Tackling Social Inequality by Promoting Sustainable Transport Huw Thomas, Smarter Choices Programme Manager
Agenda Sustrans who are we? Transport and Social Inequality Group work how to inform and change behaviours Personalised Travel Planning a solution?
Sustrans who are we? The UK s leading walking and cycling charity 500+ employees across the UK Major activities in Wales include - National Cycle Network - Education and Young People Programme - Personalised Travel Planning (PTP) - 3,500 Volunteers
Over 50 million journeys were undertaken on the NCN in Wales last year
Sustrans engagement with schools see the % of children who ride to school rise from 7% to 18%
Sustrans have worked with over 50 communities and 25 Local Authorities across the UK changing the street-scene to make it safer for communities to use
Sustrans have worked with 100+ businesses in Wales, and delivered tailored travel advice to 99000 homes, seeing a 12% drop in car journeys.
Why Transport is at the heart of Social Inequality, and why Housing Associations should care? Cost of car ownership Access to employment Low levels of physical activity Social exclusion Access to Healthcare
Cost of Travel 300,000+ people in Wales have no car - ½ of lone parents, and 2/3 of single pensioners ½ of Welsh households spend 10% of income on transport - as high as in 25% in high deprivation households
Access to Employment Lack of affordable transport a barrier for getting a job for 4/10 job seekers - in a recent survey of HA tenants, figure was 7 in 10 Childcare needs create complicated journeys which are expensive and arduous on public transport - Housing demand swayed by remoteness to work
Low levels of physical activity Twice as likely to find it difficult to engage in leisure activities without a car 34% of people in Wales report doing no physical activity whatsoever 62% of HA tenants reported doing less exercise than the recommended minimum (2.5 hour p/w)
Social Isolation Transport poverty disproportionately affects people living on their own 2/5ths of car-less households say local bus services fail to meet their travel needs to shops Access to lifelong learning opportunities also constrained by access to transport
Access to Healthcare 1 in 4 people in Wales believe Hospitals to be the most difficult places to access via public transport Figures from England show 1.4 million people in a single year missed, turned down, or did not seek medical help because of transport problems.
Real life Scenarios Discussion How might sustainable transport alleviate the issues faced in the examples? How would you communicate potential solutions with the public?
Personalised Travel Planning (PTP) a potential solution? PTP works with households to offer tailored information and support which enables people to walk, cycle and use public transport more often PTP delivers measurable and sustained reductions in car use, helping to tackle climate change, increase levels of physical activity and reduce traffic congestion
Personalised Travel Planning a potential solution? Designed to directly address the individual s challenges that prevent greater use of sustainable travel Focused on enabling (not telling) people to change behaviour, when & where it suits them best Regular and repeated contact ensure positive participation Creates an unique experience for every participant, tailored to their needs
Tangible outcomes that deliver real benefits to households By raising people s awareness of Sustainable Transport, the PTP project in Cardiff saw: 12% reduction in single occupancy car journey 13% increase in Public Transport use 21% increase in walking, trebling in cycling levels Reduction in miles driven by car equated to an average saving of approx. 150 per home
Tangible outcomes that deliver real benefits to Housing Associations Improving accessibility to isolated Housing Estates Employment opportunities for tenants Up-skilling staff to offer advice on Transport issues
It's a good programme, It s well worth it because your if people have the information is so People don't always information they won't comprehensive. know what's on their have to hang around We have lived here It s for fantastic that doorstep, you ve so it's good My grandson caught a bus to waiting for buses Feedback 10 years and have only delivered from all these to send out the the airport yesterday, using the Hopefully this'll help us just realised that there's timetables - it makes information information you sent everything so much save some For money further as a information, a local train station Everything contact - was me really at informative easier. family. now we use it every and your response and delivery was It's a good This idea huw.thomas@sustrans.org.uk project for people has encouraged who public day! also very efficient. us to do walks and bike rides we can't get out and about to get wouldn't the have thought of. My kids were so information delivered to their 02920 doors 650602 excited when we got I've taken up It's encouraged me to - then they know their options. the pack. They're cycling due to I never would get have back on my bike. I think it's great It s great for pensioners @sustranscymru thought of using who the cycle already planning our this very It's want very to positive, in one because single you pack have all spread their wings paths a bit I further only knew of the walks the summer informative project, we've afield got but maps for some the nice information walks at don't know how Bay to Trail. go It s about fantastic! holidays. I ve already started we'll it. go on now, and also your access fingertips. to bus I think noticing The package how much was a lovely treat. It had so much timetables it will get people money information I m saving. it, and my sons have It's already a good project, used there's using some public tidy walking transport the cycle trail info. and cycling routes in the pack which more! is brilliant