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70pc Want Better Public Transport System - Survey

Posted on: Tuesday, 18 October 2005, 06:00 CDT

By Peter Woodman

Almost 70 per cent of people believe improving public transport is the best way of combating the UK's "grid-locked road network", a survey from the Institution of Civil Engineers (Ice) revealed.

But the real battle was getting motorists to actually use public transport, Ice said as it presented its 2005 report on infrastructure.

With road congestion estimated to cost UK business about pounds 20 billion a year, Ice said it was vital the Government delivered on its promise to increase transport funding from pounds 10.4 billion in 2004 to pounds 12.8 billion by 2008.

The Ice report calls for: n Investment in quality bus stations, taxi ranks and railway stations to create a totally integrated transport system that people will want to use; nExpansion and further investment for existing light rail systemsn Funding for transport schemes in rural areas to address social exclusion; nHigh- speed rail services, such as those on the West Coast Main Line, introduced on other major UK routes.

Ice president Dr Colin Clinton said: "Unfortunately, there's not one simple solution to combat road congestion. We're pleased that the public backs improvements in public transport.

"As civil engineers, we're not naive enough to expect the end of the car-first culture overnight. However, action must be taken before we can't drive to work or school in the morning due to permanent traffic jams."

He went on: "Pollution and the continued rise in the number of cars is a damaging scenario for our environment. There will always be essential car journeys, but with a quarter of car trips in the UK being less than two miles, Ice believes the majority of these can be made by public transport, walking or cycling.

"We've got no option other than the carrot and stick. The carrot option is to encourage increased bus, train and tram use. The stick option is to charge drivers to use highways. Ultimately, the future of UK roads is simple - increased governmental promotion of public transport or meltdown

Source: Birmingham Post; Birmingham (UK)

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