Sustainable public transport system will be vital to the economy post lockdown

Martin Griffiths, Stagecoach chief executive, says an overhaul in the way government, local authorities and public transport providers work together is needed, after research predicted public transport use could be 20 per cent lower after lockdown than before.

He has called upon councils to prioritise walking, cycling and buses over private transport, with 'radical, permanant' changes made to infrastructure and planning.

He says new housing developments should prioritise public transport hubs, electric charging points and cycling provision over parking spaces.

Mr Griffiths says: “Covid-19 has taken a terrible toll on many people's lives, but among the human tragedy, the pandemic has given us a window on what could be a positive future world - one with dramatically fewer cars on our roads, safer streets, cleaner air and less environmental damage.

"As the government examines how to take Britain out of lockdown, we must make Covid-19 a defining moment to deliver fundamental changes in how we manage mobility and put sustainability at the heart of decision-making.

“Public transport - particularly our bus networks - and active travel must be central to a transformed approach by governments..

"We need to make Covid-19 the game-changer for sustainable transport and out of tragedy create hope.

“By grasping this opportunity and working together, we can create a legacy to honour the key workers that have given their lives in the fight against coronavirus."

Coun Chris Lamb, Barnsley Council cabinet spokesman for place (environment and transport), says the council is being proactive with government funding for transport and new ideas and proposed routes are planned.

He says off-road cycling has increased in the area during lockdown, and new cycle routes are being created.

Coun Lamb says: “Following the announcement by the government to release more than £2 billion for active travel, we are working on ideas for new and proposed routes across the borough.

“This could include new links into and around the town centre and to the hospital and colleges; linking routes from our principal towns into employment sites; new off-road routes and improvements to the Trans-Pennine Trail.

“This is an ideal opportunity for us to promote active travel. Transport trends during the lockdown have shown an increase in off-road cycling, but not on-road cycling.

“We have received money from the transforming cities fund to create new cycle routes as well as bus priority measures which will improve journey times and air quality, reduce congestion and support access to employment.

“The release of this additional funding will mean we can do and deliver more.

“Our efforts have been focused on routes closer to the town centre and what we need to be doing to encourage people to use these to access employment sites.

“We are planning for coming out of lockdown and the impact social distancing will have on the highway network. We are already looking at employment areas to see which measures need to be implemented, such as ensuring social distancing can be observed in places of high footfall, or on public transport and how this will impact the travel network.”