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Transport

Transport impacts clearly on all parts of the environment. This ranges from the obvious impact of transport and congestion on climate change and air quality, through to specific local issues. These include planting and maintenance of road verges, water run-off from roads, choosing recycled materials for resurfacing roads and pavements etc.

Action to improve the way roads are designed and managed has beneficial side-effects for the wider environment, whilst actions to improve the natural environment can make streets and transport interchanges safer, more attractive places for all transport users.

1.Emissions and Climate Change
2.Walking and Cycling
3.Accessibility
4.Air Quality
5.Biofuels/Clean Cars
6.Traffic Management/Calming
7.De-cluttering Schemes
8.Transport Strategies
9.Transport Networks
10.Links for more information
11.General information and latest news

1. Emissions and Climate Change

Transport and particularly Air Transport are responsible for a rising percentage of carbon emissions at a time when all other sectors are reducing their emissions. Policies, campaigns and schemes that encourage people out of their cars and onto more sustainable transport options can all help to reduce emissions locally.

2. Walking and Cycling

Sustrans is the leading charity promoting walking and cycling. They run Safe Routes to School and Bike It programmes and have developed the 10,000 mile National Cycle Network.

Cycling Englandis the national body which co-ordinates the development of cycling across England. It aims to create the conditions which will result in more people cycling, more safely, more often. Cycling England is supported by a cross-departmental group covering health, education, planning and sport as well as transport.

Walking Buses enable more children to walk to school. The benefits include positive impacts on children's health and activity levels, opportunities for children to learn road safety skills, reductions in congestion and emissions around school premises, as well as encouraging more sustainable travel behaviour and reducing carbon use in the local area.

3. Accessibility

Local Transport Plans now include specific planning around access to jobs, training, education, healthcare and fresh food. Accessibility is as much about ensuring that services are delivered where and when they are needed as it is about providing transport links to services. Local provision of services can help to cut unnecessary travel and revitalise local areas, including local environments.

4. Air Quality

Transport has a major impact on air quality. Initiatives to reduce congestion, encourage more sustainable transport and cleaner vehicles can all help improve air quality around transport links. Clear Zones are urban areas which use technological innovation and improved management of transport to reduce congestion, pollution and noise.

5. Biofuels/CleanCars

The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership brings together automotive and fuel companies, government, academia, environment groups and other stakeholders, with the aim of accelerating the shift to clean low carbon vehicles and fuels in the UK.

6. Traffic Management/Calming

Schemes to reduce speeding and re-balance streets in favour of the pedestrian or cyclist include Home Zones. By redesigning the street environment, home zones can change the perception of how a street can be used. Home zone projects involve residents in reclaiming street space for other uses, including social, leisure, play and environment. They can develop community capacity and bring local people together to improve their environment. There are 12 pilot home zones in the UK.

7. De-cluttering schemes

De-cluttering' and traffic calming schemes help revitalise communities on main roads through removing railings and unnecessary posts in favour of e.g. wider pavements and bicycle parking. There are lots of case studies in Campaign for Better Transport's "Your route to a better high street". This will also contribute to improving air quality and to climate change strategies where linked to targets to reduce car journeys and sustainable transport plans. Better signage, good cycling and walking routes, more breathing space and less pollution and noise all improve the local environment.

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has redesigned Kensington High Street, reducing signage and railings and widening pavement and crossing areas to make the road more attractive and prioritise people over cars. The result has been a dramatic fall in the number of accidents and deaths. The council has now developed a streetscape guide to improve the accessibility, safety and attractiveness of other major roads in the borough. Contact: Peter Weeden - 02073613397

8. Transport Strategies

All transport authorities must produce a 5 yearly Local Transport Plan, together with an Annual Progress Report. These are all available on the Local Transport Planning Network.

9. Transport Networks

The Local Transport Planning Network (LTPNetwork) is a web based network for transport planning officers. The network enables officers to share good practice, carry out process and performance related bench-marking and develop transport policy ideas.

The County Surveyors' Society (CSS) represents local authority chief officers with responsibility for Strategic Planning, Transportation, the Environment, Waste Management and Economic Development.

