7.4 Solving Accessibility Problems

We will work with partners to secure and enhance accessibility to those services and facilities that are important to sustain a high quality of life.

7.4.1 Solution Development

Improving social inclusion brought about by the five barriers to accessibility, can be generally be delivered by four key mechanisms:-

• Bringing Services Closer
• Reducing Personal Disadvantage
• Taking Clients to Services and
• Making Travel Easier and Safer.

The accessibility planning approach is helpful in determining which category or combination may provide the most appropriate means of providing solutions. Such solutions are normally best delivered through partnership. The County Council is already involved in many initiatives and will look to extend and enhance successful ideas, as well as introducing others that can be identified through "best practice" or through innovation. An important aspect of the LTP is ensuring that proposed measures address its objectives and do not conflict with the Accessibility Strategy objectives. It will be necessary to make sure that demand management measures do not have the effect of causing social exclusion by reducing people's travel horizons.

7.4.2 Providing Services Nearer

We will work with partners to deliver services more locally to clients and customers.

The County Council recognises that some services may be difficult to access because they are inconveniently located or available only at certain times. We will help partner organisations to investigate whether services could be located in more convenient places and thus avoid the need for transport. There may also be opportunities to adjust opening times to make these more attractive to clients and both of these approaches should make the services more accessible to clients.

The County Council also intends to help partners assess the risk of causing social exclusion when relocating services to a new site or changing the times that they are available, in particular where this affects the availability of public transport, and assist them in developing strategies to overcome this.

7.4.3 Concentrated Services

By locating several services in the same place, both travelling and inconvenience can be reduced, as multiple trips can be eliminated. In Preston, the Urban Xchange houses a number of agencies offering services seamlessly to young people under one roof. However, it is important to ensure that this approach does not have the unwanted effect of making services more difficult to access. Ideally such relocations should be planned to be conveniently located close to public transport focal points. Accessibility planning should be a consideration at the outset when planning an initiative.

Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Primary Care Delivery LIFT

Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale PCT, in conjunction with Blackburn with Darwen PCT and Hyndburn and Ribble Valley PCT, has successfully bid to form a Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT). What this will mean for the people living in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale is an improvement in health care facilities in this area; plans are being developed to re-design or replace some health centres so that services can be provided to patients and carers more conveniently in a modern community setting.

Building Schools for the Future in Burnley and Pendle

Secondary and Further Education in Burnley and Secondary Education in Pendle are being fundamentally reorganised, including the construction of new schools, under the DfES Building Schools for the Future Initiative. This offers the opportunity to improve access to education and learning. The County Council is commissioning a Transport Assessment for this development that will give consideration its accessibility effects.

Clinic times

The County Council is working with partners to consider how appointment times can be coordinated with appropriate transport provision. The problem of clients who fail to attend appointments is a serious issue for many organisations, particularly health service providers. One of the reasons quoted for this is the difficulty in travelling to the specified location at the appropriate time. Even those with access to a car may have difficulty finding a parking space, especially at hospital sites where spaces are strictly limited.

Discussions are taking place between the County Council and the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust to address this issue and this will lead to the involvement of the local Primary Care Trusts.

7.4.4 Rural Initiatives

Key sites such as rural post offices and village halls often provide excellent locations for multi-functional activities where services can be brought closer to people in rural areas who might, otherwise, encounter difficultly accessing key services. Community Resource Centres are being developed in village halls to establish temporary service centres to allow access to facilities such as banking, food, health care and library facilities.

Clitheroe Community Resource Centre, based in St Mary’s Parish Hall, will provide education opportunities with courses provided by Myerscough College and the University of the Third Age, and act as a base for a number of small businesses. This venture is supported by Lancashire Rural Futures and the North West Development Agency.

7.4.5 Electronic Service Delivery

The County Council already delivers 86% (2004 figures) of its public facing services electronically (using ODPM and Electronic Service Delivery (ESD) Toolkit definitions) and within the Environment Directorate 91% of its services are delivered electronically.

As Internet access becomes more widespread, exploiting the opportunities provided by online services will make an ever increasing contribution to reducing exclusion brought about by travel difficulties.  This may be of particular benefit to those for whom travel is particularly difficult, including disabled people. Electronic Service Delivery may also be particularly appropriate in offering access in rural areas where local service provision may be economically unsustainable.

Telephone services like NHS Direct have been shown to be very successful in giving access to a level of provision without needing to leave home and at all times of the day. There may be other services that can be delivered in a similar manner.

Online services, however, are not available to everyone and, if services are offered solely through electronic delivery, there is a risk of increasing exclusion for people who cannot take advantage of these facilities, such as those without access to a computer at home, the skills necessary to use a computer or people without access to a credit card or bank account.

Internet and Library Access

Lancashire County Council offers free internet access, e-mail and Microsoft Office applications in libraries under Lancashire's Peoples Network initiative. The Online Reference Library provides free access from home, work or the library to business information, local and family history sources, dictionaries, encyclopaedias and newspapers. County Information Centres, providing transport information, have been introduced into libraries. This extends the information services available through libraries.

MARIO (Maps and Related Information Online)

This award winning service is being continually expanded to offer more information online. The Transport for Lancashire website offers direct access to all the transport information on public display, including real time bus operation at bus stops and traffic and car park information on roadside VMSs. We will look for opportunities to provide a full transport information service online. Information on the rights of way network is contained in the Lancashire Countryside Service website.

Online Shopping

Online shopping can bring a valuable contribution to social inclusion. The County Council recognises that home deliveries are of particular benefit to those for whom access to food and other shops is difficult, but also that this solution is only appropriate for people who have the computer skills and equipment, and are financially able, to shop online.

7.4.6 More Local Services

Where service providers concentrate services at a single large site, good access can be difficult for those without the use of a car.  As traffic congestion has worsened and demand management measures have been implemented, access problems have become more difficult for those with a car too. Service providers such as the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust are giving consideration to provision of some services more locally in the form of satellites, providing some mitigation of these accessibility problems. The County Council is using accessibility planning to help coordinate this approach.

Community Hospitals

Another solution open to Primary Care Trusts is to offer straightforward healthcare procedures in Community Hospitals. An NHS Walk-in Centre has been opened in Skelmersdale, allowing GPs to offer patients minor procedures locally.

7.4.7 Provision at home

Providing services at home can be of great help to those who find it difficult to travel to them. In addition to those services traditionally delivered at home, the growth of the internet and digital television offers the opportunity to expand the number and type that can be enjoyed;

• Library Services
• e-government and e-commerce
• Meals on Wheels
• Heathcare
• Social care
• Education.

