First ever Better Transport Week gets underway
Today marks the beginning of the inaugural Better Transport Week, organised by the Campaign for Better Transport, the national charity working across England and Wales to make transport ‘better, greener and fairer.’
The event marks 50 years since the charity began addressing the decline of pubic transport and the prioritising of the car as a way to get around.
So long ago was the organisation formed that they began with the then-futuristic name Transport 2000, adopting their current title as the millennium came and went but they remain as determined as ever to influence transport policy in the UK
Better Transport Week focusses on a different theme each day with a variety of events ad competitions orgainsed to engage the public.
Today, for example is Rail Day and £100 in rail vouchers will be won by the person best explaining why they love their local station.
Meanwhile, the team from CFBT will be keeping themselves busy: ‘We will be meeting passengers at King’s Cross Station, together with Rail Minister Huw Merriman and rail leaders, talking trains with Transport for Wales in Cardiff and hosting a roundtable at the Railway Industry Association.’
Tomorrow is Bus and Coach Day, which will see various members of the team taking a new coach route from Leicester to Nottingham, where they will introduce Buses Minister Richard Holden to the Bus Driver of the Year and meet drivers and operators from across the city.
Wednesday is Local Transport Day, Thursday – because it coincides with Clean Air Day – is Health Day, Friday is Business Day and Saturday Leisure Weekend.
Paul Tuohy, Chief Executive of Campaign for Better Transport, said: ‘As the leading national transport charity, what better way to celebrate our 50th year than by bringing together a powerful range of allies to call for transport that is better for people, communities and the environment? The sheer number and range of organisations that are supporting Better Transport Week really shows just how important sustainable transport is to the economy, to the environment and to communities up and down the country. We’ll be using the week to show that sustainable transport, whether it’s buses, trains and trams, bikes or shared transport, is ready to take us to a greener future – let’s get on board.’
