Sustainable TravelTransport undoubtedly has had a major influence on economic and social development facilitating the movement of goods, people and ideas. Greater accessibility, mobility and communication has shaped the type of global society we live in today.
But is there a cost? Environmentalists will emphasize the problems associated with unlimited travel - depletion of fossil fuels, local air pollution, emissions of greenhouse gases, congestion and accidents, destruction of the countryside and the expansion of land under concrete to name but a few. Even our over-reliance on motorized transport has been linked to a general lack of fitness in the population at large.
So...what are your views? Is there really a transport problem? Do the benefits of motorized transport outweigh the costs? Are there any minor (or perhaps major) changes you personally feel could make our present transport system more sustainable?
It is recognised that current reliance upon motorized transport is too far great for individuals. Despite attempts from green organisations such as green peace and friends of the earth, people still travel in private cars often on their own.This means that precious resources are being utilised inefficiently as there is no legistlation in place to stop people travelling independently in their vehicles.If the government decided to review transport policy by introducing efficient cheap ad reliable public transport, then the public would be more enclined to use it. The benefits of a consolidated transport policy would mean that fossil fuel will be used more efficiently for journeys, air pollution and the emission of greenhouse gases would reduce. Other improvements in a coordinated policy would mean reduced congestion, fewer accidents and less pressure on the countryside through the expansion of motorway and major trunkroad networks.
The question is, do the cost outweigh the benefits? To answer this we must look at how much money is spent on trasportation of people in private cars against an efficient and reliable public transport system. The government has attempted to discourage people from entering city centres in private cars through cogestion charges however, it appears that traffic has not been significantly reduced even though motorists are charged to enter such zones.
If we are going to improve upon our addiction to motorized transport, then the government will have to review how people travel in the future. Some local coucils have introduced cycle lanes and routes that give cyclists priority over other road users. On a national scale the government should spend more on trains and bus services to transport people around in their daily lives. If we adopted a coordinated transport strategy, then our reliance on motorized transport would diminish.
If more people were encouraged to use public transport then the revenue from it could be used to improve the infrastructure of public transport systems and the benefits of a more sustainable system with the use of electric or hydrogen powered vehicles would mean lower carbon emissions and less pressure on the environment.
Useful websites accessed on 15/02/10
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7936127.stm http://www.sustainabletravelinternational.org/
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/sustainable/demonstrationtowns/ http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/environment/travelwise/
