Boris Johnson is urged to mount a national campaign to encourage people back onto public transport as Covid restrictions lift, to prevent traffic gridlock and help footfall return to struggling high streets.
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A coalition spearheaded by the Campaign for Better Transport calls on the Prime Minister to do more to let people know it is safe to use buses, trains and trams when wearing face coverings – and urges Ministers to lead by example.
Consideration should also be given to the health and economic risks of failing to get people back on to public transport, they say, and passengers should know they are getting the best deal for their travel with price capping on trains and trams and multi operator ticketing on buses.
It is feared that if people do not return to public transport, towns and cities that are more reliant on buses, trams and trains could be left behind, they say.
The letter has 17 signatories including representatives of the Urban Transport Group, the Rail Delivery Group, and the Confederation of Passenger Transport plus the British Chambers of Commerce, UK Hospitality and business group the CBI.
“As England prepares to take the next step out of lockdown, it is vital that the Government sends a loud and clear message that travelling by public transport is both safe and desirable,” said Campaign for Better Transport chief executive Paul Tuohy.
“Without this we risk slowing down the high street recovery as many people will simply stay away, or worse seeing towns and cities more reliant on public transport being left behind while car heavy areas experience increased pollution and congestion.”
The letter comes as yesterday’s Queen’s Speech set out plans to help the country recover from the pandemic.
Her Majesty said the Government would “strengthen the economic ties across the union, investing in and improving national infrastructure”, with proposals set to be taken forward to “transform” connectivity by rail and bus.
The Queen’s Speech also referred to planning reforms being brought forward which aim to decrease the time it takes for developments to go through the planning system. But campaign group Transport for New Homes says the Government’s proposals do not go far enough to prevent further car dependent developments.
“At present, sustainable transport is all too often treated as an afterthought or even ignored when new housing is being considered,” said the group’s coordinator Jenny Raggett, emphasising that this is not addressed in the Government’s proposed reforms.
In a letter to Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick co-signed by the group and nine other organisations, the Government is urged to revise the National Planning Policy Framework to give more weight to developments around public transport and discourage car based developments.
Also responding to the Queen’s Speech, Sustrans chief executive Xavier Brice commented: “We were pleased to see plans for further investment in public transport, but the important Transport Decarbonisation Plan has still not been published and must deliver the wider changes needed in transport policy to slash emissions from the UK’s most polluting sector.”
He added: “Planning reform offers the opportunity to support decarbonisation but will only do so by creating vibrant neighbourhoods which bring people within walking distance of the majority of the things that they need on a daily basis and help everyone to thrive without a car.”
The Environment Bill delayed from the last parliamentary session will put into law the green-house gas reduction targets recommended by the Committee for Climate Change last December. CIHT’s Route to Net Zero project is identifying a package of actions to support the profession play a full role in achieving the CCC’s interim goal of a 78% emissions reduction (against 1990 levels) by 2035. CIHT members will be consulted on draft proposals this Summer.
(Photograph: Alexey Lobanov - Shutterstock)
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