GeniUS! Challenge #4 - Utilising footfall & transport 15/3/12

Andy D’Agorne

Innovative transport solutions:

• Real time roadside display: a) Cycle counter b) Air quality reading

• City centre shuttle bus • Park and ride charge by vehicle

Cycle counter display

Copenhagen experience: daily number of cyclists passing Dronning Louise’s Bridge. Also gives total number for the year so far.

In 1972 Copenhagen was as car-clogged as anywhere, now 37% of commuters cycle each day, 55% in the city proper. www.copenhagenize.com For York, a citywide survey in 2009 (with over 7000 responses) found 26% commuting up to 2 miles and 29% of those commuting 2 -5 miles into the city centre for work did so by bike. Ideally, we could display total journeys last month across the inner ring and key points on the orbital route plus the number for that location eg at Millennium Bridge.

Could also link to website or ‘sustainability dashboard’ for York: real time display of parking spaces at park and ride sites, average journey time by car, bus and bike into the city (linked to park and cycle option) etc.

Other roadside display options

• York has increasing number of air quality management areas (AQMAs) – pollution caused by traffic fumes: Legal as well as health implications – ‘low emission zone’ not enough.

• Swansea is piloting ‘Nowcasting’ (OPSIS Sweden): links weather forecast, real time air quality data and Traffic Management System to variable message road signs http://www.welshairquality.co.uk/documents/seminars/25040914_P_Govier.pdf

• Local public transport operators could promote their ‘green credentials’ by sponsoring real time air quality roadside display (red/ amber/ green NO2 indicator) at Fishergate and Bootham. (currently available live on Defra website) http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/data/site-data?f_site_id=YK11&view=last_hour This could also be a key part of promoting car sharing, low emission zone regulations etc

• Harrogate has signs on approach roads promoting the car share website – we could do this eg at park and ride sites

• If every car driver in York substituted just two car trips a week for another way of travelling, this would cut vehicles on our roads by over 10 per cent (equivalent to school holidays)

• Existing real time display signs, at peak times, could give estimated driving and cycling time to city centre. (Peak time average traffic speeds are less than 10mph on key radials)

Shuttle bus

• Frequent, free, low emission buses linking the main rail station, car parks, shopping areas, businesses, hotels, York hospital, York St John, the Barbican etc

• Other places have this: Manchester (pictured), Sheffield, Bradford,Cardiff, Leeds (50p), Wolverhampton …

• Cllr Bob Jones said (Dec 2011): "Since the free bus was reintroduced earlier this year, we have seen passenger numbers increase month on month. The bus links the new bus station with our retail centres around the city, including the markets. It shows our commitment to providing residents with a real alternative to using their cars."

Shuttle bus• The low floor, easy access bus can accommodate wheelchairs,

shopping trolleys, pushchairs and buggies. • Free travel speeds loading, increasing reliability and

attractiveness to all, including those going back to car parks with purchases.

• Could facilitate streamlined park and ride and local bus routes in the central area,

reducing congestion and delays. http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/york/assets/pdfs/maps/ParknRide.pdf

• Removes the need for most disabled parking in central streets• Key response for city centre traders to growth of out of town

developments (perhaps funded as S106 planning gain?)• Evening (paid) service on Fri and Sat to cut parking pressures?

Park and ride

• Currently free parking means difficult toprevent abuse of facility (except Monks Cross barrier)

• Charging per vehicle would provide incentive to car share, and increase efficient use of limited parking spaces.

• Would support use of local bus rather than driving short distance to park and ride.

• Would provide financial return to cover staffing and an incentive to cycle or walk to park and ride rather than drive.

• Oxford now has £1.50 per day car parking charge on top of £2.20 return ticket. ANPR technology avoids queues.

Thank you for listening…

• Questions?