7.4.8 Mobile Services

Working with partners, the County Council will investigate whether there may be opportunities to provide mobile services in cases where permanent provision is not practical. Successful examples of this approach include mobile NHS clinics, Post Offices as well as shops.

Library Services

Currently the County Council has 11 Mobile Libraries and these offer considerable flexibility. One of Lancashire Constabulary's community beat officers accompanies the mobile libraries in the north of the county and provides security advice and a reassuring presence in isolated communities, changing among the 28 different routes to cover all the areas. The officer is also trained to encourage the elderly to keep details of their medical requirements handy in case of emergency. Mobile libraries also link with adult education college staff who promote education from mobile libraries in the Lancaster, Morecambe, Fylde and Wyre areas. The County Library operates a service to housebound people where library materials and information are delivered to people at home. New Library Link vehicles deliver a mobile service to residential and nursing homes from purpose-built vehicles. The County Council will explore opportunities to extend these services and make them even more flexible.

7.4.9 Reducing Personal Disadvantage

We will work with partners to overcome personal disadvantage.

In 2004 the County Council adopted a Vulnerable Road User Audit which is applied to every scheme and adaptation to the highway to ensure that they it take into account the needs of pedestrians and cyclists as well as people with reduced mobility. Wherever it is possible, we will provide better safety and greater priority for the vulnerable road user. We recognise that by catering for the needs of those with reduced mobility, we will improve the highway environment for all road users.

Lancashire County Council is committed to creating a socially inclusive environment and one that caters for the needs of all road users including those with reduced mobility. In 2003 the County Council adopted the DfT Inclusive Mobility Guidelines as its Code of Practice on Mobility. However, after consultations with local blind organisations, the County Council has agreed to install tactile paving at uncontrolled crossing points to meet the needs of local blind people.

The County Council has good working relations with local disability groups and has recently provided a local blind society with a portable demonstration pelican crossing to train local groups in their use. Local groups are given the opportunity to comment on draft strategy documents such as the Walking Strategy and have taken part in a series of street audits recently conducted as part of the CIVITAS project.

By integrating mobility issues into other policy areas we will raise the profile of mobility issues, leading to a more inclusive environment for all road users.

7.4.10 Children

The Government has set out its priorities for childcare in Every Child Matters; Change for Children. With its interest in health, safety and access to essential services, the Local Transport Plan, and the Accessibity Strategy in particular, will make an important contribution to the County Councils's delivery of integrated children's services through the Children First Partnership.

Themes common to both include;

• Multi-agency working
• Education, training and employment
• Health
• Social care, welfare and protection
• Common Assessment Framework
• Services delivery.

Additional transport provision may mitigate social exclusion when people have travel requirements that are influenced by lifestyles that are not be of their choosing. This may be brought about by, for example, childcare responsibilities that prevent the person from using existing transport services at the time that they may be available. As an alternative to providing additional transport, a better solution may be to address the root cause of the exclusion.

To help relieve such situations, the County Council will investigate, with partners, solutions to these cases. Improvements may be delivered by a number of measures including;

• Day Care
• Respite Care
• Creche Facilities
• Childcare and facilities for other dependents
• Learning and Skills
• Exercise.

7.4.11 People with Sensory Impairment

Within Lancashire, 1 in 5 people lives with a significant Sensory Impairment. Sensory Impairment may be a reduction in vision (Blind/Partially Sighted) or hearing (Deaf/Hard of Hearing). It may be a combination of both (Dual Sensory Loss). Demographic trends show that the incidence of Sensory Impairment is growing, particularly as it is closely correlated to an ageing population. Sensory Impairment results in difficulty with mobility, communication and access to information.

The consequences of this can be considerable and include;

• Social exclusion
• Social isolation
• Reduced opportunities to change personal circumstances and move away from a position of low income
• Limited opportunities to access education, employment, health services and affordable healthy food.

Barriers to accessing public transport are the availability and physical accessibility of transport, safety and security whilst travelling, the cost involved, access to information and an individual’s limited travel horizons, the location of services and lack of awareness as to the needs of travellers with Sensory Impairment. The provision of fully accessible transport and Community Transport schemes, such as Dial-a-Ride, is limited within the County. Further, Community Transport does not meet all the needs of this group of citizens for flexibility, personal support and equal access.

We will consult with this large group of potential customers to help us to identify specific accessibility problems and develop imaginative solutions. One solution that has emerged is the provision of Communicator Guides for people with significant impairment of both hearing and vision (Dual Sensory Impaired). These Guides will be trained in communication and guiding techniques and will assist people to use public and Community Transport and thus access health services, education, employment and social networks.

We are planning to establish a Lancashire County Communicator Guide Service for adults who have Dual Sensory Loss, in partnership with support organisations, focus groups and transport providers. We will continue to investigate solutions for people with other sensory impairment.

7.4.12 Taking Clients to Services

We will explore the options for safe and convenient transport to key services.

The aim of the the accessibility strategy is to increase social inclusion. At its heart is an examination of existing transport provision and consideration of whether it suits needs. Modelling will be used to highlight areas where accessibility problems exist, either in terms of local areas and communities with poor accessibility to many services or when access to particular services is generally poor.

Transport Procurement

The County Council has carried out a widespread consultation exercise on the transport services it provides directly. This led to the establishment in November 2004 of the Transport Procurement Unit, set up to offer a better service to all its stakeholders. It brings together all the planning and procurement of public transport services throughout the County, including local bus services, home to school transport, community transport, special educational needs transport and social services transport.

The strategy of the Unit will be to co-ordinate the different modes of transport to provide best value for money services using the whole range of vehicles and service providers available taking into account the needs of urban and rural areas and the differing costs of providing transport in these different environments. The Unit will examine the needs of area communities and will seek to provide an integrated approach to providing public transport using local bus services, community transport, demand responsive services and other forms of transport within an area to meet the particular needs of the community for travel.

In rural areas, the Unit will look for better value for money solutions and look at the best way to provide services from the current mixture of local bus services, demand responsive services, community transport and transport provided for social services.

In addition, healthcare transport is provided by local Primary Care Trusts in both urban and rural areas. Discussions have already been held with local Primary Care Trusts and the Ambulance Patient Transport services on how better integration of services might be achieved and examples of this being put into practice include the Wyldefyre service in Wyre, Fylde and Blackpool  and the Red Rose Runner service in South Ribble and Chorley.

