In Town Without My Car

Monday 22 September was "In Town Without My Car" Day; a day where local authorities were encouraged to close roads and launch new initiatives to promote alternatives to the car. Most councils in Greater Manchester joined over 1,000 towns and cities across Europe who took part in the day, attempting to persuade people to leave their cars behind and make better use of public transport took part. We will have a full round up here shortly.

Manchester Friends of the Earth were instrumental in getting things moving in the region by, with permission of Manchester City Council, holding a car-free festival on Exchange Street in 2001 and, last year, lobbying all the local authorities in the region to partake. In 2002, Manchester City Council closed Deansgate, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council held a mini-festival on Great Underbank in the town centre with music and the launch of a walking route through the borough, Bury closed a road again with entertainment and information and Rochdale ran a led cycle ride in and around Heywood & Middleton townships.

Graeme Sherriff, coordinator of Manchester FoE, was enthusiastic: "People need to be reminded that the gridlocked streets, dangerous roads and polluted air that we see every day are not the only way it can be. Last weekend we were shown another way, one that makes Manchester a place for people, not cars. Manchester FoE welcomed the event and anticipates that it is matched with policies and developments that encourage walking, cycling and public transport as the main ways to get around the Manchester. And just because Monday's awareness raising event in Albert Square was rained off doesn't mean that sustainable transport isn't still a policy priority."

However, Manchester FoE would like to see the principles espoused in this weekend's events to become mainstream policy. In particular they want: the provision of a safe, consistent and well-maintained network of dedicated cycle routes and secure cycle storage points; the councils to ensure safety for pedestrians and developing walking routes away from busy traffic; Manchester businesses to promote walking, cycling and public transport use for their workers' journeys to, from and during work; and active development of the idea of City Centre congestion charging and testing its feasibility in Greater Manchester. Manchester Manchester City Council organized two events. On Sunday 21 September they closed Deansgate from 11am until 5pm for an arts and crafts fair, with the occasional "green" stall. The sun shone and many shoppers milled around enjoying the event. The following day, plans were to close the road around Albert Square and have eateries serving people seated on the deserted streets, with street entertainable and some stalls. Unfortunately, the heavens opened and the event was called off after 30 minutes. Councillor Val Stevens, Executive Member for Planning and the Environment, said: "Like other major European cities, Manchester is making an effort to encourage people to leave their cars at home and to use alternative methods of transport. I hope that this "In Town Without My Car" day will get people thinking about the contribution which we, as individuals, can make to reducing the amount of traffic on Manchester's streets and the pollution this causes."

Above: Deansgate closed to traffic allowing shoppers to peruse in a healthier atmosphere

 

A rain soaked Albert Square on In Town Without My Car Day
 

Salford

Cycle use in Salford is slightly above the national average at 2.4 per cent - and it is planned to build on that figure through a ten point City Cycling Strategy which has been published and will be officially launched shortly.

Cllr Salmon commented: "Cycling plays a key role in offering an environmentally sustainable transport option. It should also be recognised that the UK has one of the world's highest rates of heart failures and strokes - and as a nation we need more exercise. As well as being an economic and efficient form of transport, cycling is an ideal way of providing enjoyable exercise."

Salford's cycling strategy - which backs the 1996 National Cycling Strategy - is designed to promote cycling on the highways, in town centres, to and from the workplace and in new developments.

Cycling accounts for less than 2 per cent of trips in the UK, compared with 10-20 per cent in European countries. In Switzerland there are more hills, Sweden has colder winters and Germany higher car ownership - yet each has at least five times the share of trips by bike than the UK. But research shows that despite this low level of cycle use in Britain there is a strong interest in cycling an cycle sales are bouyant.

Claire Norman, Media Relations Manager, Salford City Council (0161 793 2913, Claire.Norman@salford.gov.uk)
 

Trafford

Secondly, Trafford council were also given 200 free bus passes by GMPTE which were distributed fairly between staff

Paul Barrett, Travel Coordinator, Trafford MBC (0161 912 4399, paul.barrett@trafford.gov.uk)
 

Public Transport