Transport & Built Environment Group

 

Bath is the 4th 'most active' city in the UK for transport i.e. walking and cycling, yet despite this it has air pollution levels above the EU limits and significant problems with traffic congestion.  The Transport group’s aim is to reduce the carbon footprint in this city, putting an emphasis on greener transport projects including cycling, walking and public transport!

The group is currently running 2 projects:

  1. Ride to Work By Bike' scheme - which aims to encourage people to switch from commuting to work by car to using electric bikes (see our project specific website www.ridetowork.bike )
  2. An on going contribution to local consultations on transport and in particular sustainable transport and air pollution: The latest consultation is the Liveable Neighbourhoods consultation starting in December 2021

 We are actively looking for volunteers to help us make transport more sustainable in Bath and to develop new projects - if you are interested please contact us by email.

Liveable Neighbourhoods Consultation

Bath Liveable Neighbourhoods

The Bath & North East Somerset Liveable Neighbourhoods (LN) consultation is now open. We are responding constructively to the consultation and have a separate page for it, “Love Liveable Bath”. We are encouraging people to take action - https://loveliveable.wixsite.com/bath .

Liveable Neighbourhoods aim to improve streets for local communities and reduce emissions from vehicles. They minimise through-traffic so that the streets are safer for children and for walking, cycling or using mobility scooters. 

Residents and visitors still have easy access to their homes and businesses by car, and buses and emergency vehicles have the space to reach their destinations more quickly. When LNs are done right, they enable people to get around without using private cars, which reduces congestion and pollution across a wider area.

 

Ride To Work Project

Curo Bike Photo Launch with Wera HobhouseTransition Bath's Ride to Work by Bike project aims to encourage commuters in Bath to switch to cycling to work in preference to commuting short distances by car. The focus of this initiative is electric bikes (ebikes) in order to reduce the barriers to people who are put off cycling by Bath’s hilly terrain, or consider themselves too unfit – or too old even – to commute by bicycle.

The project has its own dedicated website with more information here: http://ridetowork.bike/

Our priorities with regards transport in Bath are:

  1. Walking
  2. Cycling
  3. Buses
  4. All the rest

This fits with our focus to concentrate on the shortest journeys first, the medium journeys second, and the longest last.

The possible benefits from a sustainable transport system and built environment are great.

Walking – for short journeys - No carbon emissions or oil needed – more people walking makes for safer streets, stronger communities, freedom for children, health, fitness and wellbeing. Our aim – to increase the numbers and accessibility for all to walk to, schools, shops, parks, bus stops, work etc. Bath is starting from a powerful position of 28% of people already walk to work.

Cycling – for short and medium journeys - No carbon emissions, no oil needed – convenient, direct door to door, freedom for children, health and fitness. Our aim – to dramatically increase the number and ability to safely and directly cycle for all short and medium journeys to schools, shops, parks, work, city centre, railway station etc.

Buses – medium to long journeys – carbon emitting and oil dependent – Our aim – to have a bus system that is cheap or free to all, which is well used at all times, going to and from where people want, when they want. To have the resources used efficiently and as low carbon as possible.

The rest – to encourage car clubs, car sharing, and taxi sharing, shared delivery systems.

The built environment – A well designed and thought through built environment discourages journeys by car, and is a space that is a rewarding experience to spend time in or to be moving through.

Bath is based on a vibrant and imaginative built environment, which has the potential to be a leading example of a how a city can be both a great place, and to live sustainably.

 

If you want to find out more, why not sign up for our newsletter, contact us or come to our next event: