Transport strategy ‘a success against odds’

He was presenting the first review of the strategy, which was adopted by the States in 2014.

It had sought to deliver meaningful change against a backdrop of many people not wanting this change, said Deputy Brehaut.

But the committee had always looked for a middle way, rather than using strong-armed or radical solutions.

The strategy had been diluted by the lack of several key policy leaders, such as paid parking which would have led to free bus travel.

There was also the removal of first registration duty based on width as well as emissions, it applies to emissions only.

But Deputy Brehaut said that this duty was set at such a rate that it did not have an impact on consumer behaviour ­– reflected in the fact that there had been a rise in the number of high-emission vehicles being registered.

This duty was ring-fenced and more funding could have been raised if it had not had the width element removed.

But there had been successes, such as a reduction in vehicle use, leading to more people walking and cycling, helped by improved infrastructure.

And bus use had hit record levels in 2019, with passenger journeys rising by some 476,000 a year since the introduction of the strategy, a 32.5% increase in five years.

There had been a reduction in vehicle movements during the weekday morning commute on key routes into Town, falling by 4.7%.

One of the main reasons people chose not to walk or cycle was because they felt vulnerable with so much traffic, he said, and so they chose to drive.

‘Everyone should have a choice in how they move around the island and everyone should feel safe in doing so.’

The strategy aimed to encourage active travel, such as cycling or walking, and sought to reduce vehicle movements, particularly single-occupancy car journeys.

There was more work to do to provide bike paths as well as improve pavements in some roads.

A key part of the strategy was mitigating climate change, and Deputy Brehaut said that in recent years there had been a 14-fold increase in electric cars and a four-fold rise in electric bikes and more than 20% of the taxi fleet were hybrid vehicles.

A lot of work had been done to make roads and public transport more accessible for people with mobility issues or visual impairment.

‘However, there is still a great deal still to be done to deliver real change to the people of Guernsey,’ said Deputy Brehaut.