London to introduce ten new Low Emission Bus Zones to help tackle air pollution

The Mayor of London has announced plans to introduce ten more Low Emission Bus Zones, deploying the lowest emission buses on the capital's most polluted routes. The announcement brings the number of Low Emission Zones planned for London to twelve.

 

The new routes include Edmonton, Stratford and Haringey,  including the previously announced zones in Putney High Street and Brixton. London will target air quality 'hotspots' where people are exposed to some of the highest levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution and where older buses contribute significantly to road transport emissions.

 

The buses to be deployed will be "a combination of hybrid and clean buses that meet Euro VI standards" according to the Mayor of London's press release. 

 

The zones are expected to reduce NOx emissions from buses along the routes by around 84 per cent.  

 

The Mayor, Sadiq Khan, said: “I want other cities around the world to work with me on demanding cleaner bus technology.”

 

The Low Emission Bus Zones will utilise a number of ‘Bus Priority Schemes’ that ensure buses have priority over other traffic and are able to keep moving, cutting idling emissions and speed up journey times for passengers.  

 

Low Emission Bus Zones are one of a number of measures the Mayor has asked TfL to take to reduce emissions from the capital’s bus fleet, including the phasing out of diesel only buses and a commitment to purchase only hybrid or zero emission double deck buses from 2018.