The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) has underlined the urgent need for modal shift to be prioritised in its response to a Transport for the North (TfN) consultation on the sub-national transport body’s forthcoming decarbonisation strategy.
CPT has highlighted to TfN that around one in 10 car journeys will need to be shifted to bus by 2030 if the UK is to remain on course to achieve net zero by 2050. However, it has added that efforts to increase the reliability of buses – including bus-only roads and traffic signal and junction priority measures – are necessary as key parts of work around modal shift and decarbonisation.
Changes to the structure of Clean Air Zones, the introduction of road pricing and congestion charging schemes that all favour coaches and buses should also be examined, the Confederation says.
Regional Manager Andrew McGuinness has additionally called for coaches to play a greater part in TfN’s decarbonisation agenda. CPT was “surprised and disappointed” to see no mention of coaches in the draft strategy from TfN, with Mr McGuinness underlining a coach’s ability to take up to 50 cars off the road. Coach friendly measures must also form part of TfN’s work, CPT adds.
“To get more people on board, we must see this [decarbonisation] strategy include policies that make it easy for coaches to access tourist attractions and city centres. Those measures will encourage people to travel by coach, instead of by car, helping to reduce carbon emissions,” says Mr McGuinness.
Bury Market is cited as an example of a coach-friendly destination. Significantly, CPT also raises the need for local authorities to ensure that appropriate coach parking is suitable for PSVAR-compliant vehicles. Clear, flat and and unobstructed space to deploy a lift is required, it says.