The Unit is responsible for the planning and procurement of Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Social Services transport. The structure of the Unit has been to set up an integrated team that will look at ways of co-ordinating SEN and Social Services transport to  make best use of the vehicle and other resources available. It will examine and explore with Social Services colleagues how better transport information on the services available can be made available and accessible to Social Services clients in order to provide an integrated approach to transport provision.

7.4.13 Improving Access by Bus

Public transport and bus services in particular will have a major role in tackling the issue of accessibility. We will ensure that the bus network, including flexibly routed and community based services, makes a positive and sustainable contribution to improved accessibility and a more inclusive society. However, before the bus can play its full part, we must identify and overcome the barriers to the use of bus services.

The Availability of Transport

Travel patterns have become increasingly complex as society has become organised around the use of the private car. Many centres of employment and services have moved away from traditional urban centres and disappeared altogether in many rural communities. At the same time, there has been a significant reduction in the extent of the bus network, leaving areas away from main urban centres with greatly reduced services.

Across Lancashire, a quarter of households do not possess a car and the fraction increases to a third in less prosperous districts. Even if they live close to a bus route, the service may not give these people access to the full range of opportunities. Access problems in rural areas can be even greater for those without a car.  

Supermarkets and opportunities for employment and training are frequently located on the urban fringe with a limited bus service. As radial routes from the centre historically dominate bus networks, a journey to an edge-of-town service may first require a journey into the centre where interchange is often a barrier. The second stage may not be coordinated and may also require a further fare. Personal safety at the interchange point can be a major concern if there is an extended wait or at night.

We will secure improvements to the quality, frequency and availability of commercial bus services through partnership working with bus operators and other agencies throughout the next Local Transport Plan period. Working with District Councils and partners, we will implement a programme of modern and attractive bus stations and interchanges. Integration of bus service timetables will be improved at key interchange points to minimise waiting times. This will include better integration with rail timetables at bus/rail interchanges too.

We will consider pump-priming improvements to commercial bus services where the proposal can become commercially viable within an agreed time and will make a significant contribution to;

• improving local accessibility
• reducing road congestion
• improving air quality, or
• maintaining commercial viability of a locality.

A programme of bus-based Park and Ride schemes will reduce road congestion on the busiest corridors. Travel Plans produced with  employers, schools and other partners will encourage people to use the bus as an alternative to the private car.

We will adopt a rigorous and transparent approach to bus service subsidies, including Rural Bus Grant, based on clear priorities and a performance framework that assists the County Council and its partners to meet the objectives of the Bus Strategy and the Accessibility Strategy. Where new developments are proposed, we will adopt a consistent approach to developer contributions to fund additional public transport services and facilities.

The Physical Accessibility of Buses

Buses must be easy to board. Steps, including the initial step from the kerb, are a major obstacle to passengers with reduced mobility due to age or disability, to shoppers with heavy or bulky loads or to parents with children in pushchairs. There must also be safe and easy pedestrian routes to bus stops and unobstructed access for buses.

Following the Disability Discrimination Act, the Vehicle Accessibility Regulations came into force in 2000 requiring all new buses over 22 seats to be fully accessible. However, for vehicles in use before 2001, single deck buses are exempt until 2016 and double deck buses until 2017. Progress towards introducing 'easy access' vehicles may therefore be variable across Lancashire during the period of this Strategy.

We will encourage operators to attain early compliance with the Vehicle Accessibility Regulations. In addition, we will improve the physical accessibility and environmental requirements of our own local bus services. Priority for the introduction of easy access buses on County Council contracts will be determined through the accessibility planning process. The introduction of new vehicles will also be an opportunity to introduce proven and new alternative fuel technologies to reduce noxious emissions. 

The Cost of Transport

In Lancashire, bus fares have generally continued to rise in real terms and high fares can be a significant deterrent for those on low incomes. The lack of through or other forms of multi-operator ticketing can add significantly to the cost per mile of a journey where interchange is required, and particularly when different operators are involved. In rural areas the combination of the lack of public transport and the additional cost due to the generally longer journeys required has been demonstrated to be a significant barrier to access.

We will work with the Learning and Skills Council to explore the introduction of a 16 to 19 years old Concessionary Travel Scheme to encourage people within this age group to make use of public transport to access a wide range of education, training and employment opportunities and other services and facilities.

Safety and Security

Fear of crime and anti-social behaviour can be a significant deterrent to the use of public transport. Women and older people are most likely to be concerned about their security.  National research has shown that 44% of women saying that they feel unsafe at a bus stop after dark. People who live in the most deprived areas are five times more concerned about safety than those in the least deprived areas. 18% of people would use buses more if personal security issues were tackled.

Specific barriers identified in East Lancashire in a recent study for the East Lancashire Partnership include;

• having to wait for services increases the feeling of vulnerability
• the perception that using public transport at night is unsafe
• the threat of on-board anti-social behaviour, and
• stops and stations without staff or CCTV are considered unsafe.

We will improve actual and perceived safety of bus travel to ensure bus users feel confident throughout their whole journey. We will provide bus passengers with an environment that is comfortable and secure and provides easy access to buses. We will tackle antisocial behaviour at bus stops and interchanges and will work with local communities to develop safe walking routes to bus stops.

Travel Horizons

Travel horizons can be limited through;

• Lack of confidence that the bus will get them to their destination on time
• Lack of knowledge of the public transport network, and
• Instability of the network through frequent commercial service changes.

A bus journey is made more difficult for a passenger unfamiliar with local routes. Often services are available for the journeys people require but potential passengers are unaware of them. People on low incomes can be reluctant to travel long distances, or for a long time, which can inhibit job seekers from looking for employment beyond a narrow geographical area. Research for the County Council in East Lancashire has shown that many people, perhaps faced with the need to make a particular journey for the first time, can become anxious due to their unfamiliarity with the fares and ticketing in operation.

We will ensure that users and potential users of the bus network have access to good quality information at all stages of their journey, with special provision for those with visual or hearing impairments. In partnership with bus operators and other agencies, we will deliver targeted, cost-effective and socially inclusive multi-operator ticketing schemes. A voluntary Code of Conduct on Service Stability with bus operators will limit timetable changes to a set number of predetermined dates each year.

Community and Accessible Transport

The introduction of easy-access Quality Bus services and flexibly routed services has enabled us to broaden access to our buses to include people who were previously beyond their reach. However, there are still be people who, for one reason or another, are unable to use these services. Community transport can extend the public transport network even further and, as the Social Exclusion Unit recognised, make a valuable contribution in plugging the gaps in the network despite the restrictions of the operating permits.

