dons a face mask and sheds his fluorescent orange jacket to sport a simple black t-shirt for the final scene.

In the video 'Have your say on Lambeth's low traffic neighbourhoods schemes', Cllr Adilypour said: "We're here today because we're launching the first of our consultations on the future of our Low Traffic Neighbourhood schemes.

"Since we started these trial Low Traffic Neighbourhoods we've been monitoring the impact and we can see they're having the desired effect by reducing traffic in the relevant areas and as a result making it safer and easier for people to walk and cycle through their local neighbourhoods.

"We've been clear from the start of this process that these are trial schemes and we want to get the views of local residents before making any decision on whether to make the schemes permanent, so this is now your opportunity.

"Please engage with the consultation in your local area and let us know what you think Low Traffic Neighbourhoods have done in your area before we make a decision on the future of these schemes to make it easier and safer to travel around our borough."