Having been through the footage again, I've come up with a brief abstract of each of the 13 clips.
Part 1. Introduction, Peter talks about sustainable transport initiatives in Holland and the proposed Eastern Development on the edge of Swindon.
Part 2. Peter talks about his passion for trams, and is questioned about the cost of trams vs other initiatives and is challenged on the signposting, mapping and safety of Swindon's cycle routes. He also talks about the use of shared space in residential areas and the way in which this changes people's driving behaviour. Marc makes a point about the proposed increase in use of bus lanes by taxis and its impact on the sheltered cycling experience in bus lanes.
Part 3. The meeting is well and truly open to the floor by now. Council consultations, the use of space in Berlin, shared taxis in Arab countries and the lack of alternatives to the private car being sold by Swindon Borough Council. 20 mile per hour zones and the difficulty in enforcing them. Peter speaks again about shared space and pedestrian priority in residential areas as an alternative. Whether these plans will be implemented in Whichelstowe. A question about children being thrown off their bikes when getting the wheels stuck in tram lines. Removing the white lines from the centre of the road in a village in Wiltshire. Car share schemes.
Part 4. The superiority of Britain's public transport over that in New Zealand. Departing from the paradigm of part-built housing estates which public transport won't serve because the roads aren't surfaced, the pavements aren't surfaced because JCBs are crossing them all the time and the only way the residents can get around is by 4x4. Effectively linking the areas where people are to the places they want to go. The way in which journey analysis seems only to look at motorised journeys, not foot or cycle journeys. Sticks as well as carrots for encouraging the shift away from private cars.
Part 5. Free bus passes and their impact on local authority finances. Rod Bluh on the dangers of pricing businesses out of the town, and why central government isn't funding the initiative. Does the scheme actually increase the costs to the bus operators? Is the increased wear and tear on buses offset by reduced wear and tear on roads? Communal recycling boxes. Wichelstowe as a testing ground for measures to be rolled out in the Eastern Development Area.
Part 6. Peter's cycling habits. Walking bus to schools and eliminating the school run. The bureaucracy involved in making any changes to highways.
Part 7. Intelligent Traffic Management Systems. School buses, or children going to their local school. Problems caused by people driving to Westlea school. One car per family?
Part 8. Widening Swindon's transport plan to include surrounding towns and villages.
Part 9. Double-decker trains. Travelling 60 miles for £7. The madness of the fragmented and privately-owned train operators. The total cost of car ownership. What SBC are doing as the owner of a bus company to move to a low-carbon economy, and why they can't run the buses on biodiesel. Recruitment to transport planning posts.
Part 10. Capacity within the council to make the changes that are needed to cope with climate change and peak oil. How does the health sector fit into the council's transport plans. Joined-up thinking.
Part 11. Where can the public see the council's transport vision? (
http://www.swindon.gov.uk/roadstransport/transportvision.htm ) Council tax and whether the council should be making the case for increases to council tax if it can reduce people's personal expenditure.
Part 12. Precedents for changes in public attitudes - drink driving, seat belts and motorbike helmets. A cycle lane on the Swindon to Highworth road. The sustrans grant for improving transport and why none of it is being spent in Swindon. Intelligent Transport Management Systems and whether it is a car-orientated system.
Part 13. Intelligent Traffic Management Systems continued. Bus time information displays. Consumption vs carbon emissions and presentation of the issues to the public. Has the impact of the planned canal on the transport strategy been considered.
