Transport - it’s pretty hot
Ankita Chadha | February 4, 2009With a month to go until the competition entry deadline, it seems transport has never been a bigger issue on the public agenda. This month the Transport Steering Group made the front cover of the City Council’s ‘Forward’ Newspaper, delivered to every house in Birmingham, showing the scope of interest and progression in ameliorating the current system.
The issue is also the focus of the UK Youth Parliament who are holding an upcoming summit discussing the accessibility and affordability of public transport. Brendan McGowan, Interim Head of Programmes, explained: “Our aim for the Fares Fair event is to bring together young people from across the country and support them to share and learn from other 11-19 year olds how they’re shaping transport services where they live- whether this is about customer services training for drivers, more affordable trains and trams or a reliable bus to get you to school, work or to see your mates.”
Also in the news this week a Facebook group campaigning specifically about Travel West Midlands’ fares which continues to grow by at east 1,000 people per week. We spoke to group creator Michael Burke about why he set the group up: “I felt that there was no real way of people getting their opinions across to TWM, and that starting this group would be a good way for those people to voice their concerns. And the group has been very successful in doing this.”
As the awareness of the problems with Birmingham’s public transport system and suggestions for future developments continue to grow, what better time to submit an entry to our competition!
Here comes my attempt, from one elder, to you youngsters
Tim Weller | March 30, 2009Here comes my attempt, from one elder, to you youngsters to influence the next generation of decision makers!
Suggestion 1:
Please view my 2 petitions for trains back on our local rail lines, at:
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/empty-rail-lines/
and, also:
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/TrainsBack/
Suggestion 2:
I strongly support John Parry and his energy efficient, Parry People Mover running from Stourbridge Junction to Stourbridge Town and, later, on to High Street and Market Street. However, PTA/Centro have tried for nearly 30 years to get Midland Metro on the middle section only of the St’bge to Dudley to Walsall rail line to prevent, for ever, inter-city and commuter trains returning to the entire 13.5 miles double track lines.
Does anyone agree with me over asking for existing diesel and, later, electric trains for the full 13 miles? PTA/Centro has now agreed for the 6 miles in Brum - at long last but, it means that we miss out on our 13 miles through Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall! The latest tram/train idea from PTA/Centro is a variation of track sharing or double running - their idea from years ago. It is far too challenging for those running our two (plus Metro), failing public transport modes. Keep it simple - trains only to return to rail lines and PPM from Stourbridge Jct to the shops and car parks. Plain and simple and obvious!
Suggestion no 3: - Can you support me over getting our alternative to the road network for walkers, cyclists and wheelchair users fit for purpose? Unfit for purpose, now because of mud, puddles, raised bricks and overgrowing vegetation. Can you work out what I am referring to? The hundreds of miles of slow going for current users - canal towpaths in Brum and the Black Country! Well used in the vicinity of Gas Street Basin and Brindleyplace but, 200 year old, raised bricks elsewhere in the city centre to deter cyclists and trip up walkers. English Heritage are just crazy over them - what madness!
Tim Weller