Further evidence of Britain's north/south divide is laid bare this week with publication of a sustainable cities mobility index by the consultant Arcadis.

 

It ranks London's transport network as seventh out of 100 global cities – higher than Singapore, Amsterdam and Tokyo – in terms of its quality and effectiveness.

 

But other English cities lag behind including Manchester (35th), Birmingham (38th), Bristol (43rd) and Leeds (59th).

 

Edinburgh is ranked 17th and Dublin 44th. London's high ranking is said to be surprising given it being among the most congested cities in Europe. Hong Kong, Zurich and Paris occupy the top three spots.

 

Arcadis says that the report shows that UK regional cities must become more competitive to overcome the north/south divide.

 

“The UK needs to up its transport game," said the consultant's UK cities director Peter Hogg. "Although there is undoubtedly a lot we’re getting right, a truly sustainable transport system isn’t just about enabling mobility; it also needs to create major economic opportunity and improve the lives of those who rely on it every day.”

 

He adds that London, with its well established infrastructure, efficient tube system and low private vehicle use, ranks highly but, as with all cities, alleviating pressure at peak times remains a concern. But the UK's regional cities urgently need to catch up.

 

“Central government, devolved administrations and city leaders all around the country are embarking on ambitious plans to upgrade our networks and redress decades of previous under investment, but it will take time for these cities to move up the rankings,” he said.

 

The study ranks 100 leading cities according to three pillars of transport sustainability: people, planet and profit. In terms of ‘people’, it considers quality of life through accessibility, connectivity and uptake of active travel such as walking or cycling.

 

The ‘planet’ category includes a look at congestion, pollution and emissions, while ‘profit’ reflects public finance, affordability and economic opportunity. Cities with a better balance across the three pillars tend to have a higher urban transport ranking.

 

The company says that poor transport connectivity in Manchester, Leeds (pictured) and Birmingham risks holding back economic growth. Despite plans to invest in regional connectivity through the Northern Powerhouse and Midlands Engine programmes, all three cities still have more work to do in terms of improving the accessibility of their local transport services.

 

It adds that Leeds has the fewest bus and metro stops per square kilometre in the UK, while Manchester has some of the longest commuting times outside of London.

 

All three regional cities would benefit, it says, from offering more active transport options such as improving cycling infrastructure and increasing the number of pedestrian areas.