The Department for Transport (DfT) launched a consultation on a new Integrated Transport Strategy for England on 28th November 2024.
In a speech at Leeds Civic Hall then-Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said the Strategy would take a people-first approach. She wanted a coherent transport network that would give people real choice, with local leaders designing and building their own regional networks.
Haigh has since resigned and been replaced as Transport Secretary by Heidi Alexander.
Walking and Cycling
Haigh said the transport system must be sustainable, and that involves walking and cycling.
‘Walking and cycling should be the best choice for shorter journeys.
Where pavements and cycle tracks are in good repair and people can enjoy expanded hire schemes for bikes and e-scooters’.
Transport Appraisal System
The DfT is ready to reform the appraisal system for transport projects.
Until now, Transport Analysis Guidance has prioritised shortening driving times on the doubtful basis that that leads to economic growth.
The guidance does not sufficiently take account of the fact that increasing capacity for motor vehicles leads to the extra space filling up with more traffic within a year or two, nor does it align well with the UK’s goals on decarbonisation of transport.
An internal panel of experts has been set up to guide changes.
Members of the panel include Professor Jillian Anable of the Institute for Transport Studies at Leeds University, and former West Midlands Cycling and Walking Commissioner Adam Tranter.
Consultation
The public can submit their ideas until 30th January 2025.
Question 37 is:
‘What changes, if any, would improve your experience when using a bike, e-bike or e-scooter?’
Clearly networks of safe and convenient cycle routes are needed to enable cycling for everyday trips within towns and cities.
We have two more specific suggestions in response to the consultation:
- cut overall transport funding to councils which fail on active travel and
- create a new procedure for putting failing councils into active travel special measures, where a team from Active Travel England goes into the council for a period of years to train up staff and get projects moving
Please respond to the Integrated Transport Strategy consultation.
Further Suggestions
John made these suggestions in the comments, and as they are so good I’ve added them to the post here.
Q28: What changes, if any, would improve your experience when using a car, van, motorcycle or moped (not e-bike)?
Reduce congestion in town by providing effective alternatives for short journeys so those that need to use a motor vehicle can do so without long delays.
Public transport is not the immediate answer as the buses get stuck in the same congestion. Good quality walking and cycling infrastructure is needed on all key routes.
Q32. Why have you not used the train, underground, metro or tram in the last 6 months?
Too expensive by train compared to using the car, even for 1 person alone. No underground, metro, tram here.
Q35. Why have you not used the bus, minibus or coach in the last 6 months?
No bus services to the area of town where I live.
Q39. What changes, if any, would improve your experience when walking or wheeling?
Ban car parking on pavements and limit urban speed limits to 20mph
Q44. What additional information would you need to improve your journey?
Knowing that cycle infrastructure covers the end to end route I need to travel rather than a patchwork of poor quality short sections that dump cyclists into traffic at the most dangerous points.
Q46. In your opinion how best could the transport system be better ‘joined-up’ (select your 2 most important options)?
Good quality, well-signed cycle routes between public transport hubs and key local desinations + secure cycle parking at key destinations.
Q47. What ways, if any, can you think of how technology could be used to improve your experience with the transport network?
Subsidies for e-bikes to encourage adpotion in the same way as EVs have had subsidies. They are still expensive for most ordinary people.
Q48. How, if at all, would you improve the way decisions are made about the transport network?
Scoring for road projects needs to be radically overhauled so it does not encourage traffic growth but encourages modal shift to active travel modes and public transport.
A vast proportion of NHS spend can be attributed to obesity related conditions and yet whilst NHS struggles for funding it appears to have no involvement in transport strategy that continues to encourage motor traffic growth and inhibit active travel.
Similarly, a significant % of households locally and nationally have no access to a motor vehicle and yet their needs appear to be ignored in transport strategy. This needs to change.
Q49. Any other comments?
This is urgent. Our council (North Yorkshire Council) continues to fiddle and maintain a zero funding policy for active travel with no national strategy to drive this to change.
Some other responses that could be used:
Q28: What changes, if any, would improve your experience when using a car, van, motorcycle or moped (not e-bike)?
Reduce congetion in town by providing effective alternatives for short journeys so those that need to use a motor vehcle can do so without long delays. Public transport is not the immediate answer as the buses get stuck in the same congetion. Good quality walking and cycling infrastructure is needed on all key routes.
Q32. Why have you not used the train, underground, metro or tram in the last 6 months?
Too expensive by train compared to using the car, even for 1 person alone. No underground, metro, tram here.
Q35. Why have you not used the bus, minibus or coach in the last 6 months?
No bus services to the area of town where I live
Q39. What changes, if any, would improve your experience when walking or wheeling?
Ban car parking on pavements and limit urban speed limits to 20mph
Q44. What additional information would you need to improve your journey?
Knowing that cycle infrastructure covers the end to end route I need to travel rather than a patchwork of poor quality short sections that dump cyclists into traffic at the most dangerous points
Q46. In your opinion how best could the transport system be better ‘joined-up’ (select your 2 most important options)?
Good quality, well signed cycle routes between public transport hubs and key local desinations + secure cycle parking at key destinations
Q47. What ways, if any, can you think of how technology could be used to improve your experience with the transport network?
Subsidies for e-bikes to encourage adpotion in the same way as EVs have had subsidies. They are still expensive for most ordinary people
Q48. How, if at all, would you improve the way decisions are made about the transport network?
Scoring for road projects needs to be radically overhauled so it does not encourage traffic growth but encourages modal shift to active travel modes and public transport
A vast proportion of NHS spend can be attributed to obesity related conditions and yet whilst NHS struggles for funding it appears to have no involvement in transpiort strategy that continues to encourage motor traffic growth and inhibit avtive travel. Similarly, a significant % of households locally and nationally have no access to a motor vehicle and yet their needs appear to be ignored in transport strategy. This needs to change.
Q49. Any other comments?
This is urgent. Our council (North Yorkshire Council) continues to fiddle and maintain a zero funding policy for active travel with no national strategy to drive this to change.