Joshua Hart <velorution@...> wrote:

Date: Mon, 29 Jan 2007 05:25:05 -0800 (PST)
From: Joshua Hart <velorution@...>
Subject: Transport Policy Changes at UWE
To: kate Chant <ke_chant@...>
CC: Bryn Fogden <brynfogden@...>

Hi Kate-

Good seeing you on CM friday. lookin forward to next
month.

So I have been asked to give a short presentation next
week about proposed changes to UWE's transport
policies. I would like to come representing a
specific group, in this case people and planet. Is
there any steering committee you could forward these
proposals around to to get their ideas and feedback
before I put my presentation together?

I need feedback pretty quickly if I am going to
incorporate any comments intio my presentation.

This is the e-mail I sent out to our transport
planning students:



Dear fellow Transport Planning students,

I have been asked to prepare a short presentation to
staff and research students of CTS about proposed
improvements and changes to UWE's transport policies
and travel plan on Feb. 6th as part of a travel plan
seminar happening at 12:30 at Frenchay campus (e-mail
Kiron for the specific room). As you may know, UWE
has hired Steve Ward to be the new travel planner, and
there is a unique opportunity to move the UWE campuses
further in the direction of sustainability and choice
in transport.

Part of my presentation will attempt to reflect the
opinions, needs, and perspectives of other students on
the course, as we all have a unique outlook on travel
planning at UWE with regard to our current coursework
combined with our individual experiences traveling to
and from campus.

Many in our community agree that something meaningful
has to be done to change the current state of
transport around the Frenchay campus, with gridlock of
the surrounding roadways making travel by bus or car
unreliable, wasteful, and frustrating, and travel by
foot or bike (at least perceived as) polluted and
dangerous. UWE must play its part in relieving its
contribution to this chronic problem, as well as
reducing its share of carbon emissions. Neither of
these problems are going away unless we start to take
responsibility for our contribution to them as
individuals and as a community.

So, could you please take a couple of minutes and
think about what policies and new infrastructure are
needed to improve travel to and from UWE, reduce
congestion, and minimize the university's carbon
footprint, which (anecdotally at least) is larger than
other institutions the same size, due largely to the
surrounding low density land uses.

Below, I am pasting in an outline that I have
developed in consultation with People and Planet, and
other environmentally concerned members of our
university. Please let me know if you agree with
them, disagree with them, or want to add any other
ideas or proposals.

The sooner you can get back to me, the better.

Many thanks,

Josh


Green Travel Team Recommendations :

1. For reasons of environmental damage, congestion
relief, and equity issues, we propose to raise parking
fees to cover parking costs (actual costs to be
determined). In other words, non drivers should not
be subsidizing the cost of parking through their
university fees and other taxes. This could mean that
parking fees increase substantially, with any freed up
revenue going to enhance public transport, walking,
and cycling facilities, to make these modes more
attractive.

2. students, faculty and staff should have the
opportunity of paying their parking fees daily to
avoid habitual driving as a result of the 'fixed cost'
of an annual parking permit

3. Bicycle parking is not currently adequate.
Improved parking, in the form of some combination of
covered, monitored racks, bicycle lockers, or attended
parking should be provided by the university

4. Lighting along the Lockleaze- Frenchay pathway
should be considered.

5. The transport desk at the reception should be
better equipped, and staff trained to provide full
information on cycling, walking, public transport, as
well as parking information. (currently it only
deals with parking).

6. The UWE website should have complete information
on cycling, walking, and public transport, in addition
to a statement supporting the use of these modes.

7. Buses- The university should look at providing
free bus services for all students, as other
universities do with good results. UWE should examine
its options to collectively bargain with FGW and other
bus operators to secure the best deal for its
students. At the moment, bus service is overpriced,
slow, and generally unreliable.

8. Cycles should be allowed on buses, either inside
the bus or on the exterior using specially designed
racks. Cyclists need access on buses to make longer
journeys possible, in case of mechanical breakdown,
illness, or for many other reasons.

9. Cycle training should be provided through the
university at no cost to those who are interested.

10. ridesharing should be coordinated by the
university, and parking for carshares prioritized.


Thanks for reading and considering these
recommendations. Again, these are a working draft, so
your opinions and ideas are important to the process!
Please send them to me as soon as possible so I can
reflect your comments in my presentation.

Thanks again for your help,

Josh




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