Question 11
Electric scooters are used in many cities in the world and are a great form of sustainable transport. Currently they are not allowed on roads or pavements; A linked network of dedicated cycle paths would encourage people to use electric bicycles and scooters as an alternative to the car. Electric cars are the transport of the future. New houses need to be equipped with electrical charging points; preferably solar powered. Electric delivery vehicles, particularly in the town centre would be a great step forward.
If they could live within walking or cycling distance of their work and leisure activities.
Bedford Borough is well served by strategic transport corridors, with the A421/ east west rail corridor, and A6/ Midland Mainline corridor. It is noted that the proposed Plan vision highlights the opportunities that the new east/ west rail route will offer, in association with the Oxford to Cambridge Arc. However, East Northamptonshire Council would also highlight the potential for enhanced connectivity along the north/ south A6/ Midland Mainline corridor.
"Rail Car System" & underground housing. A garage with traditional building development.
No comment
As a rural parish, we are aware that the majority of residents are car dependant, however, the Parish Council values the bus service operating in the village (as we acknowledged within our Neighbourhood Plan). It is absolutely tantamount that this bus service continues to serve the village and the surrounding rural area. We would welcome more frequent bus services throughout the day and into the evening to encourage a greater use of public transport. In addition to the above, we consider investment and priorities should be made to enhance facilities for cyclists by providing dedicated cycle lanes and improving upon more secure facilities for cycle parking. We consider greater opportunities to encourage sustainable modes of transport can be secured in more urban areas and within new developments.
In terms of public transport, at present with COVID 19 this is a bit of tough challenge to encourage usage. Generally, though good value for money, reliable service, clean and comfortable, safe, including personal safety and good connections are all things that encourage usage. I think strategies like this favouring the ‘carrot’ are better than the ‘stick’ such as making parking costs prohibitive, as if people are only prepared to travel by car, if this is prohibitive for various reasons they may not make the journey at all and just stay at home, eg do more on-line shopping. Cycle lanes / scooter lanes that are well connected from homes to shops and to work and cycle lanes that feel safe – maybe we need CCTV along some of the quieter routes where crime could happen. However, before we go round spending too much money on cycle lanes we need to investigate to what extent they would actually be used. I do not cycle, but I do enjoy walking. Over the last year or two, I have been less inclined to walk from my home in Kempston into Bedford along the main road and more often take the car. This is due to the amount of cyclists which ride irresponsibly on the pedestrian footpath and cycle at such speeds, which makes me feel very unsafe. There needs to be better laws and regulations as well as enforcing them, for cyclists and people on scooters so that ride responsibly and safely. This year, a friend of the family, who was walking on the pedestrian side of the footpath around Kempston park was hit by a person riding a scooter at speed on a cycle track and incurred a serious wrist injury. I think number plates and registration of owners, similar to car ownership, should be introduced all cyclists and scooters. This would facilitate enforcement of regulations and hopefully encourage people to abide by regulations. Cycle lanes that are solely for cycles, or the latest electric ‘stand-up’ scooters use and not mixed pedestrian / cycle usage and cycle lanes away from roads. A combination of cycles / scooters and pedestrians or cycles / scooters and cars, create high health and safety risks when all sharing the same space.
• Dedicated cycleways and walkways. • Park and ride schemes. • Dedicated busways
Better bus connections to the train station, good cycle paths and better standard pavements.
Reduce fares on public transport and insist on electric buses and taxis More cycle lanes Increase price of fuel Integrated timetables Improve Bedford bus station (which is very cold in winter)
Better cycle paths and the traffic lights at junctions that allow for bicycles, as in many other countries. More facilities for cycles in the town centre, including safe areas to park cycles. Many would cycle more if they felt safe to do so. Buses need to be government funded to achieve a frequent and affordable service.
Wootton Parish Council values the bus services operating within the parish and it is vital that these services are maintained and enhanced in order to achieve the greater use of sustainable modes of transport. Furthermore, the parish council would welcome further investment and facilities to enhance facilities for cyclists by providing dedicated cycle lanes and improving upon more secure facilities for cycle parking.
The term "sustainable modes of transport" needs better definition because it can include pedestrian access, cycle routes, electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered buses and urban tramways. Whichever mode of transport is being considered the key is to enable people to travel where they want, whenever they want - and if services are provided they need to be frequent and well-connected.
Sustainable seems to be anything but a private car. For most people though a car is the most efficient and practical way of getting around the Borough. The Borough should mandate zero emission buses and taxis to begin with. Preparation needs to be made for 'on demand' self driving vehicles which should be common place over the plan period.
