Days of ‘car as king’ are over, says capital’s transport boss
● Most people ‘want to make everyday journeys by public transport’
Edinburgh’s transport boss has warned the days of the car being “king” are over after a surveyfoundthatmostpeople want to make everyday journeys by public transport.
The results of the study also prompted fresh calls for a halt to the construction of new roads and improvements to the city’s tram, train and bus network.
The survey, run by Yougov, featured two workshops with the public to better understand the attitudes of people who live and in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
It also showed that 70 per cent of people think that it should be possible for everyone to undertake their most frequent journeys without a car.
Reacting to the survey, transport charity Sustrans called on cities to stop building roads.
Edinburgh City Council’s transport and economy convener, Lesley Macinnes, said the days of the car being “king” are over and added council plans due to be released will provide a framework for better sustainable transport options in the capital.
Her comments follow news of a potential return to the prospect of a city-wide congestion charge, to be used to help increase the use of public rather than private transport in Edinburgh.
However, Conservative transport spokesman, councillor Nick Cook, attacked Ms Macinnes’ use of “divisive language” aimed at car users. The research found nearly 50 per cent of people support the reallocation of road space from cars to areas for walking, cycling and socialising while only 28 per cent opposed.
Significant sections of the city centre are due to undergo a similar change as part of the council’s City Centre Transformation strategy which was unveiled last year.
Sustrans Scotland director
Grace Martin said that cities should be focusing on healthy, low carbon neighbourhoods with people able to live within a 20-minute walk of everyday services.
She said: “Too many neighbourhoods in Scotland have been planned around car travel at the expense of providing the local jobs and services that a community needs to thrive.
“We should be taking bigger steps to ensure that walking, cycling and public transport are the most attractive, convenient and cheapest ways to get around our towns and cities.
“In fact, it should be a nobrainer.
“This includes putting a stop building new roads when other options exist to improve public transport, along with walking and cycling.”