The Benefits of Less Traffic
Although economic growth can be accompanied by increasing
levels of traffic, economic development doesn’t depend upon
traffic growth. In fact some economic improvements can be
expected from traffic reduction.
Firstly, due to corner-shop closures and out-of-town
development, people travel further for their shopping, relying
almost exclusively on cars to reach these sites. The hidden costs
of such sites are in the travelling expenses and the vast areas
of land tied up in car-parking. It is with this kind of
development that the main impact of planning procedures upon
social and economic activity can be seen - not only does more
traffic arise but local retailers suffer from loss of trade,
social contact decreases as people drive to the shops and so the
community fragments. Standard of living - which is effectively
the cost of living - increases at the expense of quality of
life.
Secondly, congested roads are inefficient, imposing
unnecessary delays on commercial journeys and causing hidden
costs for industry through stress and ill-health in a work-force
regularly frustrated by commuting delays. Part of the labour cost
of any business must be in providing wages sufficient to finance
employees' twice-daily car journeys. A much improved public
transport system has a role to play in freeing up road space and
reducing the financial, social and environmental costs of
commuting.
Thirdly, experience in other countries shows there is a
relationship between environmental quality and economic
performance. German cities in particular have shown that the
urban retail sector benefits not from free and abundant parking,
but from pedestrianisation, good public transport and
traffic-free shopping streets. These are all features that should
be incorporated into any sensible traffic policy.
Although the economic benefits of traffic reduction are
important, the environmental implications are truly imperative.
We cannot continue to pollute at the current rate; fuel supplies
are finite and we are already dangerously dependent on oil; we
can afford no more valuable land to be sterilised for the sake of
the motor car. Once traffic levels have been reduced we will find
our surroundings far more pleasant and much safer.
For individuals, there are benefits to be derived from not
being dependent upon the car. Walking and cycling promote greater
fitness, public transport removes the need to find parking spaces
after every journey and social contact is enhanced when trips are
not taken in an isolated, mobile box.
Strategies for Reduction
Three broad strategies for traffic reduction in Guernsey have
been outlined:
- Reducing or banning traffic from particular areas
- Reducing non-essential traffic
- Reducing traffic in the Island as a whole
We already have some areas where car traffic is restricted,
notably High Street, Smith Street and the Pollet, and the
resultant atmosphere for shoppers is more pleasant than in
streets with full traffic access.
A lot of the Island’s commuter traffic is unnecessary
and could well be reduced by an improved bus service. There are
many policies available to tackle such problems, ranging from
better provision for cyclists and pedestrians, public transport
investment and reduced or charged parking.
To make reductions throughout the Island some fundamental
issues must be addressed. Much of our current traffic has been
generated or necessitated by a pattern of development which has
spread housing around disparate areas, encouraged excessive free
parking and placed large retail concerns in out-of-the-way
locations, allowing the Town centre to decline through the
closure of flats above shops and the associated "rural
exodus".
Ultimately, Guernsey’s lifestyle must be made
sustainable, and continued traffic growth is only one of many
unsustainable trends. Just as traffic reduction alone will not
bring about sustainability, no single strategy alone can bring
about that reduction.
"Less Traffic for a Better Island" identifies a number of
mechanisms available for reducing traffic. Some of these will
only work in combination and so an integrated approach is
emphasised. It is important to maintain an overall view -
piecemeal tinkering can exacerbate rather than cure some of the
problems. Issues to be considered include:
- Traffic calming
- Reducing road space
- Traffic-free shopping
- Public transport, walking and cycling
- Lower traffic speed
- Land use planning
- Motor tax restructuring
Public Transport
The public transport situation is very serious. The bus
service has been in a vicious circle of decline. Rising car
ownership reduces the number of passengers; fewer passengers
means the buses are less viable; services are cut back due to
lost income; more people then choose to travel by car as the
service deteriorates. No blame can fairly be placed upon the bus
operators - they can only operate in the circumstances that
States’ policies create.
What is obvious is that without substantial new investment the
bus service can only worsen, and that would be a terrible outcome
for Guernsey. A new vision of the potential of public transport
is required. The States must maintain their support to the bus
operators. A new fleet of vehicles would be a considerable step
towards rehabilitating the service, but much more remains to be
done. What is needed is a fast, reliable, frequent service that
is pleasant and inexpensive to use. Such a service would be an
asset to the Island. Not only do thousands of local residents
depend on the buses, many visitors also use them and in a very
real sense motorists rely on the buses to free up road space.
Imagine the situation if all the bus passengers were in cars!
Aside from investment, some "priority" measures would help to
improve the service - bus lanes, priority at lights and junctions
and so on. These measures would make bus journeys quicker and
more attractive.
