In this in-depth post I set out compelling evidence why…
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- our climate and health crisis can only be solved with dramatic cuts to car use
- leaving cars at home for short journeys is now critical, almost obligatory
- we therefore need a massive programme of measures to disincentivise car use and induce behaviour change including
- creating the ‘carbon-zero commute challenge
- restructuring regional transport around this short trips goal
If Greater Manchester is to meet its environment, civic, and health commitments – the city region’s transport challenge is very clear.
About one million MORE journeys EVERY day need to be made by foot, bike, bus, tram or train* by 2040, instead of by car.
The trouble is – no-one likes to talk about the last four words of that sentence.
Our current strategies assume that this massive transformation of our daily habits will just ‘kinda happen’ as a result of new infrastructure, public transport investment and a bit of ‘awareness raising’.
But a new report from the influential Transport Select Committee makes a clear set of recommendations that spell out this is a car-reduction challenge which must now be tackled head on.