RTPI/TPS Transport Planning Network. The Network has been set up as a joint initiative by the Royal Town Planning Institute and the Transport Planning Society to provide a clear and effective voice for all their members with an interest in transport planning issues.

Local Authority Building Control - (LABC) is the representative body for local authority building control officers in England and Wales, and provides advice and guidance on building control issues.

The Association of Transport Coordinating Officers (ATCO) brings together local authority officers whose work involves responsibilities for passenger transport.

Cycling-Champions - This is an email discussion group for elected members who fulfil a role of cycling champion (whether officially or informally) in their authority. Please contact Tony Russell or Cycling-Champions-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

10. Links for more information

The Local Transport Planning Network (LTPNetwork) is a web based network for transport planning officers. The web portal includes a comprehensive Best Practice Library and has links through to all local authority transport contacts, local transport plans and annual progress reports.

Campaign for Better Transport is an independent organisation that promotes sustainable transport. It aims to reduce the environmental and social impact of transport by encouraging less use of cars and more use of public transport, walking and cycling.

Living Streetswork on practical projects to create safe, vibrant, healthy streets. This includes a National Walk to School Campaign, and Walk to Work Campaign. They also work with local authorities undertaking Community Street Audits, project managing improvements to streets, organising walking events, and reviewing strategies and plans.

The Energy Saving Trust works to cut greenhouse gases and air pollution by promoting cleaner, low-carbon vehicles and fuels and sustainable transport alternatives.

CarPlus promote new thinking on the role of the car and develop a national network of car clubs.

The National Society for Clean Air (NSCA) has useful webpages on transport.

For information on safe routes to school see Sustrans.

There are useful Travel Plans for Developers and Transport and Environmental Management Systems in the Transport Energy Best Practice Guide.

11. General Information and Latest News

The Green Transport Plan offers unique tax incentives for employers and employees to enable an employee to loan a bike and clothing to travel to work. The employer receives a national insurance discount and the employee is able to 'buy' the bike at the end of the loan period for a nominal sum. Local authorities can promote this scheme locally and/or offer it to their own employees. By doing so, the council can demonstrate leadership in supporting sustainable transport, reduce congestion, encourage physical activity and support local businesses.

The London Borough of Islington offer a £20 discount on residents' parking permits for low emission cars. The London Borough of Richmond Upon Thamescharges drivers of 4x4s and other high-performance cars three times the rate of a normal parking permit. Owners of electric cars can park free of charge, while gas-guzzlers pay £300.

A Manual for Streets has been published and launched by DfT, CLG and WAG and is available as a free download from the Department for Transport. The Manual is DfT's definitive guide to the design, construction, adoption and maintenance of residential streets. It aims to help deliver streets that are pleasant and attractive, cost effective to construct and maintain and safe, whilst strengthening communities. The Manual is for the full range of organisations and professions involved in the planning, construction, management, maintenance and safety of streets. It aims to avoid standardised layouts and promote a hierarchy of use that places pedestrians, cyclists and public transport above other vehicles. It also places a greater emphasis on streets as multi-functional and promotes progressive features such as lower speeds, inclusive design and de-cluttering.

Encouraging local people to use pedal power

Six towns in England are sharing nearly £17 million to promote cycling. The Cycling Demonstration Towns are leading the way in encouraging local people to use pedal power. Through this project, Cycling England is funding and working with six local highway authorities to develop an exemplary physical environment for cycling, supported by a comprehensive range of 'soft' measures to encourage more people to cycle. Its purpose is to deliver a step-change in cycling levels, in towns which start from a low or moderate cycling mode share.

UK's largest group of people on bikes - CTC

CTC is the UK and Ireland's largest and longest established national cycling membership organisation. It was founded in 1878 as the Bicycle Touring Club, subsequently becoming the Cyclists' Touring Club. In 2003 CTC celebrated 125 years of working for travelling, recreational and utility cycle users. They were the forerunners of cycling, motoring and tourism networks. The organisation has its origins in the early days of cycling when the bicycle opened up new horizons for independent travel.

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