There is huge public support for giving people better transport choices. People want to be able to get around in ways that are safe, convenient, affordable, healthy and environment-friendly.

Reversing our growing dependence on cars, vans and lorries would bring so many benefits for our health, wealth, well-being and the climate. It would drastically cut the costs of congestion, air pollution, noise, road casualties and inactivity-related ill-health, which between them cost the UK economy over £100bn annually.

Yet this is the opposite of what is currently happening. Motor traffic on Britain’s roads doubled between 1980 and 2019 (i.e. pre-covid). Worse still, the UK Government predicts that it will carry on growing – by up to 54% in England and Wales by 2060. This would be disastrous for the economy, the environment, our health and quality of life. It would be especially bad for our children or anyone else who cannot drive (e.g. many disabled people or those with certain health conditions).

Surely nobody wants to live in a world with 54% more motor traffic on our roads? Even if they are all electric vehicles!

This Challenge invites councils and mayors to lead the way towards a brighter future…

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Do you really want 54% more motor traffic?

There is now a real opportunity for councils and mayors in England – especially those newly elected – to set out a very different vision of the future.

Most of England’s local transport authorities (excluding London) are now drawing up new Local Transport Plans (LTPs) and are preparing to consult on a draft LTP in the coming months. A few authorities have already published draft LTPs, or adopted final versions, with some welcome ambition:

Transport for the West Midlands

Reduce car distance travelled by 35% by 2030.

Oxfordshire

Reduce car trips by 25% by 2030, and by 33% by 2040.

Reading

Reduce car use, from 25% of trips to or through Reading town centre, to 10% in 2040.

York

Reduce car mileage by 20% by 2030.

The Transport Choices Challenge, drawn up by the recently-formed Low Traffic Future Alliance, is an invitation to councils and mayors to work with their local communities on adopting similarly ambitious targets elsewhere in England, along with the plans and spending commitments needed to ensure these are met.

They can sign up at a bronze, silver or gold level of ambition.

We recognise that, ahead of a new Government’s first spending review, they cannot be sure of what funding and policy support they can expect in future years.

It is also harder for rural councils to be ambitious than for large city authorities.

The Alliance’s members are also eager to work with councils and mayors on pressing central government for the funding and other support that you will need if you are ‘go for gold’ in the (hopefully not-too-distant) future!

Choose your level of ambition

  • Commit to reduce motor traffic by at least 10% by 2030, compared with 2019*, and by at least 20% in larger urban areas**.

  • Adopt at least 6 of the challenge policies listed below.

  • Commit to reduce motor traffic 20% by 2030 compared with 2019*, and by at least 30% in larger urban areas**.

  • Adopt 8 of the challenge policies listed below.

  • Commit to reverse the growth of motor traffic – with traffic volumes falling below 2019 levels by 2030*, and by at least 10% in larger urban areas**.

  • Adopt at least 4 of the challenge policies below.

*Where LTPs cover a different time-period, equivalent targets may be adopted. **Population >100,000.

Challenge Policies

  • Comprehensive walking & cycling networks
    Set out a comprehensive plan for safe, convenient and attractive cycling and walking conditions throughout their area (to UK Government design standards) by 2040, with interim milestones.

  • Bus service provision
    Aim to have at least an hourly bus service for any village or community with a population of 300 people or more by 2040, with interim milestones.

  • Integration and accessibility of public, community and shared transport
    Involve the public, to improve the integration and accessibility of public, shared and community transport – including timetabling, information-provision and ticketing.

  • Measures to limit demand for motorised travel
    e.g. through parking or access charges or restrictions, reinvesting the funding raised to improve the alternatives to driving, ensure fairness and avoid undue impacts on disadvantaged groups.

  • No capacity-boosting road-building schemes
    Road schemes should only proceed if they meet criteria such as the 4 purposes and 4 conditions adopted by the Welsh Government’s roads review. (Compulsory for silver or gold level accreditation).

  • Road and path maintenance
    Ensure that local roads, and walking and cycling facilities, are prioritised (rather than the main roads) in policies on inspections, repair, winter maintenance, etc.

  • Vision zero for road safety
    Set an aim and programme to reduce fatal and serious road casualties to zero (or as close as possible) by 2040, with interim targets that should include reductions in the rates (i.e. the risks per mile or per trip) of pedestrian and cyclist casualties.

  • Lower speed limits
    Make 20mph the ‘local default’ speed limit for most streets in built-up areas, with ‘gold’ level authorities additionally adopting a ‘local default’ limit of 40mph or below for single-carriageway roads in rural areas. Exceptions possible with certain caveats.

  • Planning policies
    … that ensure the location, density and design of new developments support sustainable and active travel, and do not entrench car-dependence.

  • Tackling transport inequalities
    … by ensuring that transport policies, services and street designs are fully inclusive, and by supporting community-based programmes to boost active travel among those least likely to participate without support but whose health, wealth and well-being could most benefit from doing so.

Supported by our members

Ready to go? We’re taking expressions of interest now

We are keen to receive expressions of interest, whether from councillors, officers or indeed from local campaigners or campaign groups. If you think your authority may be interested in signing up, please get in touch via this form, or by emailing hello@lowtrafficfuture.org.uk.

You can also download the info on this webpage as a 4-page A4 leaflet about the Transport Choices Challenge.
We also have further information on Local Transport Plans, including: