Going for Gold - next steps

Action on Transport

Traffic congestion and the inconvenience, pollution and hazards arising from it are one of the main concerns in Cambridge. The domination of the car over our roads and our lives is damaging. Public policy must reduce dependence on the car by using both sticks and carrots - to make the car relatively less attractive in comparison with other modes.

What we've done so far

• employed the Council's first dedicated cycling/walking officer  to promote these modes and provide better facilities for their safety and convenience
  
  
• created the Council's first budget for the support of public transport in the city, either by direct subsidy to operators or by contributing to infrastructure and other facilities
  
  
• this budget has so far been used to introduce the late night "nightbus" and the Addenbrookes to Trumpington Park and Ride service, and to provide additional information at bus stops
  
  
• introduced major new budgets for traffic calming schemes, pedestrian crossings, pavement maintenance and dropped kerbs, all designed to increase safety for cyclists, walkers and disabled people
  
  
• increased support for community transport initiatives such as Dial-a-Ride by offering secure and increased levels of funding
  
  
• pioneered the use of a dedicated Travel to School officer to encourage and facilitate safe and healthy non-car travel
  
  
• worked closely with the County Council to improve traffic management in the city
  
  
• developed a policy for off street car parks aimed at increasing customer choice and quality of service and protecting the environment.
  
  
• proposed and allocated funding for the city's first pilot Home Zone project

Next Steps

All our major spending programmes listed above will continue as before. Existing and new 2002/3 budgets will enable us to progress many other important transport initiatives:

• support for the work of the cycling/walking officer through a special capital budget
  
  
• introduction of a Sunday Park & Ride service to complement changes in the pricing structure in car parks on Sundays
  
  
• extension of evening bus services to all Stagecoach citi routes
  
  
• a range of other bus measures which may include on-street ticketing facilities
  
  
• important short and long term decisions about bus provision in the city centre, including possible relocation of some functions to the railway station
  
  
• replacement of Pay and Display with Pay on Foot systems at car parks to make life easier for customers; physical improvements to the buildings will follow
  
  
• better facilities for disabled people in car parks
  
  
• consideration of the potential of decriminalisation of parking offences to improve enforcement especially in bus and cycle lanes