As an integral part of public transport provision, community transport meets the needs of people who are unable to use conventional bus services. They may suffer some form of disability, feel vulnerable using other modes of transport or not have access to a car. Many of them rely on community transport. Without safe and affordable access to shopping, healthcare, employment and social activity within their communities, they  would be placed at great risk of social exclusion.

Through the development of the Accessibility Strategy, the County Council has established close links with the Voluntary and Community Sector to identify ways to overcome social exclusion. In Making the Connections, the Social Exclusion Unit  acknowledged that community transport operators are important in increasing access to key services. The Lancashire Community Transport Operators Group meets regularly to allow operators to participate in the development of travel policies. We are extending our participation in travel planning further still through area wide forums to evaluate accessible transport needs.

Around 12.5% of the population experience some form of mobility disadvantage. This often affects elderly people but extends beyond them to many other groups in society. Young people, women, people with young children and those from ethnic communities suffer mobility problems too and may all benefit from the provision of community transport.

The County Council currently supports seven groups providing Dial-a-Bus and Dial-a-Ride services and fifteen community car schemes widely spread across the County. In 2003/04, community transport schemes in Lancashire carried over 216,000 passengers. The County Council also recognises the high level of informal community transport provision by many groups and organisations in Lancashire who do not receive or request financial support. These groups provide valuable services to local communities, often with support from other funding agencies such as the National Lotteries Charity Board and Help the Aged through the provision of vehicles. The County Council provides technical advice and support to any organisation in Lancashire providing, or wishing to provide, community transport services. Using our powers under Section 19 of the 1985 Transport Act, we issue minibus permits to all eligible groups in Lancashire.

The County Council has provided additional resources to increase the provision of community transport. New evening and weekend facilities have been provided and the demand for community transport services continues to grow. Community transport providers generally operate Dial-a-Bus and Dial-a-Ride services under Section 19 of the 1985 Transport Act that restricts use to certain groups of the public. For this reason, every encouragement will be given to groups to become full PCV Operators so that they can overcome the barriers to integration and play a full part in the provision of local transport services.

In the second Local Transport Plan we will;

• Promote community transport as an integral part of the transport network
• Work in partnership with the Community and Voluntary sector, NHS Trusts and other accessible transport providers in order to co-ordinate resources in the provision of accessible transport
• Develop area-wide forums with accessible transport providers and communities to evaluate accessible transport needs and prioritise service deployment
• Work closely with other funding agencies to identify and pursue additional funding opportunities, and
• Review the provision of Shopmobility and work closely with current providers to ensure integration with accessible transport schemes.

7.4.14 Motorcycles

There are journeys where motorcycles can make a significant contribution to accessibility. They can open up opportunities to education and employment for those without access to a car and whose journey would be difficult, if not impossible, by public transport. Scooters have been a successful element of Wheels2Learning at Runshaw College and the County Council will support a wider Wheels2Work programme.

Motorcycles also have a role in Travel Plans and the County Council will consider measures appropriate for motorcyclists in traffic management schemes. The County Council has a duty to maintain the highway network in a safe condition for all road users. Manhole covers and road markings present particular dangers for motorcyclists and the County Council will include the interests of motorcyclists in its Safety Audits. It will provide secure parking for motorcycles within easy reach of services.

Motorcyclists remain vulnerable road users. It is a cause of concern that whilst the total annual number of road casualties shows a downward trend, the number of casualties among motorcyclists is rising. Motorcycle riders are at risk from their own poor decisions as well of those of drivers of other vehicles. The County Council will promote increased awareness on the part of motorcycle riders and motor vehicle drivers and has worked with the Driving Standards Agency to prepare the Hazard Perception module that has now been added to the driving test.

Lancashire County Council will develop ways to address the riders who are most at risk. We will provide training courses, with theory and practice modules, to improve the riding and driving skills of each.

The risk of a collision with a motorcycle and a pedestrian is higher than that of a collision between a motorcar and a pedestrian. It is a further cause of concern that the risk of a collision between a motorcycle and a pedestrian continues to rise. The County Council is aware that great care is required whenever motorcyclists and pedestrians share the same environment.

Motorcyclists have particular parking requirements and we have undertaken a programme to provide secure motorcycle parking in off-road car parks. The County Council welcomed the publication of the Government's Motorcycling Strategy and the complementary Motorcycling Guidance for Engineers issued by the Institute of Highway Incorporated Engineers.

7.4.15 Taxis

Taxis and private hire cars play an important role in accessibility. They offer a flexible service that can operate at times when public transport does not run and can reach destinations not served by public transport. They provide a door-to-door service that is particularly valuable for people who do not have a car and cannot reach conventional bus services. In addition, they can fulfil the initial and final legs of longer journeys made by train or coach. They play an especially useful role for those without a car taking home their weekly shopping from supermarkets.

The County Council will co-ordinate its own services provided by taxi and will work with Licensing Officers, operators and users to promote a higher standard of safety and service. It is important that there are enough taxis to meet the local demand, from both able passengers and those with handicaps or who need to use a wheelchair. The Government is preparing its Best Practice Taxi/Private Hire Licensing Guidance which will offer an opportunity to establish more consistent standards across the County.

Taxi drivers hold a very responsible position and in partnership with Accrington and Rossendale College we will promote training to develop their driving skills as well as their personal skills. We will seek a higher standard of safety and service on the taxi services we provide through the Transport Procurement Unit. We will work to achieve safer conditions for all passengers and taxi drivers too. One way to do this is through the installation of video cameras which has already proved successful in buses. On the highway itself, we will work with District Councils to ensure that sufficient stands are provided at popular origins of journeys - bus and railway stations, supermarkets and town centres - and that safe access is available to them for passengers and taxis alike.

Fylde Borough Council has established the Fylde Quality Taxi Partnership to ensure that taxi companies and the authority work together to provide better services to residents. Preston has banned smoking in taxis to protect drivers and passengers from effects of passive smoking. Preston's wider plans to improve safety in the city’s taxis include include pocket-sized cards containing important taxi safety information and events to raise awareness of taxi safety issues.

District Councils are the Licensing Authority for both Hackney Carriages and Private Hire Vehicles. District Councils may limit the number of Hackney Carriage licences if there is local justification, but they are unable to restrict the number of licences for PHVs.

