Haringey Council's cabinet member for Climate Action and Transport has called for a fundamental shift in street design, prioritising pedestrians and cyclists over motor vehicles. Cllr Gio Iozzi made the case in a recent opinion piece, highlighting the borough's road safety record and the need for safer cycling infrastructure.
Road casualty figures underscore urgency
According to Cllr Iozzi, every year in London 100 people are killed and 3,000 seriously injured in road collisions. In Haringey specifically, there are over 70 killed or seriously injured (KSI) incidents annually. Since 2021, the borough has recorded 4,638 casualties, of which 514 were serious and 13 were fatal.
Cllr Iozzi argued that cars have dominated road space for too long and that safety should be the defining priority for all of London. He referenced the recent tragic death of student Melissa Premaratne as a stark reminder of the perilous state of the roads.
Child-focused design and cycling infrastructure
The councillor attended the Curious Cities Assembly in June, where talks focused on designing streets through a child's lens first. He quoted the principle that "towns that are safe for children are safe for everyone." He envisions streets designed for vulnerable users such as children walking or cycling to school, parents pushing prams, and elderly or disabled people crossing roads.
Cllr Iozzi noted that Haringey's cycling infrastructure lags behind other boroughs. He wants to increase the number of children biking or walking to school and encourage more women to cycle, who currently make up only about 30% of cyclists.
Funding and next steps
The council has already secured a £10 million grant from the Better Bus partnership, which is due to be approved next week. This will help make public transport more accessible. Following this, the council will begin implementing more cycling infrastructure on dangerous main roads and connecting quieter cycleways to support nervous riders.
Cllr Iozzi concluded that a more imaginative approach to city design, with tree-lined streets and quieter neighbourhoods, would make Haringey a greener and healthier place for everyone.
