Introduction to review
By the Chair of the panel.
Minutes:
The Chair welcomed other panel members and representatives local stake holding groups to the meeting.
The chair of the panel welcomed the opportunity to oversee this review as it was felt that it had the potential to make a real contribution to increasing the number of residents who choose to use sustainable transport. It was hoped that the would not only be about encouraging people to walk and cycle, but also the use more sustainable forms of transport such as buses and trains, and encouraging people to use their cars differently or even switch from car ownership to using a car club.
4.3 It was noted that Haringey is quite well-served by public transport, with good bus services, 6 underground stations and a number of overland rail stations which give good links to employment opportunities in the city centre. But there may be areas of the borough where public transport can be improved or made more accessible. It was hoped that the review may help to identify such areas.
It was hoped that the review would improve the travel options for all transport users in Haringey; helping those who use a car to look at alternatives or to use it less; assess how highways can be improved for cyclists and where more safe and secure cycle parking should be situated; and to examine how the urban environment can be improved to encourage more people to walk.
It was anticipated that the review would hear from both people who use sustainable transport at the moment, to understand how this can be improved (i.e. more cycle lanes, pavement repairs), and those who don’t, so to identify the barriers which people face in choosing to use more sustainable modes (confidence, perceptions of safety and security). In promoting sustainable transport the review should also consider what impact this may have on the many different communities that live in Haringey.
Whilst it is apparent that congestion needs to be improved locally, the emphasis should be on behaviour change, encouraging people to switch from their cars to more sustainable methods. What the review will hopefully do is to identify how alternatives can be made as attractive as possible in Haringey to support those people considering to change their travel behaviour.