Caroline Russell

@carolinerussell

London Assembly Member since 2016, Green Group Leader and Chair Transport Committee. Highbury Cllr 2014-26. Green Party Promoted by Chris Williams on behalf of Caroline Russell, Green Party, c/o PO Box 78066, London SE16 9GQ

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Caroline Russell@carolinerussell· 23d

Built 1968. Needs urgent £s now to give it new life to last to say 120 years. Longer repairs are left the more expensive they’ll be. And don’t even ask about the concrete multi storey carpark adjoining.

Cars parked under the flyover. Clear view of underside of bridge deck.

Caroline Russell@carolinerussell· 23d

The parapets are steel and subject to corrosion from salty grit in Winter. Hot and cold weather concrete and steel expand/contract differently. Puts structure into different stresses. Unusual construction with 1500 rubber bearings which could be deteriorated. Inspected 20% of them.

Lorry on flyover - steel parapets in foreground. Obviously corroded by salty water.

Caroline Russell@carolinerussell· 23d

The flyover is built from reinforced concrete. The waterproofing layer has failed so water (salty and corrosive in Winter) is finding routes through the structure. Brick sized chunks of concrete have fallen from the underside of the deck. They knock off loose concrete 2x a year.

Space where a chunk of concrete has fallen.

A piece of fallen bridge deck on a hand.

Caroline Russell@carolinerussell· 23d

The Croydon flyover carries 75k bus passengers per day and 40k vehicles of which 1.5k are HGVs. Imagine diverting 1.5k HGVs daily. This is TfL’s second biggest structure. London is spending £1.2b per year on steady state repairs. Needs £8b a year. 44 structures have interim safety measures.

Slip road to go under flyover. Grey sky.

Steel parapets in poor state with yellow grey and brown building behind and car driving up slip road.

Caroline Russell@carolinerussell· 23d

Just visited another structure that is part of TfL’s bid for the government’s Structures Fund: the Croydon flyover. Speed limit down from 40 to 30 mph. If no action to repair it, then weight restrictions within four years. Can see that (salty) water is seeping through the structure.

Underside of Croydon flyover - space used as a car park. Pair of concrete y shaped pillars holding up a slab that runs across the underside of the bridge deck. Multiple reinforced concrete beams forming the deck supported regularly spaced pairs of Y shaped columns topped by a slab.

Underside of Croydon flyover - space used as a car park. Close up of the reinforced concrete beams forming the deck. And clear evidence of water getting through the deck structure.

Caroline Russell@carolinerussell· 24d

"Man's legal e-bike seized and destroyed by police" Can you tell the difference between a legal e-bike limited to 15.5mph and an illegal electric motorbike with a throttle built on a bike frame? It matters!

A bright blue Tern e bike being worked on in a bike workshop. With Text; The BBC has discovered this is one of several legal bikes - and even mobility aids used by wheel chair users - that have been seized and destroyed by police in error.

Caroline Russell@carolinerussell· 24d

Currently there’s an 18 tonne restriction (no HGVs), but if bridge is not repaired (at least £60m) the next step is 7.5 tonne restriction which means no buses would cross river from Vauxhall bus station. 😳 Serious impacts on Londoners’ travel options and loads of traffic displacement. #Urgent

A huge ochre painted steel beam transferring weight to the abutment. Showing lots of rust damage.

Zoom in and you can see the complex system of steel trusses holding the bridge deck up and all super rusty.

Caroline Russell@carolinerussell· 24d

Perfect afternoon to meet TfL at Vauxhall Bridge and hear about their two urgent bids to the govt’s structures fund. Complicated repair required removing lead paint w/o contaminating air or river water, then assessing scale of rust damage from winter gritting - salt water run off and then fix! 🧵

Vauxhall Bridge from south east side on a sunny day. Blue sky with a few fluffy clouds and an ochre and rust painted bridge.

Close up under Vauxhall Bridge seeing the rust breaking through the paint work on the arches spanning the gap between the abutment and a pier.