Far more and much safer cycle routes. There are very few especially in more rural areas. Better timetabling and frequency of public transport with much lower fares. At the moment the only ones who can use busses are the retired. It is virtually impossible to use them for commuting. In turn this leads to clogged roads unsafe for cyclists. Car pooling priority and parking provision at key points would help especially at Bedford station (if this is already the case it needs to be much wider publicised). Ideally covered cycle ways (covered with solar panels is possible) in high traffic areas would help year round use of cycles and e-bikes. legalising low speed electric scooters also makes a lot of environment sense. Having safe parking for cycles is very important and should be included in any future business developments as a matter of course (as it is elsewhere). Cycling to schools (with suitable provision for safety etc) should be considered central to school development projects going forward.
Sustainable transport will only be taken seriously when there is proper connectivity of the current disjointed network. Look the Holland and other European countries to see how they have integrated cycle/walking routes alongside roads. Sustainable transport needs to be safe, secure and attractive to use. It must allow door to door connectivity without large gaps in the middle. A sustainable transport network needs to link the home to workplace/shops. It should also emphasis the health and wellbeing aspects to make it an enjoyable experience.
Maybe we need to look again at where people are going and why they are using current modes of transport. A rethink about cycle routes may assist. If cycle routes provided a more direct way to desired locations rather than replicating the car route then this might encourage greater use. It is noticeable that even where designated separate cycle paths have been provided a number of cyclists simply don't use them and stick to the public road where they are less safe and where they disrupt other traffic.
Increased access to transport and frequency of services if you want people to access it more
Buses would be used more if cheaper and much more frequent
It's an exceeding simple answer to a question the country seems unable to answer; the hubs for the sustainable transport (bus & rail stations) need to be within sensible walking distances of people's properties. Having to drive to either is a disaster and defeats the purpose - people would just rather drive to their destination and avoid the hassle - if they can walk there, they're far more likely to utilise it.
More frequent bus services with greater reliability; cheaper fares. Travel discounts for the over 60s (as in London) Separate cycleways
Cycle ways, green spaces interspersed within all development (similar to Milton Keynes), subsidised public transport
Fully support the promotion of sustainable travel modes. The biggest barrier in Bedford is safe bike storage: many people feel reluctant to cycle into town because they feel their bike will get stolen and the police will do nothing about it. Maybe a redundant shop could be repurposed as a manned bike park so people know their bike is secure (this could be made viable through parking charging and bike repairs). Making the experiences more pleasant, for example creating cycle ways that feel safe, introducing a town wide 20mph speed limit. Making routes accessible for all, ie reviewing at street furniture and lighting to ensure they appeal to all (for example wheelchair users, buggy pushers and women may feel intimidated on some routes). Increasing natural surveillance along routes.
Non-polluting buses are essential. Greater provision of cycling and pedestrian facilities are also important. There should be better access to the railway station, including park-and-ride.
Greater expansion of bus services, particularly to the outlying villages
Financial carrots and sticks.
Proper bus and cycle lanes eg the pedestrian and cycle bridge which was promised by the Mayor as part of the Bromham Road railiway Bridge redevelopment, but has not materialised. Also the previously planned station car park in Henley Road and pedestrian bridge straight into the station, which hasnt happened, and would have removed a lot of traffic at the double roundabout as well as encouraging more to walk from central Queens Park into Bedford town centre. Regular and long hours bus timetables, (displayed at bus stops) with rain shelters - as well as encouraging more use both this and encouraging cycling and walking mean that more people are on the pavements, and this makes an enormous difference to community safety and the feeling of being safe. Cleaner streets and less beggars would really help people feel safer and more inclined not to use their cars, as currently people feel the need for the safety and security of their private vehicle. Also a round the town centre shuttle bus (st Pauls- Commercial Road - Prebend str at hospital end - Borough Hall, College, river - St Pauls) would connect the various bus terminals, allowing those who arrive in town by bus to get to the next part of their town journey without a long walk, eg st Pauls or the bus station to the hospital. Would allow people to be in town without needing car, and can access river amenities too. this shuttle would ideally just constantly circuit this route, and with a minimal coin charge, or card to be shown. ... Also brighter street lighting - too much of it in Bedford doesn't adequately light the ground level, especially with tree overhang in places (there needs to be regular low level pruning of trees so pedestrians and cyclists dont get hit on the head by low level and often wet branches) and so the pedestrian does not feel that streets are light enough to feel safe.
Better literature. Ensuring the East-West Rail link comes through Bedford centre, rather than having a separate station and having to change. Better cycling facilities, so cyclists do not use the pavement so much!
Better literature. Ensuring the East-West Rail link comes through Bedford centre, rather than having a separate station and having to change. Better cycling facilities, so cyclists do not use the pavement so much!
The prices on public buses are absolutely ridiculous. I know young families who would love to use the buses but the cost is totally prohibitive.