A carbon neutral Portsmouth would require a public transport system that was cheap, green, reliable, and easy to use.
Southampton has 81, Reading has 137 and Brighton has 179.
There are many ways to improve and green our public transport sector. Here are a few other places have tried:
A Workplace Parking Levy raises revenue which has to be spent on improving public transport and active travel measures. Nottingham began a WPL in 2012 and has seen a multitude of commercial and social benefits emerge. Read more
The low waged, unemployed, disabled and OAPs use buses more than anyone else. A well-functioning and affordable bus system is therefore vital to reduce social and economic exclusion. Dunkirk have been leading the field. Read more
Buses are a particularly important part of the UK’s travel network, carrying more passengers and accounting for more journeys than any other form of public transport. Yet currently only 6% of UK buses are low emission. Read more
The easier and cheaper it is to buy a ticket and use it interchangeably on bus, tram, or train the more people will be drawn to swap their car for public transport. Munich is an exemplar. Read more
The mid-1980s bus deregulation was supposed to improve services, but in most places fares have risen and services worsened. Reading’s buses remain publicly owned, enabling it to buck this trend. Portsmouth could too. Read more
Instead of owning a vehicle why not use one as and when you need? Each car club vehicle takes an average of six private cars off the road: which eases congestion thus speeding up bus journey times. Be sure to use the Promo Code: 'PORTSMOUTH10' to get the first year's membership for £10 rather than £60.
If you are a major employer, consider implementing Travel Plans to reduce the number of your staff that travel to work by car alone. These help to cut congestion, relieve parking pressure, aid staff retention and save money on maintaining parking spaces. Check out this page for guidance.
Let Pompey Breathe is a joint campaign involving Portsmouth Green Party, Portsmouth Friends of the Earth, Milton Neighbourhood Forum, and other groups concerned with the dangerous air quality locally. Their blog is a valuable source of information on transport issues.
This Facebook page and website gives details of free public transport schemes in cities across the world.
Sign a petition to bring railways back into public ownership here. Also support The Campaign for Better Transport in their quest to reduce fares and improve all forms of public transport.
Portsmouth City Council has put together a Draft Transport Strategy to improve public transport and make our city less congested, polluted and dangerous. You can read it here.
Flying is a particularly destructive activity when it comes to climate impacts. The good news is that research shows when we give up flying it can inspire others to stop too. Check out and support organisations such as Flight Free UK, Stay Grounded and Safe Landing to help reduce emissions from aviation.