Public transport
What do we mean when we say public transport?
Access to affordable, reliable and inclusive public transport is crucial in ensuring freedom of movement for all, particularly those who don’t have access to their own vehicle. Good public transport can provide easy access to education, services and employment, and be better for the planet. We should have access to affordable and reliable public transport in our neighbourhoods, allowing us to get around with ease, whether that is to travel to work, travel with children or to meet friends or family.
Public transport is important both for social equity and for the environment. Those of us who live in cities might take it for granted, but for many places the quality of public transport is poor and getting worse. This is crucial to the millions of people who don’t have access to a car and for whom public transport is a lifeline, enabling access to jobs, services and friends.
How does this affect health and wellbeing?
Evidence shows that the availability of public transport affects people’s mental health and wellbeing, particularly in relation to social connectedness. Effective transport provision, including reliable bus links, can help facilitate social interactions and promote social inclusion, while the withdrawal of such services is shown to reduce social networks and social relationships. [100]
Interventions such as targeted bus services to improve access to healthcare have been found to be effective in improving health outcomes. [101] Evidence also suggests that combining public transport provision with forms of active travel (e.g. walking to a bus stop) can improve cardiovascular fitness, and providing good quality public transport is associated with more active travel among children. [102]
The provision of affordable, accessible public transport therefore has an important role to play in improving and maintaining people’s health and wellbeing.
Case study
Getting around: Nottingham (The Meadows)
Nottingham is becoming known as a city with sustainability at its heart, and a key component of this is the council’s commitment to developing and delivering excellent public transport connections. The extensions of the tram lines and the strengthening of the bus network support this.
Nottingham has set very stringent carbon reduction emissions targets and sees transport as a key aspect of this. Supporting and strengthening public transport to be a viable and attractive option for its residents continues to be a key driver in their sustainability and carbon reduction commitments.
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