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Door to Door: Government launches vision for integrated cycling, walking and public transportNorman Baker.jpg

Door to Door: Government launches vision for integrated cycling, walking and public transport

Drive to reduce the number of short journeys made by car
by Sarah Barth
Sat, Mar 16, 2013 11:35
8

The Government has set out its vision for 'integrated sustainable journeys'; encouraging greener modes of transport by making journeys using public transport seamlessly integrated with cycling and walking.

The 'Door to Door' proposals, unveiled by Transport Minister Norman Baker this week, include better information about various transport options, more affordable and simpler ticketing, and better connecting services.

As he launched Door to Door, Mr Baker explained that for journeys of five miles or less, 54 per cent of people still drive, and for longer journeys, it was 80 per cent.

Mr Baker said: "The benefits of improving the door-to-door journey will be felt in a number of ways:

  • by increasing use of sustainable transport we can help protect the environment by reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality;
  • by improving connectivity and interchange we can help to support economic growth as we better link our businesses and markets and ensure public transport journeys are fast and reliable;
  • by providing a well-connected and accessible transport system that is safe and secure we can help improve public health, quality of life and wider well-being; and
  • by integrating the door-to-door journey as a whole we are delivering a good deal for the traveller by helping to make travel more reliable and affordable.

"The door to door strategy sets out our vision for using new information technologies, improving ticketing choices, increasing choice and enhancing interchange, all of which will make the door-to-door journey more seamless. We will be working with transport providers, local authorities and representative organisations to challenge them further and help to make our vision a reality."

Malcolm Shepherd, Chief Executive of Sustrans said: "As fuel prices rise and we struggle to find opportunities to live healthy lives, it’s important to ensure it is easier to make journeys by bike, foot or public transport. This strategy reflects the increasing recognition within government that we must invest in creating a high-quality cycling and walking environment and ensure public transport is accessible to all."

One perennial problem for many cyclists is taking bikes on trains, with peak services often banning bikes altogether, or limiting them to one or two per train.

Michael Roberts, Chief Executive for the Association of Train Operating Companies said: "We support the goal of promoting greener and more sustainable forms of transport. Train companies are determined to help more people find alternative ways of getting to their local stations and have already brought about a range of improvements for passengers that want to go by bike or combine local bus and rail travel."

 

transport minster
Norman Baker
door to door
Department for Transport

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8 comments

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antigee | 10 years ago
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haven't read the doc yet but no policy will work until local politicians have the vision and the ability to sell to voters that taking road space away from vehicles and reducing speed limits is a way forward that will give a better quality of life for everyone.

ps in the uk i walked to school with kids whatever the weather - found it amusing that got offered lifts places as other parents assumed didn't own a car (or 2)

now in Aus and oldest gest tram to school youngest cycles and cycle path network means that i can get to good quality shops without being cut up by 60mph traffic
- nit perfect but possible - yes still own a car but often don't use

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the_mikey | 10 years ago
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It would be nice if these words were a bit more radical than just 'safe and secure' public transport system, it won't tackle a train full of drunk men shouting sexist chants at women on a Saturday afternoon, or make the bus feel safer or do anything at all. 22

You have to challenge all of the threatening behaviour encountered on the roads, on the busses, on the trains and in the streets before you'll find many people accepting the alternatives to private motor transport as a viable option.

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sidesaddle | 10 years ago
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I trust that everyone employing the predicable anti-car rant ferries their weeks shopping back from Tesco in their Bakfiet and their kids to school in child seats? In the rain?

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nappe replied to sidesaddle | 10 years ago
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sidesaddle wrote:

I trust that everyone employing the predicable anti-car rant ferries their weeks shopping back from Tesco in their Bakfiet and their kids to school in child seats? In the rain?

Ok, might be being a bit smug, but yes, my children were never driven to school, I might have looked a bit of an idiot going back home on a tandem on my own though 4

We walked them to school when we lived close enough, one of the reasons for living where we do was easy access to shops so again, we walk or cycle with panniers or a trailer.

It's all about choice, if you choose to live miles from work, shops, schools, you will always have the problem of sustainable transportation, but if we don't demand alternatives, they won't be offered, simply because there is no demand.

The way we live needs to change, and sometimes just because it's a bit harder is no reason not to do it.

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drfabulous0 replied to sidesaddle | 10 years ago
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sidesaddle wrote:

I trust that everyone employing the predicable anti-car rant ferries their weeks shopping back from Tesco in their Bakfiet and their kids to school in child seats? In the rain?

Not quite, Tesco deliver and the kids ride their own bikes to school, whatever the weather. Not that I was ranting about cars anyway, I just don't think it's always the best choice.

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gazza_d | 10 years ago
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I count a massive 2 paragraphs specifically about cycling in the Govt's new 44 page "Door to Door" sustainable transport strategy. Not good! "Door to Door" sustainable transport strategy is no such thing. It's a public transport integration document

Govt's "door to door" has no real ideas. What's needed is the balls to make cars the inconvenient option for local journeys at least

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crikey | 10 years ago
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Smashing.
Yet another poorly thought out, underfunded, greenwash attempt.

We have a society where the car is king, and a population with a regal sense of entitlement when it comes to driving. Until driving is made more awkward, more expensive, more trouble than the alternatives, nothing will change.

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A V Lowe | 10 years ago
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The one elephantine omission from this is the use of the word inclusive. With the number of young people who hold driving licences falling dramatically, along with the ability of those with such licences to be able to afford to use a car, added to the ageing population being more effectively policed to withdraw their licences, when they are no longer safe behind the wheel we might well see a shrinking use of private cars, with indications such as Peak Car and falling levels of car ownership in cities making car owners a minority in many parts of the UK already - here in Central Glasgow less the 35% of households own a car, and in some areas it is below 10%, and a recognition that transport spending is ludicrously skewed to provide roads, which if they were rail lines would have been closed years ago through lack of traffic.

As one who hopes never again to own a car (I last owned one full time in 1976) I see some well intended puff but a lack of understanding from those who want to take the concept forwards.

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