Change in journey choice needed as house building drive gathers momentum

Friday 05 April 2024

More housing, more people and more journeys are on the horizon, but if people shifted from a reliance on using the car it could still mean a better lifestyle.

That was one of the messages as politicians were given a firsthand insight into the realities of the early commute as they helped the Better Journeys Project traffic count this morning.

It comes as the States gets ready to debate plans to kickstart house building and traffic initiatives.

“We see the commute into town regularly and we thought it'd be a really good idea to ask deputies who are going to make the decisions to actually experience the commute themselves, because for many of them, that's not their daily experience,” said the Better Journey’s Barrie Duerden.

Pictured: Barrie Duerden from the Better Journeys Project.

“When you stand here and watch what's actually happening, it gives you a much better perspective. And hopefully you become more informed as a deputy who's going to make those decisions.”

The count was started about two years ago to establish data to demonstrate whether there was a traffic problem and to then monitor trends.

It takes place at six points around town and among other things has helped demonstrate that even when schools are out, people do not change their habits.

Pictured: Deputy Steve Falla helps with the traffic count.

There has been a small drop in single occupancy cars over that time, and a more than 20% increase in pedestrians and bikes.

More than half the journeys recorded are in single occupancy cars, 75% are in cars.

Mr Duerden believes the reason is that people do not plan their journeys.

“When we need to get somewhere we’re very used to literally jumping in the car, which is very close, and parking somewhere that’s very close, do what we need to do and then jumping back in our car,” he said.

“Pretty much everywhere else in the planet you think ‘how am I going to get there?’”

Changing this habit meant encouraging people to think about their journeys, he said, thinking about options like cycling, maybe acknowledging that it is cheaper to walk or take the bus and that their mental health is better when they walk and cycle.

Better Journeys Day on the first Friday of every month encourages people to consider their travel choices.

Pictured: Deputy Chris Blin talks to the volunteers helping monitor traffic on the Val des Terres.

“From a Guernsey together perspective, if you choose to lift share, use the bus, walk or get on a bicycle, it means the roads are freer for people who do need to drive, emergency vehicles and public service vehicles. 15% of the traffic is commercial vehicles coming into town, they are wasting a lot of time and money waiting in traffic. If they could get around easier, it'd be better for everyone.”