Solutions

There is no single ‘silver bullet’ for achieving a low traffic future. In outline though, it will involve investing in high-quality provision for walking, cycling and safe streets – including measures such as 20mph schemes, school streets and low traffic neighbourhoods – as well as by improving public and shared transport (i.e. not only trains or buses and coaches, but also car-pooling, ride-sharing, public cycle hire schemes etc).

The funding for these measures can come partly from rebalancing transport spending away from new road schemes that won’t be needed in a low traffic future, and partly from some form of road user charging. Public support for the principle of road user charging has grown markedly in the last 15 years, though it remains important to ensure that charging schemes are fair and seen to be fair.

As for freight transport, the primary goal should be to move as much heavier long-distance freight as possible onto freight trains. Meanwhile, a range of solutions is needed to improve urban logistics (i.e. delivering goods to and within town and city centres), including trans-shipment facilities and increased use of cargo-bikes.