Caroline Russell@carolinerussell· 27d

Heading home to London after a brilliant day helping @geraldinecoggins.bsky.social with her campaign for Greater Manchester Mayor. Knocked doors all day and came away filled with the hope that comes from working in teams finding the people who are ready to vote green.

Mothin and Geraldine with a team of doorknockers at Guide Bridge station. With vote green signs.

Just knocked a door. Standing under a UV umbrella with blue bins behind.

Catching up with Geraldine Coggins in very welcome shade. Caroline in white shirt from behind with Geraldine facing camera wearing black.

Morning working with doorknockers from Sheffield London and across the country. People standing with Green Party placards in a park.

Caroline Russell@carolinerussell· 28d

Today I asked the Mayor of London to introduce a clear “red alert” health warning system for dangerous ozone pollution As heatwaves become more frequent, we need proper public communication that makes pollution warnings clear and easy to understand.

Caroline Russell@carolinerussell· Jul 5

Congratulations to @londoncycling.bsky.social women’s network for a brilliant ride today calling for safety from traffic AND also for safety from everyday misogyny like cat calling and groping from car windows. Special shout out to the marshalls who kept us safe and to @letsgetcracking.bsky.social

The end of the ride - smiling women with bikes.

Eccentric Pink - a first aider on the ride with his bike covered in kit.

So good to meet Gio a Haringey councillor. Two women smiling with loads of bikes and banners behind.

The awesome Marshalls doing their pre- ride prep. Lots of women wearing red tabards with their bikes.

Caroline Russell@carolinerussell· Jul 3

“The Transport for London (TfL) vehicle, which had no passengers on board, is believed to have mounted the kerb, careered through a wall and come to a halt in the home on St Quintin Avenue. The driver escaped with minor injuries….” Awaiting outcome of any investigation, but worrying incident.

Photo of red bus embedded in the bay window of a Victorian house.

Caroline Russell@carolinerussell· Jul 3

As temperatures look set to rise again next week, I was proud to speak in support of a motion calling for safe working conditions for bus drivers especially during extreme heat episodes.

Caroline Russell@carolinerussell· Jun 30

At the Delivering Vision Zero conference in Birmingham. Aria Rattan, active travel ambassador: “Somewhere along the way, we’ve decided that the safest place for a child is inside the back of car.” “How can we have a childhood if we can’t walk through it” #PitchPerfect 🌱

Caroline Russell@carolinerussell· Jun 29

Delivery robots, autonomous passenger vehicles - so many on-street robot services, being run by tech outfits, avoiding the hassle of employing people and using our public spaces to carry out their business without any care for the public purpose of our streets. 🤷‍♀️

Guardian screen shot. Photo of a delivery robot on a pavement.
Text: Drones (non-military)
Ministers likely to support law change to allow delivery robots on England’s path.

Caroline Russell@carolinerussell· Jun 28

Just as we knew it would, the London-wide Ulez has delivered cleaner air across the capital, saving lives and improving the health of millions of Londoners. Its success is a testament to the many campaigners who pushed for the Mayor to act so that Londoners can trust the air they breathe. 🧵 1/3

Clip from Barnet post.
Headline: "Air pollution fall in London since ULEZ introduction shows scheme works says Khan"
Smaller text: "Researchers find that the number of premature deaths fell by around 40% in the five years after ULEZ was introduced, reports Kumail Jaffer, Local Democracy reporter.

Image: blue sky with clouds in background with a Transport for London Green and white ULEZ sign on a lamp column.

Caroline Russell@carolinerussell· Jun 25

A diagram of a “coeurs piétons” in Paris and an incredible transformation to an urban forest of a previously tarmac covered space. Glorious ambition from Dan Lert, Deputy Mayor of Paris.

A diagram of a “coeurs piétons” in Paris. Glorious ambition from Dan Lert, Deputy Mayor of Paris.

“An urban forest in a previously mineral space”

Photos of new green urban forest and previously a huge tarmac covered space.

