Seek Sustainable Solutions to Transport Problems
Why Transport Matters
Transport is an essential part of our lives, providing us with access to the goods, services, employment and social experiences that contribute to quality of life. In the past, communities tended to be more compact and self-sufficient, with employment opportunities and services (shops, banks, libraries etc.) close at hand.
As jobs and services have become more dispersed, the need to travel has become greater, and society has become highly reliant on the private car in order to meet this need.
Reliance on the private car to achieve the modern need for transport has brought its problems. Traffic levels have soared during the 1970s, 80s and 90s, and congestion and air pollution have become significant environmental and health issues in some areas. In addition, people without access to a car have become more isolated from the jobs and services they need to maintain a decent quality of life.
Successive Governments have recognised these problems, and the priority has now shifted in principle from "planning for the car", towards developing a better, more integrated transport system, which meets modern transport needs without prejudicing health, the environment, or people without a car. Improved public transport, and greater use of cycling and walking will form an important part of this new transport system.
Individuals and community groups can play an important role in developing better transport and reducing the impact of transport on health and the environment. This factsheet contains some information and ideas which should help a community group to start taking some positive action towards more sustainable transport.
Cycling and Walking
By walking and cycling instead of using the car we can reduce:- Air Pollution.
- Atmospheric Carbon dioxide and climate change.
- Traffic Congestion.
- Land loss to roads.
More details of cycling routes in County Durham can be found on the Sustrans website (www.sustrans.org.uk), or from:
Rockwood House
Barn Hill
Stanley
County Durham
DH9 8AN
Tel: 01207 281259
Walking
Walking briskly for half an hour a day can halve the risk of heart disease. For some journeys under two miles, walking might be the best option. Cycling can be good for journeys up to five miles. Walking can:Improve
- Confidence
- Stamina
- Energy
- Weight control
- Life expectancy
Reduce
- Coronary heart disease
- Strokes
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Bowel cancer
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Osteoporosis
- Arthritis
- Anxiety
- Stress
Walking and Cycling Initiatives in County Durham
A number of walking and cycling initiatives are currently under way in County Durham, with a series of organised walks and bike rides.County Durham 'Walk to School' Campaign
In recent times there has been an increase in the use of cars for transportation of children to and from school. To try and change this unsustainable dependence on the car a number of schemes from government non-government originations have been established. In County Durham, Durham County Council co-ordinates an annual 'Walk to School' campaign and promotes a 'Walking Bus' scheme.Walking to school has many benefits:
- By walking to school the children learn about road safety,
- They are able to talk to their friends on the way to and from school.
- Children using the walking bus to school improve their health and fitness. Children who regularly walk are less prone to obesity and illnesses.
- The school run accounts for a fifth of rush hour traffic (BBC News May 19 1999) By having a walking to school scheme, will reduces pollution, noise stress coursed by motor vehicles.
'Walking the Way to Health'
'Walking the Way to Health' is an initiative (co-ordinated by the Countryside Agency) which aims to get more people walking in their own communities, especially people who currently take little exercise or live in areas of poor health. Practical advice, training and funding is available to support partnerships of health, leisure and community interests who want to develop schemes to promote walking for health.For more details visit the campaign website (www.whi.org.uk) or Tel: 01242 533258
Public Transport
Public transport is for everyone, and the more people who use it, the greater the reduction in vehicles on the road. A double decker bus carries the same number of people as 20 fully occupied cars, but takes up a seventh of the road space. Public transport operators are investing in new vehicles, while bus stops and stations in the Durham County are being improved to increase comfort and information provision.Sources of Public Transport TimeTable Information
Public transport information is available from a number of sources:- Traveline 0871 200 22 33 has timetable information for the whole of the northeast, from Berwick in the north, to York in the South, for buses, trains and ferries. Times of opening 7.00am to 8.00pm
- Durham County Council: 0191 3833337
Passes and Travel Discounts
There are number of passes and travel discounts are available on public transport in County DurhamIIC Card
The IIC (Investing in Children) Card gives young people aged 14 to 16 half price bus fares for journeys starting within County Durham after 5.00pm on Weekdays and anytime at weekends and school holidays. The card is available free of charge through most secondary schools, or via postal application (for a fee of £2.00) from Durham County Council.
