Friends of the Earth Guernsey

PRESS RELEASE

Public Transport Strategy

26th February 2001

Friends of the Earth Guernsey congratulates the Traffic Committee on their proposals for a new Public Transport Strategy, welcoming plans to rationalise the school bus service, improve scheduled trans-island routes and timetables, and provide disabled access with new buses.

Together with the new bus shelters and timetable displays planned, the web based bus services travel planner and the bus priority system at traffic lights, these are all positive initiatives that will enhance the experience of bus users and minimise the social disadvantages of not owning a car.

FoEG supports the Traffic Committee objectives for the new Public Transport Strategy, expecting it to lead to:

* significantly more residents, tourists and school pupils travelling on public transport

* a public transport system of which the Island can be justly proud;

* less reliance on car travel and less congestion;

* an environment that should reduce pressure on the demand for the construction of additional and expensive car parking facilities in St Peter Port.

FoEG urges States Members to support the Traffic Committee proposals for a 20p flat fare for all bus journeys.

Funding low cost public transport for everyone who wants or needs it represents a significant investment for the States of Guernsey.

A least-cost analysis shows that this investment in public transport is easily more cost effective than building additional car parks around Town.

Advisory and Finance only seem to oppose subsidies for the poor, but constantly demand subsidies for the rich, such as free parking built at taxpayers' expense.

FoEG strongly opposes Advisory and Finance's arguments for an increased 50p fare.

The likely subsidy of the Public Transport Strategy by the States will increase only if the 20p fare encourages more people to use the buses, leading to overloading and the need for the purchase of more buses to cope with demand.

By insisting on a 50p fare, Advisory and Finance are admitting that they expect less take-up of the buses at 50p than at 20p, with fewer new buses thus required.

Advisory and Finance are deliberately placing an amendment which aims to reduce the effectiveness of the Public Transport Strategy. The Committee is acting against the interests of the Guernsey public, and in defiance of their own Strategic Policies.

Note: These STC proposals comply with Strategic Policy 18, with the States' Energy Policy, and with Strategic Statements 3, 4 and 6 of the 2000 Policy and Resource Planning Report.

Quote from spokesman:

"Certain individuals are fond of declaring that they will never give up any of their car journeys under any circumstances. Fine. But they should not deny that choice to others. If everyone who wants to can use a bus instead of a car, the roads will be less congested, there will be less pollution (and pollution includes greenhouse gases as well as the more visible smoke and smog), and there will be more parking spaces available in Town for shoppers and people who are incapable of using Public Transport."