Gloucestershire Strategic Partnership

“Tackling the transport (and access) issue”

Report of “virtual” Transport Working Group

Peter Bungard

Executive Director

Gloucestershire County Council

Who says it’s a problem?

Everyone!• 6 District LSPs and GSP partners• Every survey we’ve ever undertaken

How does it fit with GSP structure?• Transport and access to services are relevant

to all of the themes, e.g. economy, learning, safety, health, thriving communities

What has the “virtual” group done?

• Listened: looked up every reference to transport in GSP work to date

• Drawn up a “what’s broke list!”• Recognised that transport is the day job of several partners• Asked the embarrassing question: “if it’s already your day job,

why is it still broke?”• Honed in on GSP territory – where the problems are lack of

ownership and engagement by other partners• Produced a “draft” action plan from partner views (still missing

health and police input)• Tried to spot whether:

o Easy or tougho A solution in mind, or still a challenge

A quick health warning• Most statutory transport responsibilities lie with

the County Council as a highways or transport authority

• If transport continues just to be seen as primarily GCC’s problem, we are still likely to have most elements of the current problems in 5 years’ time

• I should stress that the words in the action plan which I’m about to present are either from partners or frontline transport service providers – not me!

The day job bits:

• “The state of our roads”!• Road safety: children and motorcyling focus• Poor rail services• Street lighting• The quality of our “street scene”• Missing infrastructure and unreliable journeys:

o A417 missing linko M5 closed every weeko Poor access into the Forest of Deano No railfreight facilities in Gloucestershire

• Public transport: perceived high cost; reliability?; too remote for many

• Building new sustainable communities; regeneration• The journey to work – 14 miles and growing – and

car dependent• Poor travel information

Mostly live initiatives in place – but several where GSP partner

discussion would add value

Mostly live initiatives in place – but several where GSP partner

discussion would add value

The partner bits:

Transport: well, it’s about vehicles!

We’ve got plentyWe’ve got plenty

So have ISo have I

You’ll ruin my bus if I let you play with it

You’ll ruin my bus if I let you play with it

• Growing the Gloucestershire Minibus Scheme• Car share initiatives• Mobile services to communities

• Growing the Gloucestershire Minibus Scheme• Car share initiatives• Mobile services to communities

Poor access for people

with mobility problems

It’s about getting on public transport

It’s about getting on public transport

But I can’t get into the buildings when I

get there

But I can’t get into the buildings when I

get there

No, it’s the footways, blocked by bushes, full of potholes, and no dropped

kerbs

No, it’s the footways, blocked by bushes, full of potholes, and no dropped

kerbs

Public Transport:• Low floor, “kneeling” buses

– old stock being replaced• Bus stop improvements• Get more out of community transport

– usually fully accessible• Make community transport mainstream• Accessibility planning

Highway Infrastructure:• Develop a guide• It’s the small things that matter – the car blocking the pavement,

puddles, etc.

Buildings:• DDA has come in – major improvements, or withdrawals

Public Transport:• Low floor, “kneeling” buses

– old stock being replaced• Bus stop improvements• Get more out of community transport

– usually fully accessible• Make community transport mainstream• Accessibility planning

Highway Infrastructure:• Develop a guide• It’s the small things that matter – the car blocking the pavement,

puddles, etc.

Buildings:• DDA has come in – major improvements, or withdrawals

Fear of crime on

public transport

(and walking)… at bus stops … poor street lighting

… at bus stops … poor street lighting

Safety on buses at night

Safety on buses at night

Drug problems at interchanges … limited

police presence

Drug problems at interchanges … limited

police presence

Statistically public transport is safe, but perceptions count• CDRP work• Better lighting at bus stops• Help points at major bus stops• More usage = more security• More door to door

transport solutions• CCTV on buses?• Special late night services

Statistically public transport is safe, but perceptions count• CDRP work• Better lighting at bus stops• Help points at major bus stops• More usage = more security• More door to door

transport solutions• CCTV on buses?• Special late night services

Rural access to education

It’s ok up to 16, what’s the problem?

It’s ok up to 16, what’s the problem?

But I’ve taken the course that I could

reach, not the one for my career ambitions

But I’ve taken the course that I could

reach, not the one for my career ambitions

• Work by post-16 Education Partnership• Accessibility planning• Jump2Ed initiative• Colleges using Glos minibus scheme?• More use of community

transport• The role of internet/distance

learning

• Work by post-16 Education Partnership• Accessibility planning• Jump2Ed initiative• Colleges using Glos minibus scheme?• More use of community

transport• The role of internet/distance

learning

Access to health care (particularly

rural)Most people can get

to their GP ok

Most people can get to their GP ok

Access to hospital is a much greater

challenge, particularly Gloucester Royal

Access to hospital is a much greater

challenge, particularly Gloucester Royal

• Success of Integrated Transport Health Project in South Cotswolds• Plan to roll out to whole county• Co-ordination between appointment times and available transport initiatives – the Newent example• Greater ownership of “transport medical services” by NHS• Hospital “postcode” appointment booking, e.g. Friday a.m. for Dursley • Accessibility planning work

• Success of Integrated Transport Health Project in South Cotswolds• Plan to roll out to whole county• Co-ordination between appointment times and available transport initiatives – the Newent example• Greater ownership of “transport medical services” by NHS• Hospital “postcode” appointment booking, e.g. Friday a.m. for Dursley • Accessibility planning work