There is now also a County Durham under 14 Bus Card available, which can help to prove entitlement to half price bus fares. For more details on both cards contact Durham County Council Tel: 0191 3833337
Explorer Ticket
'Explorer Tickets' are available from post offices and directly from the driver. Explorer Tickets allow all day travel on all bus companies, rail and the North /South Shields ferry.The tickets are available for adults, senior citizen, children and family tickets. The family ticket allows 2 adults and up to 3 children to travel all day.
Arriva
Arriva have 1 day, 7 days and 28 days travel cards these offer unlimited travel on all Arriva routes.Arriva have 'Buzz Money Vouchers' if you buy 10 vouchers save 15% on travel.
Arriva also have a 7 day bus pass this allows unlimited in the northeast on Arrival buses.
There is also a pass, which allows unlimited travel in one area.
Further details can be obtained from Arriva (Tel: 08701 201088)
Go North East
'Go & Save' cards are available for use on Go North East buses.Three cards are in operation in County Durham; Durham City, Three Cities and Region wide. All the cards are sold to cover 1 day, 7 days and 28 days unlimited travel. The cards can be purchased directly from the driver, from post offices and Travel centres.
Student discount cards and 'A 2 B' tickets are also available.
Further details can be obtained from Go North East customer services (Tel: 0845 6060 260) or from their website www.go-northern.co.uk (this now includes the option of purchasing Go & Save cards online).
Dial a Ride Scheme
The Dial a Ride scheme is designed to allow people in the community who are unable to travel on public transport, to travel, to large shopping areas. The scheme is funded through the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB5).The scheme runs in all rural areas, places such as Stanley, Consett and Chester-le-street. In September 2002 the Dial a Ride scheme will be extended to allow users to travel to local shops, G.P surgeries etc. The drivers are fully trained in first aid and manual handling.
For more details contact the Dial-a-Ride scheme Tel: 0191 3833975
Rail Travel
There are three train operating companies which run services in the North East. These are Arriva Trains, GNER and Virgin. For timetable and fare information can be obtain from the following sources.- Arriva Trains customer service 0870 60233322
- GNER customer service 08457 225225
- Virgin customer service 0870 7891234
Improvements are planned to the seven existing stations within country Durham. These are Durham, Chester-le Street, Bishop Auckland, Newton-Aycliffe, Seaham, Shildon and Heighington.
Rail Cards
There are three rail cards available: the Young Persons Railcard, the Senior Citizen Railcard and the Family Railcard. Further details can be obtained from www.railcards.co.uk.Cars
There are a number of ways to minimise car usage and reduce the environmental impacts of car use:Share Journeys
Car-sharing with colleagues or neighbours for journeys to work or to the shops reduce the number of cars on the road, and the amount of fuel used. It can also save money if the costs of the journey are shared amongst those traveling.
The environmental benefits of car sharing are:
- Reduce the pressure for car parking.
- Reduce the need for a private car.
- Facilitates the integration of public and private transport.
- Provides a real solution to the lack of public transport in rural areas of the country.
- Enables the creation of sustainable integrated communities throughout the UK.
Further information can be obtained from www.liftshare.com
Go for Fuel Efficiency
Stay Tuned
If you have a car, have it serviced regularly. A badly tuned vehicle uses more fuel and creates more pollution than a well-tuned one. 90% can be re-tuned within 10 minutes.Keep the Pressure Up
Check your tyre pressure regularly. Under-inflated tyres waste fuel by creating more rolling resistance.Small is Beautiful
Small cars tend to be more fuel-efficient than large ones. They also take up less road space and are easier to park. The Government produces a report every year, "The New Car Fuel Consumption Figures" so that people can compare the fuel consumption levels of different models.Be Gentle
Driving smoothly and treating your vehicle gently will save fuel and cut emissions. Accelerate gently, avoid heavy or sudden braking and cut speed (cruising at 50 mph instead of 70 mph can use up to 30% less fuel).Alternative Fuels
Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG)
Although the UK has one of the highest concentrations of vehicles per mile of road in the world, it is amongst the lowest in using LP gas-powered vehicles. Other countries have recognised its environmental advantages and encouraged its development with over 5 million vehicles now in operation worldwide. In the UK we currently have over 70,000 vehicles running on LP Gas but with suitable fiscal incentives from the Government it is forecast that this number will increase to around 250,000 by the end of 2005.
