Zak Bond

You’d think London’s roads calm down after work - but after 6pm the West End turns into Wild West, with no congestion charge and few parking controls.

@cleancitiescampaign.org analysis shows dramatic increase of cars entering central London in evening 6-7pm (56%+) compared to morning 8-9am... 1/9

⚡ It’s time to Electrify London ⚡

Road transport causes 28% of the city's CO₂ emissions and 42% of NOx - a major health and climate issue.

We need local political parties to make switching to electric vehicles easier for all.

Ask for action! 👇

cleancitiescampaign.eaction.org.uk/electrify-lo...

I inhaled traffic fumes to find out where air pollution goes in my body BBC health correspondent James Gallagher gets his blood analysed to understand how air pollution is killing us.

“Most of the air pollution I was breathing in came from traffic – billowing invisibly out of exhaust pipes.” www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Congrats to the Assembly for this interesting discussion at City Hall this morning. I spoke about how starting to get diesel out of our city, through hybrid taxis, ULEZ & bus electrification has been a big win.

Much more to do to clean up diesel vans though, with electrification of vans lagging!

Thanks to Leader of Lambeth @clairekholland.bsky.social for welcoming me, alongside @impurbanhealth.bsky.social and @solveschoolrun.bsky.social, to speak her cabinet about Lambeth’s new Air Quality Action Plan today! @rezinachowdhury.bsky.social

Time for cities like London to take action to get these things off our streets!

Number of US-style ‘battering ram’ pickup trucks on UK roads has nearly doubled in a decade Exclusive: Campaigners say ‘menacing vehicles’ are putting children at risk owing to their large front blind zones

⚠️Registrations of the most commonly-sold pick-up trucks have nearly doubled in just over a decade!

📈Our new analysis has found a major increase in the number of large, US-style pick-up trucks on UK roads over the past decade - with serious implications for pedestrian safety, particularly children.

Vacancy: Executive Programme Manager We're seeking a highly organised, strategic, and tech-forward Executive Programme Manager.

@cleancitiescampaign.org is recruiting for an Executive Programme Manager!

This is a unique opportunity to work at the heart of Europe’s leading urban mobility organisation, making cities cleaner, healthier, and more liveable.

Closing date is 15 February 2026.

#greenjobs #climatejobs

It’s time to Electrify London We’re campaigning in three key policy areas where we believe boroughs can make significant progress towards Electrifying London

To stay on track, EV uptake must accelerate fast. By 2030, nearly half of car km and a third of van km must be electric. Councils have real power, from strategically planning charging infrastructure to supporting e-cargo bikes.

Now is the moment to step up and #ElectrifyLondon!

⚡ This week we launched #ElectrifyLondon, a call for all London candidates this May to raise their ambition on cleaning up our roads.

Road transport is one of London’s biggest climate and air quality challenges: 28% of CO₂ emissions and 42% of NOx, with serious impacts on health and net zero goals.

It’s time to Electrify London We’re campaigning in three key policy areas where we believe boroughs can make significant progress towards Electrifying London

⚡ It’s time to Electrify London ⚡

On 7 May 2026, 1800+ borough councillors will be elected, responsible for 95% of London’s roads & kerbsides. We’re launching Electrify London to push them to be bolder on the transition to cleaner, greener electric vehicles.

cleancitiescampaign.org/electrify-lo...

Zipcar offered free parking permits as London borough mounts bid to save car club Southwark offers firm use of about 200 parking bays and calls on other boroughs to offer similar incentives

Southwark council is waiving parking fees for car clubs.

This is a *very* welcome first step from @jamesmcash.bsky.social and is the start of building a policy environment that supports car clubs in London.

We now need all boroughs to follow Southwark’s lead.

www.standard.co.uk/news/transpo...

A group of people including the mayor and bishops taking a photo in a large church.

The front cover of the mayor’s carol service order of service.

So lovely to attend the Mayor of London’s annual carol service in Southwark Cathedral last night, with its overarching message of diversity and openness. ❤️🎄@london.gov.uk

Good to see @londonassembly.bsky.social organising an urgent session on Zipcar's closure!

Pleased to have a letter published in the Financial Times on Friday, responding to Zipcar’s withdrawal from the UK and what it means for London’s transport and climate ambitions.

www.ft.com/content/17d0...

Zipcar UK is closing down. The loss of London’s major car-sharing operator, with a large EV fleet, is deeply concerning.

The boroughs, @metecoban92.bsky.social, @sebdance.bsky.social & @sadiqkhanlondon.bsky.social need to do more to support this industry, or net zero is going to be further away.