Table 7.4.15

District	Limit on Hackney Carriage Licences	Comments
Burnley	34	The limit was set following a survey of unmet demand and a further review is in progress.
Chorley	37	Following a survey of unmet demand, the limit has been raised from 30 to 37. Four extra licences are for patent demand and three for latent demand.
Fylde	None	100 licenses are on issue. New licenses will be issued for suitable wheelchair accessible vehicles.
Hyndburn	62	Following a survey of unmet demand, a limit of 62 has been set, 9 of which are reserved for wheelchair accessible vehicles. A review of the number of licenses for wheelchair accessible vehicles is in progress.
Lancaster	109	A survey recommended that four additional licenses would meet unmet demand. Four new licenses will be issued for wheelchair accessible vehicles, bringing the total to 109.
Pendle	72	The limit has been increased by 6 to 72 following a survey of unmet demand.
Preston	187	A limit of 187 has been maintained and a further review, including a study of unmet demand, is in progress.
Ribble Valley	49	Following a survey of unmet demand, a limit of 49 was set, to be increased by one per annum. 6 are subject to a condition that a disabled person's seat is fitted and one to a condition that the vehicle is driven by a woman
Rossendale	None
South Ribble	None	130 licenses are on issue. The council aims to achieve a fleet of purpose built wheelchair accessible vehicles by 2015 and will issue new licenses for suitable wheelchair accessible vehicles.
West Lancashire	None	51 licenses are on issue. New licenses are issued for suitable wheelchair accessible vehicles. Replacement vehicles must also be wheelchair accessible.
Wyre	160	A survey of unmet demand confirmed that  the 160 licenses on issue were sufficient.

7.4.16 Active Travel to Increase Accessibility

We will create an environment that promotes walking and cycling.

See also Tackling Congestion More Trips on Foot and by Cycle

The development of active travel - walking and cycling - is an important element of the Local Transport Plan. The growth of car ownership together with the increase of car traffic has corresponded with a decline in active travel. Travellers have preferred the car for its convenience or have chosen not to walk or cycle in the face of increasingly heavy traffic flows. But where journeys are delayed by congestion, parking is limited or motoring costs are growing, travel by car is losing some of its appeal. Our survey of attitudes to cycling showed that 30% of people wanted to use their car less and that 38% wanted to cycle more.

For many people, active travel is a practical and affordable way to make local journeys. For some it will be their preferred choice. However, for those without access to a car, who live in areas that are not well served by public transport or who find it difficult to afford the fares, active travel may be the only way to maintain their link to services. An increased level of active travel will deliver benefits across broad areas of accessibility, congestion, air quality and health. These will deliver improvements to the environment and the quality of life for individuals and society as a whole. To gain these benefits, we will create an environment that makes active travel an attractive and enjoyable activity that people can incorporate easily into their everyday lives.

Increased active travel will make a significant contribution to improving accessibility to essential services and overcoming social exclusion. It will also contribute directly to improved levels of health. Greater opportunities for daily exercise will counter the growing trend towards obesity which greatly increases the risk of diseases including heart disease, cancer, arthritis and the the onset of type 2 diabetes. We will also work hard to reduce the number of road casualties and the social and the economic burden that accompanies them. Additional facilities for cyclists and walkers will make routes safer to use. Road safety training will be important too. Courses for children will teach them to walk and ride safely, while courses for drivers and motorcycle riders will raise their awareness of the needs of more vulnerable road users.

Transferring car journeys to active travel will relieve congestion on busy corridors. Reduced delay will promote the economy while reduced exhaust emissions will improve air quality locally and reduce the risk of bronchial disease. They will also contribute to the national target to reduce CO2 emissions in response to global warming.

The County Council will improve infrastructure so that walking and cycling are safe and convenient, link well with public transport and offer an attractive alternative to the car. We will improve routes to work and education, to health care and essential services and to sport and leisure destinations. From time to time, an improvement is carried out to solve a problem which is specific to cyclists or pedestrians. However, the majority of schemes bring improvements to both modes. Building upon the investment of the last five years, we will extend a network of walking and cycling routes in each of the main urban areas over the next ten years. Routes will be continuous and interlinked to make each network fully permeable.

To ensure that all highway schemes meet the needs of their users, they will undergo the Vulnerable Road User Audit. Routes will be designed to provide convenient access to a variety of services at popular destinations, including schools, libraries, workplaces, health centres and shops. Where a route can carry pedestrians and cyclists, or other vulnerable road users, it will designed to meet the needs of them all. Bridleways are multi user routes, giving access to horse riders, walkers and cyclists. There is also significant potential around Lancashire to provide low mobility access by the improvement and extension of the bridleway network. Bridleways have been highlighted as an area of priority because of the numbers of people that are able to benefit from improvements. Home Zones in urban areas and Quiet Lanes and Greenways in rural areas all make active travel safer and more attractive. Puffin and Toucan crossings will be made more responsive to pedestrians and cyclists. New operating systems will give shorter cycles at signal controlled junctions, reducing waiting times for all road users.

Improvements for pedestrians and cyclists will be integral not only to our transport projects but also to new developments and the Local Area Assessments which work towards broader objectives. Local Transport funds will be supplemented by requests for additional funds from sources including developer contributions, Landfill Tax, grants to restore derelict land, Cycling England and European projects. Opportunities to introduce walking and cycling measures will occur in major programmes including the CIVITAS, The Northern Way, Elevate and REMADE. We will work with our partners in these programmes to ensure that walking and cycling are fully integrated into them.

Pedestrians and cyclists are vulnerable road users. Road safety training is important for them and modular schemes for walking and cycling are organised for school pupils. These help them to travel safely to school and other activities and prepare them for independent trips as well as the longer journey required in the crucial step from Primary to High School. We will also offer adults the opportunity to learn to ride and gain confidence. We will continue to promote active travel through Walk to School Week and Bike to Work Week.

We will work with health services to promote active travel as a form of exercise to increase fitness and health. We will support the Government's measures to reduce childhood obesity and will work with Primary Care Trusts to implement School Travel Plans. We will use transport awareness campaigns to foster a climate that encourages walking and cycling, and will integrate them with other modes of transport. We will provide better interchange with public transport and improve routes to bus stops and bus and train stations. Rural buses will be equipped to carry bicycles and we will work with the train operators to improve facilities on trains.

Residents in disadvantaged areas may lose opportunities for education, training and employment through restricted travel horizons. In the lowest income groups, according to the Social Exclusion Unit, 58% of journeys are made entirely on foot. By improving accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists, we will directly increase social inclusion for disadvantaged citizens.

