2009
Individuals
- Walking is becoming more popular as fitness and obesity worries encourage people to walk the short trips. Car use declines as many people find the costs of keeping a car to be excessive. The Totnes – Dartington cycle & footpath use rises to more than 600 people on one sunny day in August.
- A new Car Share scheme in Totnes starts up and is instantly popular. Moor Cars plan more cars. Neighbours start to share cars and 2nd cars are dropped by many household. Very few SUVs new or used are being bought. Everyone is nervous about petrol prices rocketing again after the price spike of 2008. A new internet booking system is planned. Car insurance companies are offering ‘non-commuter / social use only’ deals
- UK holiday destinations are on the rise as budget airlines feel the brunt of the economic uncertainty and rising oil costs. Holidaying at home is found to be okay and the 10 Tors’ visitors are 50% local people this year. Cornwall experiences a record year for tourism.
- Totnes Rickshaw Taxi Co. announces it has cost just £2.17 for 12 litres of recycled cooking oil to provide 645 rides from Steamer Quay to the top of town. The company identifies 1,000 potential passengers a day who need to travel from the Plains to the top of Totnes. The Way With Words Festival has the benefit of this Taxi Service and the Dartington route takes off with local people too. South Hams reconsiders the application for a Hackney Licence and gives the thumbs up.
Community
- Community groups are becoming more concerned about the lack of non-vehicular paths for pedestrians and cyclists. Many groups support TTT & Totnes Strategy Group’s proposal under the Sustainable Community Act for an integrated system of non-vehicular routes in South Hams. The cycle route from Littlehempston is due to be completed this year and there are new plans for a new route at Berry Pomeroy to enable the children to walk and cycle to school.
- A Steiner School survey shows they have reached their school travel plan targets: Bus use rises to 15% (from 12% in 2007), car use falls to 70% (from 79%), and lift shares rise to 50% of car journeys (from 36%). The school are awaiting additional safe non-vehicular routes to be completed for their 40% walking and cycling targets to be achievable.
- Bob the Bus brings Bus no.3 into service and Car Free Day in September is celebrated in T&D with a major event involving 200 cyclists and 100 walkers
- Totnes Transport Forum’s Parking Survey indicates introduction of parking meters has had little impact on parking habits.
Policy Makers & Service Providers
- As one of the first results of the Climate Change Bill, national road speeds are reduced by 10mph across the county. National Government invests significant investment in research and design for electric cars and other electrified transport, and £200m in rail for Strategic Freight Network up to 2014. The Government initiates a major public information campaign aimed at all levels to encourage people to understand the seriousness of carbon reduction and increase use of public transport systems. Town and Parish Councils in T&D arrange a meeting with DCC to discuss how they can take this forward locally.
- The Department for Energy and Climate Change reviews its 2006-2011 plan in line with the need for a transportation system that will tackle climate change and reduce energy consumption and convinces the Department for Transport to start taking real action to support this; severely reducing carbon dependence and move towards comprehensive local travel and distribution networks and services with measures to de-incentivise individual car use. More local buses are discussed with a view to a comprehensive daily local service being achieved within 3 years. They also debate a comprehensive cycle/walking network with transit hub / interconnections to public transport and the creation of safer streets and town and village centres. A number of surveys to assess use of fuel in PSVs, local travel movements and current use of public transport are undertaken. A mapping of local cycle routes reveals where cycling/walking routes are incomplete and where junctions with car users are dangerous. Steps are to be taken to improve safety and red/green pedestrian lights are prioritised for Ashburton Rd/ Western By-pass junction.
- Proposals to introduce a cash incentive for scrapping old cars and replacing with new, more energy efficient ones are seriously flawed, says sustainable transport charity Sustrans
- DCC reviews its staff travel energy budgets in line with voluntary reductions and reduces budgets by 25%. Incentives for staff to travel to work by public transport are under discussion. A budget for supplying staff with bicycles is a popular idea.
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