Rishi Sunak should end ‘war on motorists’ rhetoric and deliver better public transport, say think tank

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Rishi Sunak and politicians in Westminster should end their “war on motorists” rhetoric and deliver better public transport to enhance their probabilities on the subsequent basic election, a number one think tank has stated.

Exclusive polling shared with The Independent reveals that British individuals are more and more involved concerning the high quality of bus, prepare and bicycle routes after the cost-of-living disaster prompted a change in journey habits.

More than half of the British public – 53 per cent – think having public transport to and from work is a necessity, whereas greater than a 3rd – 35 per cent – say the identical about utilizing public transport to see household and mates. This compares to only one in 5 who see a automotive as important, at 20 per cent.

Public transport to work can also be seen as extra essential than having a telephone (46 per cent) and entry to the web (43 per cent), the polling carried out by More in Common and commissioned by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) reveals.

The prime minister has been accused of attempting to politicise points round transport, describing visitors schemes corresponding to low-traffic neighbourhoods as “harebrained”. He has additionally vowed to end what he sees because the “war on motorists”.

But the polling reveals that 40 per cent of those that drive usually – outlined as three to 4 occasions every week – want to use public transport extra typically. Four in 10 – 38 per cent – additionally need the chance to stroll or cycle greater than they at present do.

The survey additionally reveals the affect of the cost-of-living disaster on folks’s transport habits, with seven in 10 folks – 71 per cent – altering how they journey to cut back prices within the final two years.

And 4 in 10 folks – 42 per cent – are nervous about folks with the ability to afford transport to get round of their day-to-day lives.

Stephen Frost, co-author of the analysis and principal analysis fellow at IPPR, stated: “Rhetoric from the prime minister fabricating a ‘war on motorists’ over the last few months has been incredibly unhelpful.

“In reality, we know that even the most regular drivers also get on buses and trains and benefit from safer streets to walk, wheel and cycle. You’re not either a driver or a non-driver – in fact, most of us drive and use public transport as well as our legs.

“So it is crucial those in Westminster stop treating transport as a culture war issue and start delivering on the people’s priorities.”

He added: “This polling reveals those priorities as clear and simple, they want public transport that works for more people, and they want to make decisions on transport locally.

“The party that makes that offer the clearest will benefit at the ballot box.”

Dr Maya Singer Hobbs, a senior researcher on the IPPR, who labored on the analysis, stated: “People really like public transport, even those who don’t really use it. So it sort of pushes back on the pigeonholing of putting people into drivers versus cyclists versus pedestrians.

“Most of us have a sense that most cyclists are also drivers, and drivers will be pedestrians – and that just came across pretty strongly in the polling.”

Responding to the polling, Silviya Barrett from the charity Campaign for Better Transport stated: “These figures show that rhetoric which pits drivers against public transport users is out of step with public opinion.

“Using public transport removes the stress of driving, on board a train, you can work, read or enjoy the view, so it’s no surprise that more people want to use public transport when possible.

“The rising cost of running a car is pushing some people into poverty, which is why it is essential that government properly invests in affordable public and active transport alternatives.”

The IPPR’s polling comes simply days after Sustrans, a sustainable transport charity, launched its Walking and Cycling Index which surveyed folks throughout 23 city areas throughout the UK and Ireland.

It discovered that 36 per cent of individuals stated they typically use a automotive as a result of they haven’t any selection and greater than half of respondents, 56 per cent, needed to shift cash from constructing roads to choices for strolling, biking and public transport.

A spokesperson for the Department for Transport stated: “This Government is committed to ensuring people can travel in the way that works for them, which is why in the last month alone we’ve invested hundreds of millions in bus, rail, road and active travel infrastructure, as well as introduced a range of measures to make roads fairer for all as part of our Plan for Drivers.

“This funding is part of longer-term strategic investment that has seen £3.5 billion invested in bus services since the pandemic, and £100 billion in rail services since 2010, all to better connect communities across the country.”