Transport

Transport is now a major part of our daily lives whether directly (like using our own cars to get to work and school) or indirectly (by transport to get food we need to the supermarket, importing or exporting food, foreign travel and goods ).

Each stage of transport can create environmental damage and social impacts;

• Finding, extracting, processing and even transporting the fuel itself can cause environmental damage like habitat disruption, air pollution and spills or leaks into the sea and air

• Building the different types of vehicles like cars, trains, planes and ships uses materials like metal and plastics and requires more energy .

• Nearly all transport can harm or kill wildlife and humans.

• Land which could be left as countryside is needed for roads, railway tracks and airports

• Transport emissions from cars, planes and ships and power stations needed for the electricity in railways release carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide which are greenhouse gases and contribute to global warming, as well as polluting land, air and water

• Sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxides dissolve into rain water and  cause acid rain which damages forests, lakes and buildings

• Sulphate particles and other components of fossil fuel emissions irritate the eyes, nasal cavity, throat and lungs
• Traffic congestion is a major source of stress for individuals and communities.

In the United Kingdom 20% of the carbon dioxide emissions come from transport and the number of vehicles on the road has risen by  500% since the 1950's. 

We cannot maintain current lifestyle and society without transport but we can significantly reduce our dependence on car journeys with only the driver in the car.

Doing Your Bit

• Cycle or walk whenever possible. It can be part of your daily exercise routine and benefit your health as well as being pollution free.

• For longer journeys use public transport like buses, trains and trams which are more efficient than carrying the same number of people in cars and reduce congestion

• When other forms of transport are not available or convenient you could car share.  Many people make the same journeys to schools and work on their own, leaving an estimated 10 million passenger seats unused each day.

• Share your car with friends/neighbours through an informal or formal car club.

• Choose a vehicle that uses less fuel, with lower emissions. An easy way is to choose a vehicle with a Vehicle Excise Duty Band of A or B.

What the Council is Doing ?

• School
• Workplace travel plans

Links

• Liftshare
• Local Public Transport
• Sustrans
• Car Clubs
• Environmental Transport Association
• Vehicle Excise Duty