Transport
Congestion concerns fall supporting the success of sustainable travel schemes
Transport is an emotive and essential requirement for fulfilling our daily lives. Both residents and businesses accept this and expect transport to be readily available. Whilst more than ever is now known about the harmful gases it can produce, it remains a major challenge to persuade and inform the county of alternatives to the car.
Indicator TR1 - Volume of Motor Traffic
Traffic volume is a good measure of the extent people travel. As traffic rises, pollution and noise also increase, impacting on the quality of residents' lives. This appears to be borne out by the results of the indicator TR5 as we saw residents' concerns about congestion rise in 2006. We can now see that traffic volume also rose in 2006; 30.59 million vehicle km travelled by vehicles in the county on weekdays.
Countywide vehicle kilometres
Source: Hertfordshire County Council Traffic and Transport Data Report 2006
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Volume of motor traffic by district
Source: Hertfordshire County Council 2007
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Indicator TR2 - Modal Split
This indicator shows modes of transport used in urban areas during a peak-period count over a 3 year cycle although rail, off-peak and rural journeys are excluded. Urban area car use ranged from 70-90% across the county with bus use ranging from 4-20%.
Three Year Rolling Total 2004-6
| Car | Bus | Walk | Cycle | Motorcycle | Total Person |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 446,576 | 65,077 | 27,967 | 4,233 | 3,682 | 547,535 |
Source: HCC Traffic and Transport Data Report 2006
Indicator TR3 - Mode of Travel to School
Modes of travel to school are measured every 3 years as part of a countywide travel survey, the latest results being reported last year. In 2007, however, additional travel information was collected via a School Census which can provide useful data to monitor changes in the way pupils travel to school. This showed more 5 to 10 year old pupils use cars for journeys to school than secondary students.
Mode of travel to school - sustainable travel
| Pupil age | Travelling sustainably | Travelling by car |
|---|---|---|
| 5 to 10 years | 57.7% | 42.1% |
| 11 to 16 years | 77.3% | 22.0% |
| 5 to 16 years | 65.9% | 33.7% |
Source: Hertfordshire School Census 2007
'Bike It' officer with Fleetville School pupils at the Alban Way Ride
School Travel Plans
By October 2007 63% of the county's schools had School Travel Plans. These plans summarise the school's strategy to encourage safe, sustainable, journeys to school and provide details on targets and actions. Initiatives that the county council supported during 2006/7 include:
- Bike it
A group of St Albans schools began working with Hertfordshire County Council and Sustrans on a two year pilot project called Bike It. By October 2007 the full-time Sustrans 'Bike it' officer was working with Beaumont, Skyswood, Fleetville and Wheatfields schools, having organised baseline surveys, 'Dr Bike' sessions and bike rides. Other exciting activities had also been planned such as 'Bikers Breakfasts', aimed to encourage more and safer cycling. - Walk to School Week
294 schools participated in this initiative during May 2007. In Watford, Berkhamsted, Royston and Park Street, a giant inflatable globe visited schools to raise awareness about harmful CO2 gases produced by road traffic, especially on short journeys like the 'school run' with pupils at Westfield First School meeting Janey Lee Grace, a writer and broadcaster on "Green Issues". Pupils were also challenged to become 'Street Rangers', pledging to walk more, choose safer routes and not drop litter. - Secondary School Council Conference
In March 2007, 120 pupils represented 18 schools, attending a secondary school councils conference. The event provided advice and workshop sessions to help school councils run a campaign within their schools to promote sustainable travel. - Safer Routes to School Schemes
School Travel Plans identify barriers to sustainable travel that can sometimes be addressed through Safer Routes to School Highway Engineering Schemes. Eighteen schools were identified for potential new projects in 2007/8.
County secondary school council conference
Janey Lee Grace meets pupils from Westfield First School in 2007
Indicator TR4 - Mode of Transport and Average Distance by Journey Purpose
This indicator is measured every three years and the data given in last year's report are the latest results. The car was the dominant mode for all journey purposes although the level varied according to purpose. Both the 2005 County Travel Survey and 2001 Census showed that over half of the county's residents work within the county but a quarter work in London.
Indicator TR5 - Public Perception of Transport
Each year a survey is carried out for the County Council's Environment Department to determine the county's residents' attitudes on a range of social and environmental issues. Conducted in 2007 by Opinion Research Services, the survey of 502 responses found a 22% reduction in those who felt road congestion was a major issue in the area they lived. Those who felt that local bus services were a major issue also fell; from 29% to 20%. This may indicate increased satisfaction with local bus services and a reduction in traffic volume during 2007.
Public perception - Local transport issues of concern
Source: Opinion research service for Hertfordshire County Council 2007
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