The Disabled Passenger Transport Committee states that 60% of disabled people do not have access to a car, so good access by other means is particularly important to them. We will invite their participation in Mobility Forums. We will increase the opportunities for people, including children and those without a car, as well as those with mobility handicaps, to reach essential services. People with learning difficulties have special requirements too and we will work with Partnership Boards to provide the measures and machines that will allow them to travel more easily.

We have completed our Sustainable School Travel Strategy and have prepared our draft Walking and Cycling Strategies with the participation of local users and groups and will have a further consultation exercise. The final plans will set out clear proposals for the development of active travel in Lancashire. We look forward to the the advice and good practice set out in the forthcoming DfT documents, Manual for Streets and Cycle Friendly Infrastructure 2.

The Lancashire Countryside Service is committed to improving access to the countryside for all. Lancashire's Access Project was one of six pilot projects undertaken for the Countryside Agency to examine ways of increasing access to the wider countryside, including access for people with mobility handicaps. With the help of a grant from the County Council's Small Sites Reclamation Scheme, three waymarked trails at Mere Sands Wood Nature Reserve have been made suitable for wheelchair users. At Beacon Fell Country Park, three low-mobility trails have been constructed around the Fell, each offering different views of the surrounding area.Two battery-powered Tramper buggies, designed specifically to cover rough ground safely, have been purchased for use on the trails by people with limited mobility.

7.4.17 Rights of Way Improvement Plan

The Lancashire Rights of Way Improvement Plan (RoWIP) was completed and submitted to DEFRA in 2005. It was prepared jointly with our neighbouring Unitary Authorities Blackpool Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council with the participation of public rights of way users and countryside visitors. Participants included specialist groups and the Lancashire Local Access Forum and a wider consultation exercise involved the public. The plan will offer new opportunities for cyclists and walkers as well as equestrians and people whose mobility is limited to enjoy the countryside. It will also offer multi-user routes from residential areas into the countryside, community-to-community links, and routes around urban fringe which will promote leisure and utility trips, contributing to accessibility, healthy living and the rural economy.

The RoWIP highlights the need to enhance maintenance and improvement of the Rights of Way network to encourage walking, horse riding and cycling. Extensions and upgrading of the existing network have the potential to make significant improvements in Lancashire that will increase accessibility and inclusion for sections of the population that have not previously participated in active travel.

We established the Lancashire Local Access Forum in 2001 to advise on the development of the RoWIP and in preparation for the implementation of access to open countryside. We have prepared guidance to show countryside managers how to increase access to the countryside for disabled people and have carried out pilot schemes. These have provided the platform for producing the RoWIP for Lancashire.

In developing the Rights of Way Improvement Plan we have taken account of the related regional policies and county-wide corporate aims and objectives for healthy living, a high quality environment and safe and easy travel. The plan has been developed with the visions to;

• improve the network of local rights of way
• meet the needs of local people and visitors better, including those with impaired vision and reduced mobility
• increase the public's enjoyment and the benefits it derives from the Lancashire countryside.

The Lancashire Countryside Service will care for the landscapes, wildlife and rural communities of Lancashire and provide countryside recreation facilities for the benefit of Lancashire's residents, visitors to the county and future generations.

7.4.18 Walking

Walking is a vitally important mode of transport. In Lancashire, 40% of journeys under 2km are made on foot. As walking is an element of almost every journey, improvements for pedestrians will provide benefits for travellers who use other modes too. Well-maintained footways provide improved access to local services in both urban and rural areas. Tactile facilities have been introduced for users with limited vision and we will work to raise the condition of footways to improve accessibility and safety for all pedestrians.

Lancashire County Council is promoting walking as a healthy and environmentally friendly leisure activity.  We have established short and long distance walks and have linked walks to the Carnforth Connect and Bowland Transit rural bus services. We are a member of the Lancashire Partnership which promotes walking and cycling as healthy pursuits in East Lancashire's Regional Park and we support the initiatives to promote walking and cycling at district level.

For over 30 years, Lancashire has been working with landowners to agree access for walkers to the countryside. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 granted a general right of access to the public to 'access land' for the purposes of open-air recreation, offering further opportunities to increase access to the countryside. In September 2004, Lancashire's Integrated Access Demonstration project offered walkers access to substantial parts of the Forest of Bowland and other parts of the county for the very first time.

7.4.19 Cycling to Services

Cycling has a key role in promoting accessibility to services. We will ensure that the cycling programme is effective through examining the performance of existing routes, studying areas of particular need and by following good practice. We will rely on the following information;

Strategy and practice

Lancashire Cycling Strategy; revised edition, 2005.

Lancashire - the Cyclists' County; thoroughly revised cycle guidelines, 2005. We are pleased that elements have been adopted in the draft revision of Cycle Friendly Infrastructure.

Attitude and usage surveys

Cycling in Lancashire; a survey of attitudes into cycling; University of Central Lancashire, 2005

Cycling and Walking Routes in Lancashire; a survey of usage; Sustrans, 2005

Cycle counts; cycle flows on principal routes will be monitored by automatic counters at critical points of the network. 25 have been installed across the county and supplementary counts will be carried out manually and with a mobile counter. Further automatic counters will follow.

Local studies

We have carried out studies of cycling conditions in towns across Lancashire. Recent and current studies include;

Cycling in Skelmersdale; TMS, 2003. The residential and industrial areas of Skelmersdale are poorly served by public transport. This study proposes a network of radial routes to provide links to commercial and industrial areas.

Cycling on Main Roads in Preston; Mott MacDonald, 2004. This study has identified a comprehensive programme of improvements on ten cycling routes into Preston costed at £1.5M. There are opportunities to develop cross town routes and improve accessibility to the college, hospitals and areas of employment.

Cycling in Ormskirk; Jacobs Babtie, 2005. Ormskirk Town Centre suffers from congestion. The problems of local traffic are compounded by through traffic on the A570, inhibiting access to the town centre and to Ormskirk Hospital. Cycling measures can offer immediate improvements to access for those without a car and for motorists who switch to cycling. Highway space freed by the completion of Ormskirk Bypass will be used to provide additional facilities for walking, cycling and public transport.

Cycling Routes to Preston University Quarter; Transport Initiatives, 2006. The study examines existing access by cycle routes to the city centre University quarter and proposes five new routes to increase accessibility for students, staff and visitors.

