I’ve been wondering, with the drive to use public transport or bicycles, how will the government build infrastructure for more rural areas. I drive 18 miles round trip to work (small town to large town about 30 minutes from Oxford), mostly country roads and it takes around 18 minutes.
Unfortunately these roads are typical B roads which is pretty dangerous for a cyclist. I imagine it’s easy to create cycle route for cities and very large towns, but what could be done for the more rural people?
The reasons I haven’t got out the car yet;
– I’d love to cycle to work on an electric bike but it’s just to risky on the B roads.
– The bus is 50+ mins compared to a car and isn’t flexible in terms of hours compared to getting in your car.
I assume you can add cycle routes between every town and village, what sort of ideas could aid this issue?
4 comments
There’s disused railway lines – Sustrans has done a lot of work on reopening a lot of these up as long distance cycle routes. But that depends on there being an old line.
Ultimately, many rural areas are going to need EV’s to get to a park and ride (with charging) to get into cities. Fortunately, second-hand EV’s are getting close to the cost of a new e-bike now, so that’s becoming a much more feasible option for low-carbon transportation.
The obvious answer is to encourage people to move to the cities. Public transport in rural areas doesn’t make commercial sense due to low density. There may be some investment in cycle infrastructure but it’s still far more efficient to spend that money in a city where it will effect more people.
Round here the public transport (3 buses a day Monday to Saturday) is community owned and often volunteer drivered.
We are EXTREMELY rural. Like 20 miles from the nearest major supermarket.
Reddit answer: move to the city, live in a tower block and become vegan.