Travel in a Net Zero city

asthma, heart disease and COPD would likely become much rarer.

What would travel in a

Net Zero Portsmouth look like according to the Portsmouth Climate Action Board:

In a net zero Portsmouth it would be safe, easy, and enjoyable to travel across the city by bicycle or on foot

The 40,000 people who commute into Portsmouth from Havant and Fareham every day, would have access to excellent commuter cycle routes that would enable them to get to Portsea within 30 minutes; and showers and changing rooms at work to freshen up once they arrive. There would also be storage hangers to keep their bikes safe.

Public transport would be cheap, efficient and integrated

Those that choose to travel by train would find season tickets cheaper than driving in, and much better bike storage both on the train and at the train stations, enabling them to get to work cheaply and quickly. Bike hire would also be available at stations, and could be included as an option in a rail season ticket price. Buses would have priority routes, tickets bought via an app, and could be used, like an Oyster card, on buses, regional and inter-city trains, and trams.

Non-essential car journeys would be discouraged

The number of parking spaces would be reduced and these prioritised for people who can’t travel or work without vehicles (for example those with mobility needs and tradespeople). Hiring electric cars or vans when needed would replace ownership for many people, and would be as simple as booking an Uber taxi.

Other benefits: cleaner air, less time stuck in traffic, healthier kids and residents

All of these measures have huge side benefits such as improving the quality of the air we breathe, reducing road congestion so bus travel and essential car journeys would be quicker, and making our kids healthier and fitter. If walking and cycling became the norm for short journeys then conditions that are fairly common in Portsmouth now, such as

How we can get there

Modifying our streets so that active travel becomes a quick, safe and attractive option for short journeys

Locally this could mean creating a network of cycle paths that allow people to travel safely and quickly across Portsmouth and its surrounding regions. It would also mean creating clearly marked walking routes that were attractive and enabled residents to get easily to places like Gunwharf Quays, Southsea and other centres.

Creating an excellent public transport system

This would allow residents to use one ticket to travel seamlessly and cheaply on train, tram and bus across an entire region.

Locally this would need central government legislation, because currently the local authority has no powers to control bus / train routes, timetables or prices.

Disincentivising car use

Studies have shown that even if you make public transport free, many people will still prefer to use their cars. The two measures above work most effectively when combined with other initiatives that disincentivise car use: for example removing parking spaces, increasing parking charges, workplace parking levy, introducing low traffic neighbourhoods or a mobility credit scheme.

Replacing petrol and diesel with electric vehicles

Electric vehicles are becoming cheaper, with a longer range. Local and central government can help the uptake of EVs by funding vehicle scrappage schemes, putting in rapid charging points and giving parking exemption, for example.

Other measures

In addition to this behaviour change schemes- such as getting children cycling at school, on demand transport innovations such as car clubs, and consolidated last mile delivery can also play an important part in helping us reduce transport emissions.