Cycling in Burnley; to be carried out in 2006. Burnley has high levels of deprivation - 15% of Super Output Areas are amongst the worst 5% in England - and low car ownership. Although 57% of journeys to work are shorter than 5km, the percentage of journeys to work made by bicycle is less than half the average for Lancashire. In the most deprived wards, the average journey to work is as little as 2 miles. Cycling access to the Town Centre is poor and there are areas within Burnley where restricted travel facilities are compounded by limited travel horizons. Better cycling facilities will improve accessibility and open up new opportunities for education and employment.

There is clearly potential to increase the level of cycling in Lancashire. In our survey of usage, 50% of cyclists said that their cycling had increased over the last twelve months. 51% said that they intended to cycle more in the future. Our survey of attitudes showed that increased exercise is the main motivator, whilst the greatest deterrent is the volume and speed of traffic on the roads. To meet this demand, we will build on our investment over the last five years and extend a network of cycle routes across each of the main urban areas in the next ten years.

LTP funds will be supplemented by requests for additional funds from sources including developer contributions, Landfill Tax, grants to restore derelict land, Cycling England and European projects. Opportunities to introduce cycling measures will occur in major programmes including the Northern Way, Elevate, REMADE and CIVITAS. We will ensure that cycling is fully considered in these plans and that developments are designed to increase the opportunities for cycling.

Lancashire lies at the hub of the National Cycle Network (NCN). In 2005, Sustrans marked the construction of 10,000 miles of the National Cycle Network (NCN) with a ceremony in Preston. From rural areas, the NCN takes cyclists to the services in urban centres and, in the other direction, takes urban cyclists into the countryside. To supplement this spine, we will provide links to essential local services as part of a fully permeable network. We have made good progress on the routes in Lancashire and we will complete them in the period of the second LTP. We will work with the Partnership Boards and Wheels for All to increase the opportunities for handicapped riders to enjoy cycling.

Facilities for cyclists will be included as an integral element of new developments and transport projects. The Heysham-M6 Link road scheme will incorporate a combined foot and cyclepath from end to end, providing a useful link in the existing local network. Reduced traffic flows in the City Centre and on the coast road from Morecambe to Carnforth will allow improvements to cycling and walking, as well as reducing delays to public transport.

Cycling is an important component of school and work travel plans and will have a large part to play in the CIVITAS project in Preston. Personalised Travel Planning will be introduced to Preston and Lancaster to take advantage of the cycling and public transport infrastructure already in place. Cycling is also promoted in TravelWise campaigns and as a leisure activity. Leisure routes include the Lancashire Cycleway, which encompasses the county on quiet country roads. Rural buses are equipped to carry cycles to improve access to both leisure and workday destinations.

7.4.20 Cycling for Pleasure

Attractive local routes are suitable for utility and leisure trips, whilst tracks for mountain cycles have proved popular on Beacon Fell and the Forest of Bowland. More are under construction in Rivington. Mountain biking in Lancashire has benefited considerably in recent years with the development of the Pennine Bridleway and the Mary Towneley Loop. Further plans for the North Lancashire Bridleway, West Pennine Moors Bridleway Strategy and bridleway routes identified by the RoWIP will improve the network further in Lancashire. However the fragmented bridleway network and general under recording of bridleways in Lancashire will remain an important area of work. The Discovering Lost Ways Project being led nationally by the Countryside Agency is one of the projects that should go some way to addressing the under recording of bridleway routes in Lancashire.

In 2001, the Countryside Agency and Lancashire County Council appointed consultants to assess the actual and latent demand for off-road cycling in the county of Lancashire. The study involved a variety of methodologies - desk research, consulting countryside managers and cycle officers, focus groups and an interview survey. The research identified two particularly significant opportunities, which could be progressed by the promotion of off-road cycling;

• A high proportion of cyclists in Lancashire belong to groups who tend to visit the countryside less - families with young children, those from less well-off areas; promoting off-road cycling could increase visits to the countryside by these groups
• It is easier to encourage existing leisure cyclists to cycle to work, the shops, etc. than to encourage those who currently drive to work to convert to cycling. Promoting leisure cycling could increase participation in cycling and therefore reduce car use in the county The study identified a number of general (policy) and specific (routes and information) improvements which could be made to increase participation in off-road cycling in Lancashire and to improve enjoyment.

The report highlights that a significant proportion of mountain bikers use cars to access cycling areas. The development of bridleway routes linking form the urban fringe areas, the improvement of the fragmented bridleway network and access to the bridleway network along traffic free routes, would increase the cycling participation  amongst the socially deprived areas of Lancashire who had limited or no access to vehicles. There is strong anecdotal evidence of under-participation in countryside recreation by young adults, low income groups, people from ethnic groups, women, older people and people with disabilities.The development and improvement of multi user, traffic free routes would have enormous potential in Lancashire for encouraging cycling, horse riding, low mobility access, encouraging active travel and reducing social exclusion.

Lancaster Cycling Demonstration Project

In the last ten years, Lancaster has received a sustained programme of cycling works costing in excess of £3M, plus the landmark Millennium Bridge costing a further £1M. This steady growth in cycling facilities has made Lancaster a model for other districts. The National Census 2001 reveals that 4.2% of the workforce cycles to work there compared to an average of 2.6% for the whole of Lancashire, while a survey of 2003 shows that 11.5% of staff cycle to Lancaster University. The number of cyclists continues to grow; cyclists using the Millennium Bridge have risen by almost 30% in the three years since 2002.

Commuters from Morecambe to Lancaster now have the choice of a high quality cyclepath running direct to the City Centre as an alternative to the peak hour congestion on the main road. The cycle route crosses the Millennium Bridge, which stands at the hub of the Lancaster network. It provides a traffic-free crossing of the River Lune which in term time is used by 600 cyclists and 2000 pedestrians daily, and as many as 1000 cyclists on a summer's day.

Cycling has built up a momentum in Lancaster and the Sustainable Cycling Town project will enable us to introduce further measures. Personalised Travel Planning will persuade more people to take advantage of the facilities already available. The Millennium Park path will be extended downstream from the City Centre and upstream from Caton towards Hornby on the former railway line. We will maintain our support for sustainable transport to employment in the Economic Development Zone and for the award-winning cycle hire scheme Budgie Bikes. This operates throughout Lancaster and Morecambe and will be introduced to urban and tourist locations in Lancashire and beyond.

7.4.21 Making Travel Easier and Safer

We will make travelling easier to improve access to services.

