Thursday 16 February 2012
Environment Department response to media enquiry from BBC Radio Guernsey.
Enquiry:
I'm writing an online article based on the outgoing chairman of the Guernsey Bicycle Groups comments on BBC Guernsey this morning, in which he stated that the States had done nothing to reduce car use on the island.
Response:
The existing Road Transport Strategy approved by the States in 2006 is based around the principle of 'freedom of transport choice' and specifically sought to remove any perception of "demonising the car". It therefore sought to offer alternative forms of transport in the hope that drivers would chose these options instead of continuing to drive a car for every single journey that they required to undertake.
A significant amount of work has been undertaken since 2006 in this regard and for the outgoing Chairman of the Guernsey Bicycle Group to allege that the States has done nothing to reduce car usage in the Island is simply not true. A summary of the Department's key actions in this regard is appended to this response.
However, what the current Strategy does not do is to seek to make car use less attractive whilst also promoting alternative forms of transport. Both of these approaches are encompassed in the Environment Department's recently drafted States Report entitled 'Towards a New Integrated Road Transport Strategy'. However, this Report has yet to be debated by the States.
2006 Road Transport Strategy - Measures taken to encourage alternative means of transport include:
- Development and expansion of the public bus service schedules, including improved commuter and evening services and the purchase of additional second hand vehicles.
- New bus shelters have been introduced at various exposed locations.
- Bus passenger numbers have increased by almost 10% since 2006.
- Additional school bus services are now being operated to a number of Island schools, reducing the number of car journeys during peak hours.
- Additional cycle ways, covered cycle stands and motorcycle parking have been introduced.
- Additional pedestrian signal facilities have been introduced at a number of traffic signal junctions.
Contact Information:
Karl Guille, Traffic and Transport Services Manager
Environment Department
Tel: 243400
