In vogue theory, especially among UK policy shapers these ‘private’ motorised modes are the bad guys of transport. In accord with such vogue theory great emphasis is put on ‘discouraging’ use of cars & vans – and with correspondingly great expectations that getting people out of their cars and vans will solve widespread problems. In practice this is unfortunate for many reasons not least of which is the fact that these modes facilitate most movement of most people. In Britain, 85% of all passenger kilometres travelled are by car & van according to the DfT statistics on Modal Comparisons.
So, the vast majority of transport needs are met by private motor vehicles. Promoters of vogue theory about the need to constrain such behaviour say this is because most people are too selfish and lazy to use the alternatives that they believe are better for us and the planet. This theory is espoused by well meaning folk in SUSTRANS and CBT. But it is also extremely convenient for cash strapped administrations as it ring-fences a moral high ground from which demand for improving road use for the majority of people and journeys can be ignored or dismissed – and plans to expand transport tax can be pushed instead. In practice, most people work to sustain themselves and their dependants and are simply but powerfully driven to use the cheapest most efficient and convenient transport modes available. In practice, privately owned cars meet most transport needs and are made cleaner and safer each year – with the likelihood of and zero emission vehicles being a commercially viable reality in the lifetime of most who read this. These views are explore by the ABD and Drivers Alliance. Nevertheless, political support for constraining car use has gathered pace in a few developed nations and was enshrined in a much acclaimed Ten Year Plan for UK transport that was going to make it “Better for Everyone”. In practice, the proportion of UK miles by car has only reduced by 1% and hard evidence that transport is better for everyone is yet to materialise…