I don't know who needs to hear this but creating pro-LTN petitions to counteract the anti ones isn't a strategic use of your time.

Here's why:

Opponents are sharing their petitions all around the country. They're getting signed by motorist groups, taxi drivers, and other interest groups in an attempt to boost the numbers.

But all that does is make them irrelevant for local authorities trying to gauge local opinon.

That's good news and bad news for supporters.

Because unless you take on the same tactic of sharing the petitions beyond local boundaries (and hence making them irrelevant) you'll never be able to get an equivalent number of signatures.

So when you create supportive petitions, you're inadvertently strengthening the arguments of your opponents.

Both of the petitions will be irrelevant, but there's will have more signatures than yours, and that's an easy hook for media.

But don't let that supportive energy go to waste!

Instead of creating pro-petitions -- go out and actually enjoy your LTNs. Organise events. Build parklets. Make use of the space. Demonstrate what a difference reclaiming the streets can make to a community.

Instead of sharing petitions, share stories of and photos of people making the most of the LTN. Tell the story of your 80 year old neighbour giving a trike a go for the first time.

Organise a bike bus for local kids to cycle to school

I don't say this to criticise -- but only to point out that your energy is precious and it shouldn't be wasted.

If those who oppose LTNs want to invest their energy in a petition against the scheme that's signed by a bunch of folk living 200 miles away -- that's great! Let them

SO -- this being said -- please send me all of your stories and pictures and videos of positive experiences in your LTN.

I promise to share them. I bet lots of other folks will too. And I promise that will do more than a supportive petition ever could