| "Jersey has the highest car ownership per head of the population in the world. " | |
In July this year the Public Services Committee presented a draft of the Sustainable Travel and Transport Plan, which when it is completed aims to 鈥減rovide clear suggestions for developing and funding our future transport needs鈥. The document highlights several issues that they believe are important in understanding and finding solutions Jersey鈥檚 transport problems 鈥 with regards to both private and public transport. Being able to travel easily on a daily basis is important to our quality of life; the availability of easy and convenient transportation enables us to enjoy greater freedom, opportunity and independence. However, there is a price to be paid for the way we travel, especially the way we in which we use our cars. The need to ease traffic congestion, develop the bus service and to make it safer for walkers and cyclists are obvious problems that need to be addressed within in the island. The issues that the document outlines for Jersey are based around four key issues: Access for Everyone
In today鈥檚 modern society the car is beginning to dominate the way in which people travel. Jersey is particularly dependant on cars, with 166,000 vehicle journeys being made on the island everyday, Jersey also has the highest car ownership per head of the population in the world, with car ownership rising by 14% between 1996 and 2001, according to the last Census. However, it is important to remember that here on the island nearly one in six (16%) of private households have no car or van for domestic use, a third of people who live alone do not have the use of a car or van. Thus it is important that people have a means of getting where they need to be when they need to be there. The report states that in Jersey 鈥渟ome people feel that the only choice is to jump in the car鈥. Therefore they suggest that it is important for people to be able to have choices and options for the journeys that they make. To this end the report makes proposals to ensure better public transport and to aid awareness of travel choices. Proposals include a flexible bus route structure, reducing bus fares, improving the image of public transport and enabling greater integration between the various forms of transport.听 Health and Safety for All
It is obviously important that people are safe and secure whilst travelling by whichever method of transport they choose. The plan highlights that it is important that we not only ensure that we are safe whilst travelling but also that our means of transport allow for positive health benefits: in terms of both air quality and for our physical and mental wellbeing. Proposals to achieve these aims include introducing part-time speed limits, developing more safe routes to schools, co-ordinating public health and travel campaigns and ventilating the Tunnel. Protecting the Environment It will come to no one as a shock that travelling in motorised vehicles has a negative impact on the environment, and that if we can reduce the number of journeys that we make then we will protect not only our health but the environment too. Studies carried out have found that air quality inside vehicles travelling in traffic congestion was poorer that outside, thus air pollution is not only a problem for walkers and cyclists but is a risk to those travelling inside vehicles too. Traffic that moves more freely pollutes less.
On a good note the trend in fuel used by road traffic was down 4.6% between 1998 and 2003. This means that greenhouse gas emissions from road traffic are lower than they were in 1990. To promote the protection of our air quality the document proposes to introduce a vehicle tax linked to emissions and size of vehicle which will encourage the purchase and use of more fuel efficient or less polluting vehicles. It also proposes to incentivise car sharing. Motorised vehicle use does not only impact on our air quality but also on our physical and visual environment. In addition to roads we also have car parks and garages which all take up valuable space, especially on an island such as Jersey which is already so limited in space. We would need 71 Pier Road car parks to accommodate all the cars that we own in Jersey, and if we parked all the cars we owned nose to tail they would stretch 162 miles. Thus the report recommends that we should 鈥渆ncourage and apply the principles of good design to new development, including the layout and design of roads, footpaths and cycle routes, junctions, car parking and all other associated infrastructure to reduce its environmental impact鈥. Supporting the Economy Our road network is vitally important to the economy and a considerable benefit to us all, allowing us to go about our daily lives. On top of this lots of people earn their living and add to the economy through providing transport for people and goods; from taxi drivers to haulage firms and fuel suppliers.
 | | Road works at West Park, St. Helier |
The road network is also used to provide us with telecommunications, water and other important services. Ensuring efficient traffic flow during the core of the working day (9am 鈥 5pm) is significant to business and economy, as is providing sufficient access for commercial vehicles essential to servicing businesses. Delay costs the Island millions of pounds each year. Proposals to improve traffic management and allow the free flow of traffic include introducing peak period urban clearways and reducing the impact that road works have on the road network, residents and businesses. What do you think? How can we cut the number of motorised vehicle journeys made in the island each day? What would make you give up driving to work?听 Do you think we need to improve road safety, and if so how? What ideas do you have to help reduce the impact of motor vehicle use on the Environment? Here鈥檚 your chance to voice any comments or opinions you may have on transport鈥
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