Department for Transport (DfT)
In 2005 The Department for Transport published “Making Smarter Choices Work” in which it states: “Balancing the need to travel with the aim of improving quality of life is an important objective underlying the Department for Transport’s strategy. Targeted information, incentives and marketing activity can help to promote walking, cycling, bus use, car sharing and so on.”
In his foreword the former Secretary of State for Transport Alistair Darling wrote: “Smarter choices include local programmes to encourage school, workplace and individualised travel planning; improving public transport information and marketing services; setting up web sites for car share schemes and supporting car clubs; and encouraging teleworking and teleconferencing.
He challenged local authorities to recognise the potential benefits of smarter choice measures to reduce congestion and give people “genuine travel choices” which, he pointed out can contribute cost-effectively to the reduction of pollution.
The document includes a host of measures that can be undertaken to improve traffic flows and make life more pleasant for people, not least by reducing air pollution. Many of these are outlined on this web site under the heading “What can I do?”
Businesses can create a travel plan that encourages staff to travel to work by public transport, on foot, by bike, or by car share. Schools can also create travel plans to cut congestion caused by the school run.
Car sharing, the creation of car clubs, teleworking, teleconferencing and home shopping are all ways in which traffic volume can be reduced and air quality and individual health be improved.
The DfT has set down the challenge. Now go to “What can I do” to find out how you can accept that challenge.
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