Motorists need some viable alternatives to driving to work

From Siân Phillips.

IN response to Transport Minister Mike Jackson’s rather simplistic call for Islanders to abandon their cars and get on their bikes or walk to work, I have the following comments:

Let’s have some joined-up thinking on this thorny issue. Most commuters drive to work because it is convenient. Many are working parents having to drop off children at school before proceeding to work. Tell me which parish has a bus service that can do both of these simple tasks and deliver a parent to work on time? None!

Therefore in order to entice us out of our cars we need a range of realistic alternatives. Last year, after 28 years of car use, I learned to ride a motorbike in an effort to be greener and play my part in reducing traffic congestion. However, I was frustrated in my efforts by the completely inadequate parking availability for bike users.

Also, the lack of respect car users have for bike riders makes for a very stressful and adrenalin-packed experience!

A range of alternatives needs to be made available, such as:

Increase availability of bike parking. For example, turn the whole stretch adjacent to the Esplanade car park into bike parking rather than just the section on the corner as at present. Set aside a whole floor in both Sand Street and Green Street car parks just for bike parking.

Provide a park-and-ride service from each parish hall into town. Make it a mandatory requirement for each parish to be responsible for finding a suitable area or field to park in.

Improve the bus service. The winter service is a joke and the start and finish times of the bus timetables do not fit in with modern working hours. If you need to be at work before 8.30 am or leave after 6 pm, there are too few buses available.

Enable the school bus service to take primary school children as well as secondary school children. At present, if you have children at any of the major private schools in town, only children in Year 7 and above can use the school bus.

Finally, all States Members should give up their parking, paid for by the taxpayer, and get on their own bikes before telling us what to do. Give us some realistic alternative solutions. Only then changes may be forthcoming.