Agree to Disagree? Insights into Community Views and Sources of Division in Relation to Low Traffic Neighbourhoods in Greater Manchester

Low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) involve the use of modal filters to limit motorised traffic from residential streets while retaining access for people walking, wheeling and cycling. They can be seen as part of a set of place-based approaches focused at the neighbourhood level. In recent years there has been clear evidence of entrenched positions on such interventions, resulting in LTNs being seen as a divisive intervention despite some studies showing a general level of support. The research informing this paper consisted of 22 qualitative go-along interviews in LTNs and proposed LTNs in Greater Manchester, with the aim of exploring the nuances of public opinion. Our analysis found that there are commonalities that transcend sometimes entrenched positions: aspiration for a better neighbourhood for everyone, concerns about unequal outcomes, and shared frustrations over processes of implementation. A clear difference across the sample was the level of appreciation of, and concern about, walking infrastructure: some saw LTNs to be insufficient in addressing pavement conditions and crossing points. We found that those in our sample who supported LTNs tended to see them as part of a wider programme of interventions aimed at improving mobility, and LTNs were commonly seen as a cycling intervention and were therefore more likely to be favoured by those who cycled or were interested in cycling. The analysis highlights the importance of neighbourhood in place-based decarbonisation and the value of understanding neighbourhoods in the context of the road and public transport networks they link to and the socio-economic context they inhabit.