If the States are serious about their policy to "reduce
dependence upon the motor car" then they should immediately
invest in the bus service. This is not an expensive option
considering the benefits that would accrue.
We have advocated the introduction of a carbon-tax on motor
fuels in response to the STC/A&F proposals to replace motor
tax with a fuel tax on the "polluter pays" principle. To assist
the public transport sector we would like to see this tax used to
raise revenue to support the necessary investment in the bus
service. Furthermore we would support relief on this tax for
buses and taxis.
Curbing the Car
No matter how attractive the bus service becomes, of itself it
will do little to tempt people away from their cars. It will also
be necessary to encourage restraint on the part of motorists.
Fiscal measures, such as fuel taxes, should help in this, as
should traffic calming which, by making the streets safer and
more pleasant for pedestrians, also provide a disincentive to
drive through certain areas and hopefully motorists might begin
to leave the car at home more often.
Parking provision in Guernsey has acquired the status of a
sacred cow. The planning policies in force currently protect
parking provision, and there is political and popular opposition
to parking charges. It must be recognised that the current
abundance of parking actively encourages people to make journeys
by car. St Peter Port in particular is designed for the
convenience of motorists to the detriment of those without cars.
Bearing in mind the environmental effects of cars this
presumption in favour of motorists should be reversed.
Land Use and Planning Issues
Land use planning has a pronounced impact on the patterns of
traffic. Out-of-town shopping at remote sites generates a lot of
traffic, as well as diverting shoppers from the established
retailing centres in Town and St Sampson’s. New
developments should be directed towards rehabilitating derelict
sites in Town and using currently empty buildings. Where virgin
sites are used then mixed development is to be preferred, for
instance pure housing sites should not be allowed - local
facilities should be incorporated to allow for car-free
lifestyles and a more neighbourly community to develop. Where
everyone leaves an estate by car there is little opportunity for
social contact.
The planning process should also provide for public transport
links and incorporate cycle tracks and footpaths.
Implementation
There is a wealth of experience from around the world
concerning the mechanisms and benefits of traffic reduction and
many of the initiatives taken by local authorities in Britain,
Holland or Germany could well be implemented here.
Short term strategies for traffic reduction would include the
following:
- Avoid generation of new traffic
- Cancel plans for ring roads and car parks; restrict car
parking provision in new developments; steer development to
established centres; retain areas with mixed activities and land
use locations and densities that generate little traffic.
- Encourage a switch from the car to other transport
- Remove traffic and parking from Town centre and make these
areas more attractive for pedestrians and visitors; provide
better access for public transport and improve road conditions
for buses; introduce traffic calming in residential and
commercial centres; build a network of cycle routes; restructure
fuel tax to a "polluter pays" system.
- Promote less car-dependence
- Campaign to promote cycling and walking; improve public
transport availability and quality; encourage car clubs, car
shares and car-free housing areas.
Longer-term Strategies
Longer-term strategies centre around the planning and
development issues which cannot be implemented immediately. The
public transport network should be built up with investment over
a number of years and parking provision should be drastically
curtailed as the alternative modes of travel become more
viable.
Consideration should be given again to "MoT" style vehicle
testing, including the new emissions standards. We should be
aiming to reduce the number of old and inefficient vehicles
without catalytic converters as a first priority as these cause
the most pollution.
Summary
It is often said that "Guernsey doesn’t have a traffic
problem". If this were true then new roads, dual carriage-ways or
car parks would not be on the agenda for future development. What
this comment usually signifies is that "I don’t have a
problem with traffic", which is a very different, usually very
selfish, statement. The fact remains that pedestrians, cyclists,
bus passengers, visitors, roadside residents and people who
breathe our atmosphere DO have problems with traffic.
In the light of the global imperatives to reduce carbon
dioxide and other emissions we cannot refuse to reduce ours - the
onus is on every nation, however small. Even Guernsey. We may not
be in the front line of those who will suffer from global
warming, but that is no reason to ignore the problems.
We must tackle the traffic situation. Further increases in the
number of cars are unsustainable - the current level is already
unsustainable. Provision for ever-increasing traffic has
constantly eroded the rights of those without cars and the
balance should be redressed. All residents and visitors have a
right to free and easy access but this does not have to be by
car. Given a reliable system of public transport, cycle ways and
other alternatives, we can serve the needs of travellers without
impingeing upon those of others.
"Less Traffic for a Better Island" sets out a number of
strategies for reducing the levels of traffic on the Island and
the benefits we can expect to enjoy when these strategies are
implemented. All that remains is to turn the ideas into
action.
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