Your time to talk about transport decisions in Hull
IT’S ONE OF THE BIGGEST TALKING POINTS IN THE CITY
WHETHER you walk, cycle, take a bus or drive, everyone seems to have an opinion on how we all get around the city.
Now people are being encouraged to have their say on transport in Hull in a series of drop-in sessions being hosted by the city council.
Officials say the free events are a chance for residents, organisations and businesses to give their views on issues ranging from bus and cycle lanes to parking and the roll-out of charging points for electric vehicles.
All comments received will be fed into a proposed refresh of the council’s six-year Local Transport Plan (LTP), which was launched in 2020.
The LTP currently has four main priorities when it comes to decisions being made by the council on new transport schemes.
They are all linked to an ambition for Hull to become carbon neutral by 2030.
The priorities include making walking and cycling the first choice for short journeys by providing a network of safe and attractive routes across the city and creating smooth-flowing commuter routes on the city’s main roads with an emphasis on high-quality public transport.
Wider goals include ensuring improved road and rail links to and from the port and the development of new infrastructure to promote the use of emerging low-emission green transport technology.
Here’s what the LTP currently says about each of those priorities:
A CYCLING AND WALKING CITY:
“We want active travel, walking and cycling, to be the first choice for people making short journeys.
Networks of safe and attractive routes for walking and cycling, to work, school, shops, local services and public transport stops, need to play a vital role in our communities.
“The city centre will continue to be transformed through a network of high-quality pedestrian streets and public spaces integrated with public transport services and cycling infrastructure – so that it isn’t dominated by cars and other traffic.”
CITY TRANSIT CORRIDORS:
“A fully integrated, high-quality public transport system will help to keep the city moving and tackle congestion.
“We need high-quality public transport services, networks and facilities to provide an alternative to the car enabling people to get to all parts of the city quickly.
“This is critical to reducing our emissions enabling fair growth and people to access opportunities and tackling delays.
“In addition, we will address pinchpoints on the network to address congestion and smooth traffic flow.”
STRATEGIC CONNECTIVITY:
“Good transport links are essential in ensuring that we can make the most of the opportunities provided by the Energy City, Port of Hull and the visitor economy through Destination Hull.
Hull is at the heart of the Humber Port complex, which is the biggest in the UK, a gateway to Europe and the world.
“Strengthening the role of Hull as a key international gateway for the North of England is nationally important.
“Improving connections between Hull and other cities and economic centres will help Hull maximise its contribution to the Northern Powerhouse
and improve economic interaction and productivity.
“This requires faster, more efficient, reliable and sustainable journeys on our rail, road and waterway networks.”
SMART GREEN CITY:
“Embracing technology and innovation will keep the city moving with ‘intelligent’ transport networks.
“Modern methods of payment and mobile travel information are important customer expectations.
“Being a smart green city requires a combined focus on technology and the pressing need for carbon neutral and low emission transport networks and infrastructure.
“We need to be ready for the move away from petrol and diesel cars and enable our residents and businesses to increase the use of electric vehicles and alternative fuels.”
Two surveys carried out last year as part of on-going consultation over the LTP suggested people in Hull were starting to at least consider alternatives to always using a car.
70 per cent of respondents said they would be able to travel at least three miles on a bike and 80 per cent said the same about walking.
The survey also revealed that 43 per cent of those considering switching to more sustainable forms of transport for shorter journeys said they would do so to help the environment.
With rising petrol prices, the council believes even more are now likely to switch.
Garry Taylor, the council’s assistant director for major projects, culture and place, said: “Over the past year we have carried out two transport-focused surveys in a bid to understand how people in our city choose to travel and how we can improve modes of sustainable transport for people from all walks of life.
“The feedback that we have received will ensure that the Local Transport Plan takes everyone’s needs into account and will help the local authority to make sure this future transport plan is focused on the right priorities and actions.”
The first drop-in session will take place today, in Trinity Market in Hull’s Old Town between 10am and 3pm.
It will be followed by two further events in a unit on the concourse of Hull Paragon Interchange on Tuesday, May 17, between 8am and 2pm and on Wednesday, May 18, between 12pm and 6pm.
An online consultation on the council’s website is running parallel to the in-person events.
Those who take part will be entered into a draw to win prizes of high street shopping vouchers up to a value of £250.