Government must commit to stronger air pollution targets Zak Bond explores why the government must commit to stronger air pollution targets to protect our lungs as we recover from COVID-19

Googling this, I found an old article I wrote in 2020 when the Environment Bill was passing through the House of Commons during the pandemic: www.openaccessgovernment.org/government-m...

Wood-burning stoves could face partial ban in Labour’s updated environment plan Exclusive: Pollution targets set out alongside nature recovery projects to allay concerns over housebuilding

Govt finally tightening PM2.5 limits from 20→10µg/m³! Huge credit to @mumsforlungs.bsky.social, @clientearth.bsky.social, my old home @asthmaandlung.org.uk and many others for years of pushing.

Great to see DEFRA act at last. Next stop, alignment with the WHO!

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Whoops!

They’re going to be in London, Bristol, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Solihull, Brighton and the Scilly Isles!

Royal Mail launches UK's largest micro electric vehicle fleet to cut emissions and delivery times Royal Mail has launched a new fleet of over 100 micro electric vehicles (MEVs), in a major step forward to both reduce carbon emissions and boost delivery speeds.

Full details here: www.internationaldistributionservices.com/en/press-cen...

A micro electric vehicle in royal mail livery.

⚡📮Nice work @royal-mail.bsky.social, who have just announced the launch of a new fleet of over 100 micro electric vehicles, replacing 52 vans.

Better for the climate and for deliveries. This is exactly the kind of move we need to see for cities free of diesel vans!

#ElectrifyLondon

Diesel vans are now the biggest source of dirty air on the roads in Central London, so we’re pleased to see the Cleaner Vehicle Discount will continue to incentivise the uptake of greener electric vans. However, we spoke to small businesses and charities over the summer, and we know the decision to halve the discount will be bittersweet for them. Small businesses and charities need more support to go electric, not new charges. “After looking at the detail, we proposed a 100% discount to the congestion charge for small businesses and charities using electric vans, which would have minimal impact on traffic but give a big boost to those least able to go green. It’s a shame the Mayor has not taken this up. “We all want to see a cleaner, fairer city. We must now work together with the Mayor to improve the support for small businesses and charities to make the switch. By prioritising electric vehicles and pedal power, we can all benefit from cleaner air, quieter streets, and a more sustainable London.” Zak Bond Clean Cities

The Mayor has made changes to the Congestion Charge.

Pleased to see the Cleaner Vehicle Discount will continue to incentivise the uptake of greener electric vans, but small businesses and charities need more support to go electric, not new charges. #ElectrifyLondon

All clean cities employees in a group photo.

Last week I spent an inspiring 5 days with my @cleancitiescampaign.org colleagues from across Europe.

My main takeaway - my colleagues are cooler than yours ❤️

Great to see this example of cargo bike hire in action!

We need local authorities across London to ramp up the delivery of these scheme to help tackle the rise of diesel vans.

#electrifylondon

🚴⚡️ Great morning at #ElectrifyLondon with @cleancities last week!

Freight often gets overlooked in transport talks, yet vans are now London’s biggest polluters.

Time to prioritise #CargoBikes, #EVs & smarter logistics for cleaner, safer cities. 🌱 #ZeroEmission #UrbanFreight

The cargo bike boom that could change London’s roads forever More and more businesses have shifted away from delivery vans and cars to cargo bikes. If it continues, the white van drop-off may become a thing of the past

“Anything that other handymen carry in their vans, I guarantee I can carry in my bike. It’s a cheaper, more convenient way to get around.”

Great read from @thetimes.com on how small businesses are trading vans for cargo bikes:

👉 www.thetimes.com/article/7cb6...

#ElectrifyLondon

Thanks to Cllr @maxsullivan.bsky.social for closing the Summit with some inspiring words on rethinking transport policy so we make cities that work for all!

Thanks everyone who joined us, and @citywestminster.bsky.social for hosting us up on the 17th floor with a view over London. 4/

We also had panel discussions on to help Londoners access EVs, through better charging and electric car clubs; and on how we decarbonise commercial fleets with electric trucks and vans, cargo bikes, and all the cool tech in the middle. 3/

Other highlights from the morning:

⚡ TfL’s launching their new EV Infrastructure Strategy
🚗CoMoUK’s call for better support for electric car clubs
🇳🇱Our presentation on the success of Dutch ZEZ-f
🏙️An overview of how we might deliver zero-emissions zones for freight in LDN.

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