There are a number of reasons why socially excluded people do not use existing public transport services even though they would appear to suit their travel requirements. This may be because people;

• cannot afford, or are unwilling, to pay the public transport fare
• are unaware of the public transport services available
• find using public transport confusing, or
• feel unsafe either using or waiting for public transport.

The County Council will approach these problems through a variety of initiatives to;

• introduce better ticketing
• expand the role of the smartcard initiative
• introduce through ticketing
• enhance personal safety and sense of security
• provide better information
• improve marketing
• integrate services, and
• raise the standard of comfort.

7.4.22 Smartcards

Smartcards offer the prospect of simpler travel on buses. In the future, cashless ticket sales will make boarding easier and quicker, saving time and effort on bus journeys. The smartcard readers will keep a record  of journeys and ridership which can be analysed to show demand on the route.

With support from the Department for Transport, Lancashire in partnership with Cumbria County Council and Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen Unitary Authorities has introduced smartcard technology through the NoWcard project. This is the biggest Local Authority based smartcard scheme in the country, covering concessionary travel right across the North West. It includes issuing  personalised and encoded smart cards, installing smartcard technology on buses and establishing a back office system. Altogether, the system embraces 19 Unitary and District Councils, has issued 180,000 concessionary cards and is installing readers on over 1,700 buses. The project will involve a phased introduction of the ITSO standard, set by the Government backed Interoperable Transport ticketing Standard Organisation, and will be a model for other Local Authorities.

All over 60s in Lancashire are now eligible for a NoWcard which gives them concessionary travel throughout Lancashire. NoWcards can also be used on all Community Transport.

Smartcards will provide the opportunity to link transport to other services, including employment, education and healthcare. Use of the card will broaden e-government and can be extended to services as varied as libraries, school meals and leisure facilities.

7.4.23 Community Safety, Personal Security and Crime

Crime and the fear of crime have the effect of narrowing peoples travel horizons by affecting their willingness to travel.  This is particularly the case for groups who feel vulnerable. Often such anxieties heightened during darkness, where anti-social behaviour is prevalent and in secluded places. 

It is important that all highway users, and especially vulnerable ones, should have the confidence to use the network. It is equally important that traffic on the highway network should not spoil the environment of residents who live close to the network.

Lancashire belongs to District Community Safety Partnerships and through them has introduced a programme of works to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour. These include alley-gating in areas of terraced housing and street lighting to improve the safety of people and property. An important initiative is the introduction of neighbourhood wardens and the Council encourages their introduction and their role in making streets less threatening.

Lancashire has been successful in securing a place in the second round of Local Area Agreements (LAAs). We have worked closely with our partners through the Lancashire Partnership to develop the Lancashire LAA. A key element is the Safer and Stronger Communities initiative and its objectives to;

• Reduce crime, to reassure the public by reducing the fear of crime and anti-social behaviour and to reduce the harm caused by illegal drugs
• Have cleaner, safer and greener public spaces
• Increase the capacity of local communities so that people are empowered to participate in local decision-making and are able to influence service delivery
• Improve the quality of life for people in the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods and ensure service providers are more responsive to neighbourhood needs and improve their delivery.

The other objectives are Children and Young People, Healthier Communities and Older People, and Economic Development and Enterprise. Transportation and accessibility can make a significant contribution to improved public spaces and delivery of services, and to each of the other objectives too.

7.4.24 The Safer Travel Unit; A Multi Agency Approach

The Safer Travel Unit works to reduce anti-social behaviour and to to improve the confidence of passengers on buses and at bus stops and stations. It succeeded in reducing the number of incidents on school transport by 21% from 2091 in the school year 2003-04 to  1661 in 2004-05. The 2005 autumn term has shown a further reduction of 27% compared to 2004.

In September 2001 Lancashire County Council commissioned a survey of school bus travel as part of a Best Practice Review. The results revealed that children and young people were concerned about personal security when travelling on and waiting for buses. In response to this, the Safer Travel Unit was set up to improve safety on public transport. The Unit has played an important regional and national role in developing strategies for making school transport safe and enjoyable, including education programmes, reporting procedures and Acceptable Behaviour Contracts. It has introduced CCTV to school buses and bus shelters and has established a protocol for preparing film from CCTV as evidence. The Unit has had notable success in reducing anti-social behaviour and bullying. Whilst this has brought improved travel to pupils in general, in particularly bad cases of bullying it has changed their lives.

In order to achieve a sustained reduction in anti-social behaviour, we needed to influence the people most affected through a multi agency approach within an agreed structure. The Children's Fund has been a significant partner and provides ongoing financial commitment to the Unit. Many pupils and bus services cross local administrative boundaries on their way to school and the County Council and Blackburn with Darwen are both partners in the Safer Travel Unit. The Unit works closely with the Police and the Local Community Safety Partnerships as well as the Passenger Transport Units in Lancashire and Blackburn. It has established itself as a quality service provider to its main stakeholders; schools, bus operators, pupils and parents.

There are 88 High Schools in Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen and they all work to support the aims of the Unit. The Unit contributes to the Personal, Health and Social Education syllabus and the school bus prefect network. Each incident reported is investigated and reported to the Unit who will intervene to resolve serious situations.

The Unit works with 18 large and medium bus operators and more than 150 small operators. They report incidents on home to school transport direct to the Unit. The operators train their drivers to report incidents clearly and concisely so that the Unit can investigate them proactively with its High School partners. The Unit has access to on-bus CCTV systems to provide evidence for use within schools and, if necessary, in court. A working group discusses further improvements to the system, and has already proposed electronic incident reporting, conflict resolution for drivers and education materials for use in school.

7.4.25 Information

Widespread distribution of up-to-date travel information is essential to offer people the accessibility they require in their daily lives.

Information on bus services will be available to passengers at home and at the start of their return journeys from work, shopping or hospital. In Preston, signs at bus stops give details of bus services in real time. The information is also available to the bus operator to help maintain reliable services. Real time information will be improved and extended to additional routes in Preston and introduced to other urban centres.

In rural areas the interval between services may be much longer, so reliable information is just as important to rural bus passengers. We have introduced real time information through Rural Intelligent Bus Stops to the Silverdale Shuttle and the two lines of Carnforth Connect. These services provide connections with trains and the system also provides news of the train services. Real time information will be extended to further rural routes.

Information on traffic conditions will be collected and broadcast, via the internet, radio, mobile phones and developing technology, so that it is available to travellers before the start of their journeys. VMSs linked to UTMC will display news of traffic conditions, journey times and incidents for drivers during their journey. At their destination, signs will direct them to vacant parking spaces.

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