Lack of evening and Sunday bus

servicesI’ve not got a car –

I’m isolated

I’ve not got a car – I’m isolated

Younger people can’t go anywhere

in rural areas

Younger people can’t go anywhere

in rural areas

Really impacts on people with mobility

problems

Really impacts on people with mobility

problems

• Improved information about existing services• Think community based solutions through partnerships: car schemes, minibuses, taxis, even mopeds• Government initiative of “kick start” for evening and Sundays• Extend Jump Start to urban areas

• Improved information about existing services• Think community based solutions through partnerships: car schemes, minibuses, taxis, even mopeds• Government initiative of “kick start” for evening and Sundays• Extend Jump Start to urban areas

Inability to access leisure

and make social trips

I can reach essential services, but this is

not enough

I can reach essential services, but this is

not enough

There are no facilities for spontaneous

activities among people with mobility

impairments, especially young people with

disabilities

There are no facilities for spontaneous

activities among people with mobility

impairments, especially young people with

disabilities

• Accessibility planning to identify and understand demand• Growth of Glos Minibus Scheme• Taxilink services for Forest, Painswick and Chedworth• And replicate if successful

• Accessibility planning to identify and understand demand• Growth of Glos Minibus Scheme• Taxilink services for Forest, Painswick and Chedworth• And replicate if successful

Declining bus use in

Stroud!Why? Bus use

growing in every other district

Why? Bus use growing in every

other district

• Ongoing debate with bus companies• Some recent growth• A bus quality partnership?• Multi-agency engagement to sell the potential• Review the shape of the network

• Ongoing debate with bus companies• Some recent growth• A bus quality partnership?• Multi-agency engagement to sell the potential• Review the shape of the network

Citizenship issuesA declining volunteer

base, but a future based on community transport!

A declining volunteer base, but a future based on community transport!

Volunteering in transport started with hospital

cars – but now journeys are too long

Volunteering in transport started with hospital

cars – but now journeys are too long

Misbehaviour on buses; vandalism

Misbehaviour on buses; vandalism

• Volunteer recruitment/retention strategy developing• Pooling of volunteers needed• Need to recruit from new areas

– younger people• Convince employers of the benefits of staff engagement – offer training• Behaviour issues – CCTV on buses• Travel training project in November• Driving attitude – not that bad in Gloucestershire• New Traffic Management Act more powers to control poor roadworks

• Volunteer recruitment/retention strategy developing• Pooling of volunteers needed• Need to recruit from new areas

– younger people• Convince employers of the benefits of staff engagement – offer training• Behaviour issues – CCTV on buses• Travel training project in November• Driving attitude – not that bad in Gloucestershire• New Traffic Management Act more powers to control poor roadworks

Driving attitude, road rage and flaunting traffic

laws

Driving attitude, road rage and flaunting traffic

laws

Road safety

Ageing population; statistically more accidents, often eyesight related

Ageing population; statistically more accidents, often eyesight related

Cheltenham’s “boy racer” problem!

Cheltenham’s “boy racer” problem!

Speeding is socially acceptable!

Speeding is socially acceptable!

• Older drivers – the County Council SAGE programme

• Can we get more eye/health checksfor older drivers?

• Expand education with young drivers• Speeding – make it as socially unacceptable as drink driving, but most political parties are backing away from hardline speed reduction

• Older drivers – the County Council SAGE programme

• Can we get more eye/health checksfor older drivers?

• Expand education with young drivers• Speeding – make it as socially unacceptable as drink driving, but most political parties are backing away from hardline speed reduction

Night-time

economyWhy can’t you link nightclub licensing with the transport

problems they cause?

Why can’t you link nightclub licensing with the transport

problems they cause?

Taxi capacity is exceeded at pub and

nightclub closing times

Taxi capacity is exceeded at pub and

nightclub closing times

• Pilots of nightclub buses for Gloucester, Cheltenham and Stroud• Add a responsibility to venues to tackle end of night transport issues and the consequences of alcohol related disorder

• Pilots of nightclub buses for Gloucester, Cheltenham and Stroud• Add a responsibility to venues to tackle end of night transport issues and the consequences of alcohol related disorder

CONGESTION

Traffic continues to grow …. Car occupancy is

falling (1.2)

Traffic continues to grow …. Car occupancy is

falling (1.2)

Kids no longer walk to school – major traffic

growth of last 20 years

Kids no longer walk to school – major traffic

growth of last 20 years

Health … walking and cycling … obesity

Health … walking and cycling … obesity

Health … air pollution … congestion … asthma

Health … air pollution … congestion … asthma

It will get worse … road building out of fashion … but economy will

grow

It will get worse … road building out of fashion … but economy will

grow

Why is this a partnership issue?- biggest transport problem to solve- if every partner/major employer takes ownership, it could make a real difference

Ideas:- Workplace parking charges

– and spend on buses- Even more work with schools- 9 day fortnights or home working- Major employer travel plans

– economy loses from congestion- More promotion of alternatives - Congestion charging?

Why is this a partnership issue?- biggest transport problem to solve- if every partner/major employer takes ownership, it could make a real difference

Ideas:- Workplace parking charges

– and spend on buses- Even more work with schools- 9 day fortnights or home working- Major employer travel plans

– economy loses from congestion- More promotion of alternatives - Congestion charging?