Live Discussion: How councils can encourage sustainable transport
Author: Steven Howell, in the Guardian |
Localis’ director of policy and research, Steven Howell, contributed to a discussion on the role of councils in sustainable transport.
Click here to read the discussion in full
Click here for the expert round-up
Investing in sustainable transport, such as cycling, will be important in years to come as cities aim to cut carbon. But what role can local government play in encouraging travel that doesn’t harm the environment?
The broad issues that the discussion covered were:
What role can councils play in cutting carbon?
How can local authorities get people cycling and using other eco-friendly forms of travel?
What challenges are there for city governments, and how do these compare with rural areas?
With limited funding, how can new modes of transport be paid for?
Steven Howell commented: “At various points over the past few weeks I’ve spoken to council chief executives and transport directors who bemoan the lack of vision for what our network might look like in 20 years time.
Not just this, but how are we discouraging travel? What I mean by this is, if our roads are congested, maybe the answer is not more roads, but fewer reasons to get in the car and travel. Broadband infrastructure and all the digital possibilities that come with it are essential.”
The expert panel included:
Andrew Hugill is director of policy and technical affairs at the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation.
Hannah Budnitz is a transport planner.
James Lewis is a councillor at Leeds city council.
John Whitelegg is visiting professor of sustainable transport at Liverpool John Moores University and professor of sustainable development at the University of York’s Stockholm Environment Institute.
Sian Berry is a campaigner on roads and sustainable transport.
Marc Woodall is Travel Smart engagement manager at Surrey county council’s sustainability group.