Low Traffic Vision
A new vision for a Low Traffic Future, for the sake of the nation’s health, wealth & wellbeing.
The Government has invited the public to suggest ideas for a ‘vision-led’ Integrated National Transport Strategy for England, to be published later this year.
Although the Scottish and Welsh Governments have both set targets to reduce car traffic, this will be England’s first attempt at an integrated transport strategy for 27 years!
They want ideas by the end of January. So now is the time to raise our voices, not just to influence the Strategy itself but also to make MPs aware of the huge public support for a less car-dependent future.
We have created a template letter to make it nice and easy to write to your MP, urging them to press Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander to give us real choices in how we make our day-to-day journeys, without always depending on private cars.
Our template email makes it easy to do this. We’d encourage you to edit or expand on it though, if you want to say something about your own situation or your local area.
“Less traffic means safer, healthier streets, lower emissions, and smoother journeys for all. More and better public transport must be top priority for reducing traffic, while rail freight and sustainable local deliveries should take priority over HGVs and small vans. For this vision to be realised we need a properly integrated transport system, where sustainable modes are the affordable, practical choice for many more journeys.”
“Successive governments have failed to get a grip on the problem of ever-rising traffic levels across the country. We’ve poured billions into car dependency – like building new roads that just create more traffic – while public transport just isn’t good enough, and safe walking and cycling routes barely exist. This Labour government needs to make an explicit commitment to tackling traffic and car dependency, for our health, for the economy, and for the planet.”
“We have become so used to prioritising cars, parked or moving, over people. But with a little imagination, it’s clear to see how reducing our reliance on vehicles would support the health, economy, and wellbeing of our communities. At Living Streets, we welcome the call for investment in clean and healthy transport options, so that people have a genuine choice about how to travel. A new Low Traffic Vision would help create safe, attractive streets where people can breathe clean air and discover the many benefits of walking and wheeling.”
“There’s much to learn from London’s leadership in tackling motor traffic, not least the importance of political bravery. Yet Transport for London has shown that, even in London, a majority of motor vehicle journeys could still fairly easily be made by other modes. We hope Heidi Alexander can now draw on her experiences in London, and deliver a bold integrated transport strategy to rapidly reduce private motor vehicle use wherever possible. That is what our future generations need.”
“Labour has made a good start on bringing buses and train services under public control, which should result in better and more affordable services. Yet it also needs to be bolder in tackling our over-reliance on cars and trucks. Delivering a Low Traffic Vision by shifting funding from road schemes towards clean and healthy alternatives would be a much better way to grow the economy, improve opportunities, protect public health and achieve ‘net zero’.”
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What does our vision for a Low Traffic Future look like?
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