Harrow residents have voiced strong support for the council's active travel strategy, with feedback highlighting a desire for safer roads, improved pavements, and better pedestrian crossings.
The Traffic and Road Safety Advisory Panel meeting on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, heard that a recent public engagement process for the council's Long-Term Transport Strategy sub-strategies, including Active Travel, revealed overwhelming backing for initiatives that promote safer and more sustainable ways to travel.
Over 2,000 visits were recorded to the online consultation form, with 91% of respondents identifying as Harrow residents. The feedback indicated a broad consensus on the need for safer roads and junctions, better-maintained pavements, improved pedestrian crossings, and stronger parking and traffic enforcement.
Active Travel Focus
The report on Active and Sustainable Travel and Road Safety detailed ongoing work to encourage sustainable transport. The TfL Travel for Life programme has seen 41 schools achieve accreditation, recognising their commitment to safer, greener, and healthier travel for pupils. The programme encourages schools, students, and parents to create walking and cycling maps and facilitate active travel, with schools able to achieve Bronze, Silver, or Gold accreditation. The next phase of the School Streets Programme is also underway, with Belmont School and St Joseph School identified as priority sites.
Residents also expressed a desire for improved pedestrian facilities, with 90% of respondents to the transport strategy consultation reporting walking in the borough, and 76% of these walking daily. The findings will inform draft strategy documents for further consultation in January and February 2027. These draft documents, following the analysis of public engagement for the Active Travel, Kerbside, and Parking and Enforcement sub-strategies, are anticipated to be presented for public consultation during these months.
Concerns and Future Plans
While the overall sentiment was positive, concerns were raised regarding the use of e-bikes on pavements. The council is currently exploring its stance on micromobility, including e-bikes, and how to address their use on pavements. Officers are examining examples from other boroughs and gathering data, and are in the early stages of developing the borough's micromobility strategy, which will be discussed at future TARSAP meetings.
The report also highlighted the success of the Cycle Training Programme, which delivered numerous sessions for children and adults, and the ongoing work to improve residential cycle parking.
The council's commitment to active travel is further demonstrated by the Harrow to Pinner Improvements scheme, which aims to provide a safer and more coherent walking and cycling route. Specific measures include tighter junctions and traffic calming in West Harrow, a continuous cycle track and parallel zebra crossing in North Harrow, and continuous cycle tracks, raised tables, and new or upgraded crossings in Pinner. Marsh Road is nearing completion, with Phase 2 of Marsh Road and Station Road designs to follow. Drainage issues and the relocation of a BT sign have contributed to delays in the scheme's completion.
The council is also working on implementing 20mph zones in areas between existing zones and where traffic calming requests have been received. Sandringham Crescent is awaiting approval for implementation, while Grimsdyke Road, Portland Crescent, and Spencer Road are scheduled for public consultation in Autumn/Winter 2026. The council's current position is not to introduce a blanket 20mph speed limit across the borough, but to address individual areas. The cost for each 20mph zone is estimated to be between £70,000 and £100,000, with the council able to deliver approximately two to three per year.
Residents have also expressed strong support for stronger parking and traffic enforcement. The council is exploring options for increased parking enforcement, including the potential use of CCTV for school vicinity enforcement. The Parking Programme is currently on hold pending a decision on its future, expected after a meeting the following week. The council is also reviewing Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) operational hours to better align with school drop-off and pick-up times, and to standardise times and days within existing CPZs for more effective enforcement.
The feedback from the public engagement will be combined with technical evidence and stakeholder input to develop a draft vision and objectives for the long-term transport strategy, with the aim of finalising the strategy in February 2027.