The amount of pollution generated from using LPG fuel is much less than it from using petroleum or Diesel. LPG produces is approximately 12% of the total Carbon Dioxide produced by petroleum and only 30% to 35 % Carbon monoxide compared petroleum. Both of these gases are greenhouse gases and many scientists believe are responsible for climate change. Be use LPG fuel can be seen as positive move to reduce climate change. LPG also produces 80%to 95% less particulates than Diesel.
Further information can be obtained from the LPG Association website www.lpga.co.uk
Cost: At a cost of approximately 40p per litre, LPG is about half the price of petrol.
Converting: In the UK there are vehicles coming onto the market, which run on LPG. It is also possible to convert petrol cars and light vehicles to LPG. This costs approximately £1,500. To convert diesel is more complicated because ignition must be installed and as such it is only cost effective for larger size engines.
Refuelling: Information on refuelling stations available in Durham County at present, can be obtained from www.lpga.co.uk
Hybrid and Electric Vehicles
Other alternatives to conventional motor vehicles are the hybrid and electric vehicles. A hybrid vehicle has a conventional engine either petrol or diesel, but also has an electric motor which is activated when the vehicle is travelling in slow moving traffic. The conventional engine will automatically engage as the traffic begins to move.
The benefits of hybrid and electric vehicles include:
- The Carbon Dioxide emissions are reduced
- The cost can be as little as a 1p per mile, compared to 10p per mile for petrol.
Electric cars are best for town travel, as they produce no exhaust emissions, and are extremely quiet, and the present range for electric vehicles is at present around 50 miles.
Groups and Organisations - What You Can Do
Ideas for Action
Groups and organisations can do a great deal by encouraging staff, members and visitors to adopt greener transport practices, such as those outlined above. Some have produced Green Travel Plans to set out how they will become more environmentally friendly.
Some simple measures that can be adopted, and that might be included in a Green Travel Plan are:
- Choose venues for meetings that are easily accessible by walking, cycling and public transport. Send out public transport information with the agenda for the meeting, or suggest that people car-share wherever possible.
- Set up a community car-sharing scheme. Collect the names and regular journey details of willing drivers and those looking for lift, and see how many car-sharing partnerships can be set up.
- Install cycle racks outside community buildings to provide a secure place for people to store their cycles. (There is a separate Sustainable Communities factsheet "Encourage More People to Cycle").
Durham County Council has a Community Transport Officer who can give advice on any community transport ideas. This could include schemes such as those listed above, or other initiatives such as developing community bus schemes, or making better use of existing transport. An 'Action Pack' has been produced especially for community groups, and this can be obtained free from Durham County Council Tel: 0191 383 4885.
Useful Contacts
Association for Commuter Transport (ACT)
Develops and promotes ideas and initiatives which reduce car dependency for commuting journeys, such as car-sharing, public transport, walking and cycling and new work practices which reduce the need to travel.
Association for Commuter Transport (ACT)
Glenthorne House
Hammersmith Grove
London
W6 0LG
Tel:0181 7411516
Fax: 0181 7415993
Email: PTRC@cityscape.co.uk
Website: www.act-uk.com
Transport 2000
A national environmental transport campaign which publishes a number of useful documents, including 'Changing Journeys to Work' (£30), a guide to setting up Green Commuter PlansTransport 2000
Walkden House
10 Melton Street
London
NW1 2EJ
Tel: 0171 3888386
Fax: 0171 3882481
Email: transport 2000@+2demon.co.uk
Website: www.transport2000.org.uk
