A strategy for better transport
Campaign for Better Transport is the national charity working for sustainable transport in England and Wales. Our new strategy sets out the three strategic objectives which underpin our work.
Transport is a huge issue. It impacts on all of our lives, every day… even when we’re not going anywhere! That’s because it shapes the places where we live, affects the air that we breathe, and – as the largest emitter of greenhouse gases – plays a powerful role in determining our future.
And when we do have journeys to make, then transport – good or bad – can have a massive impact, not just on the course of our days, but on the course of our lives.
Campaign for Better Transport’s strategy breaks down the task of tackling this huge issue into three strands. None of them will come as a surprise – you won’t find futuristic fuels or flying buses – and that’s because our three strategic objectives are based on the things that transport users tell us every day that they need.
Strategic Objective A: Increase the proportion of local journeys made using sustainable transport
Too much traffic on local roads is a problem for everyone. We need to make it easy and attractive to hop on the bus, to walk, cycle or car-share, for many more journeys. That’s why we work with local authorities to provide communities with genuinely attractive transport choices.
Local measures need to be part of the solution. One in particular, Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs), have provoked some highly charged debate and are due to be debated in Parliament next week, despite much evidence that they are popular and bring real benefits to local environments. There are a range of measures that councils seeking to make walking and cycling more appealing could deploy including lowering speed limits, making crossings safer, building cycle lanes and pedestrian areas. Whatever the action, local authorities should be supported in implementing the right measures for their areas.
But such local measures should not be considered in isolation. Nationwide policy change is needed to encourage more people to travel sustainably. That includes changes to motoring and aviation taxation, as well as investing to make public transport more available and affordable, to ensure that greener transport options are also cheaper and more attractive. This is where Objectives B and C come in…
Strategic Objective B: Expand and transform the bus and tram network
Buses connect communities, ease loneliness and enable people to live full lives. They are vital to accessing work and education, especially for the 35 per cent of low-income households that have no car, and they play a key part in cutting congestion and pollution. Trams and light rail are also a brilliant way to travel that should be available in more places around the country.
If you ask people what would make taking the bus a viable option for them, three main ideas emerge: a bigger bus network with expanded routes and more frequent services that take you to places you need to go, faster and more reliable journey times, and more affordable fares.
That’s why our priorities in this area are reforming how buses are funded and protecting bus lanes. To make this possible, we will campaign for more money to be diverted to buses and trams rather than carbon-intensive road building. We also work with policy-makers to shape future government funding into a single pot of long-term allocations for all local authorities to enable them to provide the bus and tram services plus the infrastructure their communities need. Alongside this, we want to see more fare discount and capping schemes and more integrated ticketing to help make bus travel easier and more attractive for all.
Strategic Objective C: Improve the rail network for passengers and the country
Rail is one of the most environmentally friendly ways to travel, but in recent years the railways have come under pressure from changing travel patterns and a ticketing system which has not kept pace with passengers’ needs.
We know many people have been struggling to afford rail fares for some time and some have been priced out from commuting by rail into driving. That’s why we will continue to campaign for meaningful reform which delivers fairer, simpler and more affordable train fares.
It’s also an issue that many communities don’t have access to the rail network within a reasonable distance, so we will continue to campaign for more new and reopened railway stations. We will call for greater investment in rail capacity and infrastructure and for a rolling programme of electrification to make rail even greener.
We want to make rail the default preference for domestic intercity travel instead of short haul domestic flights where possible. And to connect people by rail to even more destinations across Europe.
Better transport is possible
The good news is that the solutions to our transport problems already exist. Buses and coaches, trains and trams, bikes and shared transport, are ready to take us to a greener, fairer transport future. But they need Government and councils to support them, champion them, and make space for them. Our strategy sets out to secure that support.
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