The Mayor of London has just published his Transport Strategy: Draft for Public Consultation. It’s a document from which any town or city in the UK, and many further afield, could draw lessons.
As an example, here’s an extract from the Mayor’s Foreword where I have removed the word ‘London’, so that you can substitute the name of your own town or city where the following appears ******. Remove the word "tube" to make it even more applicable.
“Car
dependency has contributed to an increase in poor public health across our
city. Streets can often be polluted, congested and dangerous – unwelcoming
places to walk or cycle. Tube, rail and bus services can be overcrowded and
sometimes unreliable and indirect, meaning there is no appealing alternative to
car use for many. And some parts of ****** have been planned around car use for
so long that there are no decent alternatives.
To begin
to resolve these problems, ****** must become a city where walking, cycling and
green public transport become the most appealing and practical choices for many
more journeys. These active and sustainable transport choices not only support
the health and wellbeing of ******ers, but also the city as a whole by reducing
congestion and providing the most efficient use of valuable street space.”
Use the link above to get to a
summary report, or download the whole thing.
