Helping motorists does not mean that we do not recognise the urgent need for efficient and sustainable public transport within Cambridge. Current routes that service areas outside the city centre such as Cherry Hinton often suffer from cancelled services and delays.
Buses are essential for providing a link to work, study, and vital services such as Addenbrookes. Without these, people cannot plan their schedules and would be forced to opt for private means of transport to get from A to B. This also affects the elderly and disabled, who would be trapped within their homes, if more bus routes are cancelled. We are calling for more and better running of bus services linking areas around the city to the centre.
We also believe that Cambridge needs to have a forward-thinking outlook to public transport. While more efficient buses are the short-term solution, we propose starting discussions around options such as light rail and trams. Integrated ticketing could transform public transport use. These have been successfully running in cities like Birmingham and Manchester, and offer an opportunity to rethink how public transport is run, and used by local residents. If local people have more choice over public transport, they will also be less likely to use cars. Offering choice is a better option than the proposals of road rationing that has often been put forward by Labour and the Liberal Democrats.