Health & Education
Please note that the views expressed in the below consultation summary were recorded during the Reference Group meeting held September 2001 and do not necessarily reflect the views of the BMTP team.
Introduction
The group brought together policy officers and administrators from Health and Educational Institutes. While congestion was recognised as a general societal problem which has significant health impacts, a key concern among administrators was the growing problem of getting people to and from these institutions. It is for instance increasingly difficult to make journeys by walking and cycling because of congestion, pedestrian severance and the centralisation of health facilities, while the overall growth in car use is putting pressure on availability of parking (which is often difficult to allocate according to need). The reliance on the car is perceived to arise from a lack of public transport alternatives, with health facilities, in particular, having to try to fill this gap.
There is a need to improve public transport access to health and educational facilities in a way that offers a real choice to people. While increasing effort is being put into walking and cycling promotion, policy officers want to see the potential for these modes realised in better road design and reduced car traffic.
Road Traffic Congestion
Causes of Congestion
- Lack of alternatives to the car
- Centralisation of health facilities
- Inappropriate design of road access to/exit from health and educational facilities
Impact of Congestion
- Adverse impact on air quality. Increased car use increases the risk of asthma
- Reduces effectiveness of bus service
- More difficult for emergency vehicles to get around
- Slow traffic can add considerably to stress experienced by people on way for emergency treatment, especially young children ad parents
- Need for car parking takes up land that could be used for health/educational and other important uses.
Other Issues
In the UK it is estimated that 29% of households do not own or have access to a car. In Belfast City Council area this figure rises to around 50% of households who rely on public transport, walking and cycling as their mode of transport.
Reliance on car is putting pressure on availability of parking for staff and patients
Difficult to get authorities to put up signage for hospitals and places of education
Taking of disability parking spaces by able bodied drivers
Royal Victoria is used by general public and staff as informal park and ride site
Public Transport
- People reliant on public transport to reach health and educational facilities are poorly served
- Limited PT means hospitals having to run transport services and patients reliant on friends and family for lifts
- University campuses are not linked by public transport
- Public transport is too expensive for student.
- Lack of bus and train co-ordination
- Lack of public transport reliability is especially stressful during exam periods
- Lack of orbital routes in general
- Existing routes re-enforce community divisions
- Finaghy Rail halt is dangerous for travellers in terms of personal security
- Public transport ends too early at night
- Ambulance service can be abused as transport service
- Bus lane (providing access to Royal Victoria) on M1 is too short, eventually bus gets swallowed up in traffic
- Students prepared to pay higher rent to avoid PT deficiencies
Cycling/Walking
Pedestrian crossing at the front of the University on the Malone Road does not give people sufficient time to cross the road
Traffic congestion and pollution does not encourage walking/cycling
Walking / Cycling are not being given priority in design
Suggested Initiatives and Solutions
Traffic calming measures should be introduced at the front of the Queens university, with traffic controlled in such a way to reduce rat running along side streets
More Park and Ride facilities introduced. Park and ride sites could be located in industrial areas such as the Boucher Road or in lower socio-economic areas such as Duncairn Gardens, thereby providing some employment opportunities
Target traffic bottlenecks in BMA and develop a strategic transport network that would provide frequent, fast access to the city centre for commuters
Introduce loyalty cards for students to use on public transport
Students should receive the same public transport travel discounts as the unemployed
Introduce a night time bus to run along the Malone Road to the QUB Halls of Residence with students only allowed on with exact change
Improve signage along main cycle and walk routes
Improve the image of cycling and walking in order to become more socially acceptable. The Health Promotion Agency believes this will not happen with immediate effect, but over a timescale of approximately 10 years
Study the safety aspects of cycling, ie helmets, segregated lanes, quality of walkways
Advertise and promote the benefits of exercise, such as the easing of mental stress, and weight reduction etc
Promote walking/cycling for short journeys, with links to the NI Physical Activity Strategy. However, promotion of walking as a health activity alone will not yield success
Encouragement of non-car modes of travel with clear links to an integrated transport policy
Introduce Green Travel Plans
There needs to be an overall integrated planning of services. This would include links to policies dealing with urban regeneration and other consultation processes presently in the public domain
The plan could potentially provide major health benefits through the promotion of cycling, walking and by reducing pollution. This should therefore be viewed as an important component of the Investing for Health process being taken forward by the DHSSPS
There is support for greater enforcement of traffic law within the Belfast area, including seatbelt wearing and drink driving
Public transport services should provide realistic competition to cars in availability, service frequency, speed and price
Royal Victoria and City Hospital have their own bus links which are used by the general public, demonstrating potential of more orbital routes
Hospitals should examine opportunities for Park and Share schemes
Funding should be addressed so hospitals and educational facilities can continue to try out transport initiatives
Need for improved signage to health and educational facilities
Promotion and implementation of safe routes to school
