Other Modes of Transport

Public Transport

The use of public transport must be encouraged if a sustainable transport policy is to be developed. A decrease in the use of personal vehicles would be beneficial to the environment both in terms of land use pressure and air quality.

Trains

Railways are efficient forms of transport that use existing tracks, and therefore use less land than roads. Some of them, however, utilise diesel as their fuel, which has been found to produce a large amount of particulates when burnt.

Light Rail (Including Trams)

There has been a resurgence in the use of transport such as trams, which have a lower environmental impact than buses. Trams use smaller vehicles and tighter rail tracks than conventional trains, which enables them to be constructed within existing built-up areas. They also run at a lower cost than trains, and they can easily be expanded to accommodate increases in passengers.

An example of a successful light rail transport scheme is the Metrolink, developed in Manchester in 1991. Sections of the Metrolink run parallel to other vehicles in the existing road network. Since its successful instalment, many additional extensions have been developed or planned to surrounding suburbs.

Buses

Buses are generally recognised as an environmentally friendly form of transport, particularly in relation to the number of car journeys needed to carry the same number of passengers. A bus uses less fuel per person carried, and hence less fuel than the number of cars needed to replace it. However, buses do contribute to air quality problems, particularly in cities.

Buses in the UK are mainly powered by diesel engines, with a handful of alternative fuels under trial. Improvements in the emission performance of buses are likely to be needed in the future. In 1996 the first purpose built gas bus in the UK began operating. This was part of a trial, with a range of alternative fuels, to overcome the public's perception that buses contribute significantly to environmental pollution. The aim of the experiment was to encourage the public to see them as part of the solution instead of the problem.

Public transport is beginning to become more attractive due to improved transport information and the introduction of bus lanes, which decrease journey times. The cost of public transport needs to be lowered to encourage people to use this as an alternative to personal vehicles.

Cycling

Cycling is often the quickest way to make short journeys. At present, there are some cycle tracks in British towns and cities, but the improvement and expansion of these routes could encourage more people to cycle. Improving cycle parking facilities at convenient locations could assist this.

Walking

Walking is a sustainable mode of transport that is available to all at no cost. The safer the walking environment the better, and hence the introduction of pedestranisation to city centres has increased the number of people that travel on foot. York is a good example of a city where improved conditions for pedestrians has brought an increase in pedestrian traffic.

In the UK it has been found that 50% of all journeys are less than two miles, and therefore are ideal for cycling or walking. Walking and cycling are also extremely healthy modes of transport, as they increase physical fitness.

It has been suggested that walking and cycling should be given a much more prominent role in transport policy formulation throughout the developed world. Not only do these modes cause the least damage to other road users, but they also incur a much lower social, economical and environmental cost than motorised ones.

Park and Ride Schemes

Park and ride facilities have been introduced in many districts during the last decade. They are often found in rural areas, small communities and cities where traffic congestion is a major problem.

Park and ride facilities aim to provide a car park where people can transfer from a few people in each car to a large number of people together on a bus or train. This has the effect of reducing the amount of traffic in problem areas, particularly urban centres. The parking facilities are often located around bus or rail stations, and car parking is often available free of charge as an incentive for their use.

A survey showed that in Britain a third of the population had used a park and ride scheme, and 9 out of 10 of these people were satisfied. Park and ride schemes could become even more attractive if restrictions were placed on city centre roads to reduce traffic. Cheaper fares would also make the services more attractive.

Supporting services and facilities could be used to reinforce the overall efficiency and effectiveness of park and ride facilities. These would prioritise transit services, giving them right of way.