Richard, I guess what we're really talking about is culture change. If one looks at how that's achieved in business; for example, in Health and Safety, Cyber/Information Security, etc, it really combines a mixture of education, leadership, "stick and carrot" combined with clear, coherent strategies and policies plus some pragmatism. It's difficult to persued people to use trains when they're so unreliable and the PM chooses to fly short distance; however, leaders could try and make more use of trains to set an example - that might give them an incentive to make them more efficient and reliable! I know there may be security issues where specific threats have been issued to public figures so perhaps, being pragmatic, tube and bus services aren't always feasible for some. Cheap, reliable, safe and available public transport would provide a carrot for many. The "sticks" of LTNs and ULEZ can help but perhaps do need to be seen as fair? LTNs might become more acceptable if minicabs and taxis had full exemptions, and car shares could use them - perhaps for a small fee? ULEZ might be more acceptable if charges started low and were gradually ramped up; I know ex-colleagues near the new M25 boundary whose complaint is they don't have comparable public transport to central London; perhaps that needs to be fixed first? Perhaps residents' parking should better reflect the cost of roadspace with discounts or exemptions for blue badge holders and key public service workers who can't use public transport?Surely, the fragmentation of the transport networks must be fixed before this is going to be fair and effective? In London TfL runs buses, tubes, the DLR, and the Overground while suburban train services are operated by several franchises under government control, while I believe there's split responsibility for roads between borough councils, TfL and National Highways. That's surely a recipe for disaster? (And London's relatively good: some parts of the country - Suffolk - seem to have erratic bus services or minicabs that need to be booked a day in advance!)Getting back to education: should there be more campaigns on the effects of pollution, climate change and time lost in traffic congestion, and the benefits of public transport: at least if a train's late one can often work, study or play games? Then, of course, there's the health benefits of walking and, if they can be separated from cars and lorries, cycling.That's just a brain dump to start discussions!
Michael Ixer ● 454d