‘Plan for motorists’ cannot ignore need for fairer, greener transport

A group of eight leading travel charities and NGOs has responded to the UK Government’s plan to ‘end the war on motorists’.

Bus Users UK, Campaign for Better Transport, Community Rail Network, Community Transport Association, CoMoUK, Living Streets, London Cycling Campaign and Sustrans are appealing for policy makers to focus on ‘fairer, better, greener transport that works for everyone and protects our climate.’ 

‘We need to empower communities more, not take away control, especially when it comes to creating greener, better transport,’ said a spokesperson for the group collective, known as Sustainable Transport Alliance. ‘Having good quality, joined-up and affordable public, community and shared transport, while ensuring we can all walk, wheel, and cycle freely, and ultimately get to the opportunities and places we want – this is what people want and need. And it’s critical to tackling the climate emergency.’ 

According to research by the organisations, nearly three-in-ten UK adults don’t have access to a car, and nearly half of low income households are non-car-owning (45%). Transport is also now the country’s largest single contributor to the climate crisis, with associated emissions failing to decline as other sectors have. A long-term trend of increasing traffic, which is predicted to continue rising in the coming decades, is a key driver. 

Last week, Environment Journal reported on the apparent decision to begin curbing regional and local powers to create schemes such as low traffic neighbourhoods and dictate bus lane operating hours. If such actions are taken, it would represent a significant weakening of localised solutions to road congestion and pollution. In September, a new report emphasising the key role local authorities play in net zero and climate action was published, The Future Is Local.