Improving public and community transport, cycling and walking will give people greater opportunity to choose how they travel. By increasing access to transport, particularly for those with less mobility (i.e. the elderly, young, people with disabilities and low-income groups) and by promoting healthier and more sustainable patterns of travel, we hope to improve the quality of life in the region.

Public transport was seen as a key area for improvement following public participation. One of our main strategies is therefore to improve public transport.

Buses

Improved facilities for bus passengers will help to promote the use of public transport. We intend to do this by:

• Improved vehicle and service quality in partnership with bus operators;
• Bus stop improvements, particularly for low floor buses;
• Increased efficiency of buses through traffic management and bus priority measures;
• Improved bus interchange facilities in urban centres and at key bus stops; and
• Making more effective use of bus subsidies, seeking funding from development and private/public sector partnerships.

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Rail

Support for the retention and development of the rail network is being pursued in partnerships with other local authorities, train operating companies and Railtrack.

Local objectives include:

• Improved integration between rail and other forms of travel for inter-urban and inter-city travel, together with tourism;
• Greater use of rail as an alternative to the car, particularly when considering use by local commuters and the location of new development;
• Reconnection of Swanage Railway to the national network and improvements to the Salisbury to Exeter line; and
• Safeguarding existing railway land and bridges for future transport use.

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Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles

These are often used to provide transport that cannot be met by conventional bus and train services, for example:- serving areas on the urban-rural fringe, providing a door-to-door service for the mobility impaired, and providing evening services to and from leisure activities. The Local Transport Plan recognises the important role that these vehicles serve and seeks to improve the quality of both drivers and vehicles.

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Cycling

The majority of trips for work, school and shopping are less than 5 miles, a distance which 4 out of 5 of people would contemplate cycling. The Local Transport Plan aims to promote cycle use by:

• Providing new and safer routes to school as part of the Travel to School Strategy (this received strong support during the public participation);
• Implementing the National Cycle Network by 2005;
• Providing secure cycle parking provision at key locations and improving integration with public transport; and
• Promoting cycling through health improvement programmes, TravelWise and Employee Travel Plans.

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Walking

Walking plays a role in most journeys and has now been given the highest priority within the Local Transport Plan. It is aimed to increase the amount of walking by:

• Improving existing walking routes and providing more routes, including more rural footways;
• Reducing traffic speeds and providing additional crossings, particularly for journeys to school and work;
• Promoting the health and environmental benefits of walking; and
• Locating and planning development so that it is more accessible and safer for pedestrians.

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Home Zones and Vehicle-Restricted Areas (VRA)

Dispersed travel patterns, congestion and high volumes on commuter routes lead to vehicles using unsuitable residential routes. This leads to severance of communities and their facilities and to accidents. Opportunities include identifying suitable areas to introduce Home Zone and Vehicle-Restricted areas.

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Motorcycles

The use of motorcycles as an alternative to cars sits well within the strategy of the LTP provided that accidents are not increased as a result of inadequate driver training, etc. However motorcycles must not be seen as an alternative to more sustainable forms of transport such as walking, cycling and public transport.

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