Caroline Russell@carolinerussell· Jun 24

Early in, cold shower and now all set for chairing transport committee this morning. Even had time to sort an absorbent cover for the printer that is, like the whole of the Green group office, being dripped on by the building’s air con.

Photocopier with two blue absorbent pads to protect it from overhead drips.

Caroline Russell@carolinerussell· Jun 23

BBC weather app does not get close to describing the intense thunder, lightening and torrential rain that have been underway for at least a couple of hours. Grateful to be safely indoors, but could do with a bit of sleep.

Screen grab of BBC weather app saying “light rain showers and light winds” with 45% chance of rain.

Caroline Russell@carolinerussell· Jun 17

On my way home, I think I may have come across the moon and Venus*. *need a better camera.

A twilight street seen with one street light and the moon and Venus in the sky.

Caroline Russell@carolinerussell· Jun 15

I asked the Mayor to meet with Trans Legal Clinic, a trans-led organisation supporting trans Londoners facing homelessness, gender-based violence and medical neglect. Meaningful change starts with listening to the communities and organisations most affected.

Caroline Russell@carolinerussell· Jun 12

Today I asked the Mayor about the growing anxiety and uncertainty being felt by so many Trans Londoners following the publication of the EHRC’s revised Code of Practice. When trust feels fragile, I wanted to know what conversations he's had with Government to stand up for Trans Londoners.

Caroline Russell@carolinerussell· Jun 12

Mayor’s Question Time this morning - my question coming up later in the meeting on EHRC updated services Code of Practice. More later.

View from my desk in the Chamber at City Hall for Mayor’s Questions. The Mayor sitting at front of chamber and water flask and glass in foreground.

My tabled question about EHRC guidance.

EHRC updated services Code of Practice
Question No: 2026/1949
Caroline Russell
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) updated services Code of Practice was laid in Parliament by the Minister for Women and Equalities on 21 May 2026. Are you able to assure Trans+ Londoners that there will be no change to the GLA's commitment to being a Trans inclusive institution and that Trans+ Londoners can continue to participate in London life free from segregation, discrimination, harassment and abuse?

Caroline Russell@carolinerussell· Jun 11

A glorious evening celebrating 50 years of brilliant campaigning by @cycleislington.uk. So many great photos of demos over the years. And so many people there: campaigners, politicians and council officers who have worked together so well across the years.

Cllr Talia Hussein, me and Cllr Benali Hamdache AM smiling in front of a vintage yellow Islington Cyclists Action Group banner.

Sian Berry at a make the lane demo talking with Victoria Lebrec.

Ernie, me and Sian at a make the lane demo. And a woman smiling riding a bike.

Caroline Russell@carolinerussell· Jun 11

I've written to Health Secretary James Murray urging him to oppose the EHRC Code of Practice for services and associations before it comes into force. With Trans+ people facing rising hostility, ministers should be standing up for equality and everyone’s right to participate fully in public life. 🏳️‍⚧️

Letter to Health Secretary

Dear James,
Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) Code of Practice for service providers, public functions and associations
I am writing following your comments on the Today Programme last week. During the interview you stated that you had “changed your mind” and would no longer use the phrase “Trans women are women.” I am deeply troubled both by the timing of this public statement and by the message you are sending. As the minister responsible for policies affecting the healthcare and social care of Trans+ people, your words carry far more weight than a private opinion. By publicly rejecting language that Trans women use for themselves, many Trans girls and women will understandably hear you, as the minister responsible for their care, describing them as boys and men.

Your statement is not a neutral one. It is a deliberate choice made from a position of authority by someone with direct influence over the lives of Trans+ people. The issue is therefore not simply what you believe, but what your words signal and enable.

