Sustainable transport

We live in an increasingly mobile society where the requirement for access to goods. services,school, work and leisure has led to a steady annual growth in the distance travelled per person. At the same time global trade has led to the transport of goods over increasing distances, most of which travels by air or road, while that carried by rail and water has declined.

The decline in the use of public transport, especially buses, and the reduction in walking and cycling is the result of increasing private car ownership.. Road traffic is the fastest growing contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and is a serious threat to health through air pollution, road accidents and the rise in obesity. It has also led to a loss of social cohesion through community severance and has a grwoing impact on business and the economy as a result of congestion.

The development of sustainable communities must aim to reduce the need to travel and move away from dependence on the private car by offering real transport choice.