The way we travel around cities has changed: Now is the time for bike-sharing schemes to flourish – City Monitor
Caroline Seton
London was once crisscrossed by trams. Before the Second World War, tramlines ran from one side of the city to the other. With the exception of Croydon, the trams are all gone. But why did London abandon its network of zero-emissions electric trams?
During the post-war recovery, trams were seen as a relic and policymakers wanted to encourage London’s denizens to adopt private cars that were seen as a symbol of freedom. With the benefit of hindsight, those decisions made in the 1940s and ’50s represent a historic mistake. As we reach another historical juncture – making our way tentatively out of the pandemic – it’s important to highlight that the decisions that we make now about our cities will have long-term consequences.