When a senior minister publicly withdraws recognition from a marginalised group, it risks legitimising exclusion, emboldening prejudice, and undermining confidence that public institutions will treat that group with
dignity and fairness. The impact of your words extends beyond Trans women and girls to the wider Trans+ community, many of whom will see your remarks as a signal that the government is unwilling to recognise and respect them.
Your statement comes at a time when many Trans+ people across the UK are already frightened and overwhelmed by the relentless politicisation of their lives and the

continual questioning of their place in society by those in positions of power. In that context, your remarks do not exist in isolation; they add to an increasingly hostile environment in which Trans+ people are made to feel that they, and their participation in society, is open to debate and that their dignity and rights are contingent on political approval by ministers who reject who they know themselves to be.
The EHRC Code of Practice for service providers and associations was laid before Parliament by the Minister for Women and Equalities on 21 May and will become statutory on 30 June unless Parliament rejects it.
I urge you to use your position within the government to oppose the Code and support its rejection. I am writing to you not only as a London Assembly Member, but on behalf of constituents who have contacted me in genuine fear and distress about what this guidance would mean for their lives.
The potential scale of exclusion is extraordinary. The government's own Equality Impact Assessment admits that it would have wide-ranging negative impacts on Trans people and that Trans women could face a "disproportionate risk of violence and sexual assault" in some circumstances. Even with this admission, the Government appears determined to press ahead.
This comes at a time when Trans and gender diverse people face growing hostility. Many Trans+ people already avoid accessing healthcare, participating in sport, or engaging in public life because they fear discrimination and exclusion as well as harassment or violence.
In London, transphobic hate crimes have more than doubled over the past five years one in four Trans people have experienced homelessness at some point in their lives and Transgender adults are also twice as likely to be unemployed as cisgender adults. 48 per cent of Trans adults have attempted suicide , while poor experiences within the healthcare system have led 57 per cent of Trans people to avoid seeking medical help even when they ar…

The guidance also normalises exclusion and encourages a culture of gender policing by asking people to make judgments about who can use which services based on physical appearance. The consequences of this will not be limited to Trans people, both cisgender and Transgender people may also face exclusion based on how others perceive them.
As an elected London representative, I am particularly concerned because London has the highest proportion of people in England whose gender identity differs from their sex recorded at birth. These are people in our community, work colleagues, friends and family members, who should be able to participate in public life without fear.
When Labour introduced the Gender Recognition Act in 2004, it promised Trans people the right to live with dignity. The updated EHRC Code of Practice for service providers and associations represents a complete rollback of that promise.
This is about Trans people's right to exist in society free from abuse, discrimination, and segregation, with the autonomy to be who they know themselves to be.
I urge you not to support this guidance and to speak out against it publicly.
Yours sincerely,

Caroline Russell
Green Party Member of the London Assembly

Caroline Russell@carolinerussell· Jun 9

On my way to City Hall to chair @londonassembly.bsky.social Transport Committee looking at Autonomous Passenger Vehicles and how their presence on London’s streets affect the goals in the Mayor’s Transport Strategy.

Screen grab from Assembly web page. Text “the rise of Robotaxis in London”.

Image of the kit on top of an Autonomous passenger vehicle.

Caroline Russell@carolinerussell· Jun 6

Literally opened it this morning!

Caroline in her hallway with bikes and a copy of London Cyclist held aloft

Caroline Russell@carolinerussell· Jun 4

"Induced demand" was NOT on my Top Gear bingo card! "The M25 was doomed from the drawing board. It hasn’t become unfit for purpose over the 40 years since its 1986 opening. It was obsolete from the get-go." "Spectacular failure to grasp a concept transport planners now call ‘induced demand’. "

"Here's why the London Orbital Motorwaay - the M25 - is an epic, epic fail"
"117 miles of abject misery that could have been entirely avoided."
Image in black and white with a pinky red and bright blue showing motorway lanes, M25 sign, 60mph limit signs with a stormy sky and graph paper background.

Caroline Russell@carolinerussell· May 31

Islington has been alive all afternoon with Arsenal shirts, red smoke flares and people chanting in red and white celebrating our awesome local team.

Caroline Russell@carolinerussell· May 26

Map of whole train on the back of the folding table on every seat showing locations of universal access, general and gentlemen’s toilets, rooms for breast feeding and for the conductor plus baggage storage, bins, fire extinguishers, (possibly) a defibrillator and power sockets.