5 January 2010
New Year Message 2010
As we enter a new decade let us hope that we go forward to create a transport system fit for a society of the future. The challenges we face as a society are perhaps best encapsulated in the post-Copenhagen debate. Many are now asking whether we really care about our own future on this planet or will we simply go the way of so many other civilisations of the past.
Yet it should not need the threat of climate change to make us realise that our current transport system is not sustainable for the future. We are massively over-dependent on oil and that is a very high risk strategy. We are spending billions of NHS money on treating diseases brought on by inactivity and obesity. These two reasons alone should make us realise that our transport priorities of the past five decades have failed.
Never has there been a more pressing need for a fundamental review of priorities. The Sustainable Development Commission has quite rightly questioned government transport priorities which continue to focus on further major road-building.
Our belief is that priorities should lie in helping people to undertake the many short journeys in an active manner by walking or cycling. The focus for our cities and the connections between them should be on improved public transport with seamless integration between the modes. Where car journeys are unavoidable then car sharing and car clubs offer great savings for the user and dramatically reduce the number of car trips. IT systems can help to reduce the number of journeys but critically the planning system must support and promote all of these priorities.
During the last 12 months we have continued to promote the many benefits of sustainable transport. Some of the highlights include the launch of our Less Traffic briefing paper at BT's conferencing facility, our event at Edinburgh University focussing on the need to reduce oil dependency, and the car clubs conference hosted by the City of Edinburgh Council. During the year we have also produced reports on opportunities offered by smarter transport choices and have continued to promote the economic benefits of active travel.
We enter the new decade with a broad-based membership, an extensive network of contacts and a track record on delivering well-researched and hard-hitting reports. I'd like to thank all those many individuals and organisations who have supported us in this work and I very much hope that you stay with us for the journey ahead – as never has there been a more important time.
Paul Tetlaw
Chair, Transform Scotland