YORK'S city centre streets should be places where people can walk and live, rather than being dominated by cars and delivery vehicles, an influential transport forum says.

The York Citizens Transport Forum says the city should aim to 'regain the benefits of reduced traffic, noise and pollution' we enjoyed in the first lockdown. It says home working and online shopping should make this possible.

But it warns that, since the first lockdown, "roads appear to have become less safe as vehicles move faster, cycling has been discouraged as a result, the prevalence of vans parking on pavements have increased, buses have become more unreliable (and) pedestrians have experienced more delays in crossing roads."

In a report, the Forum suggests measures for inclusion in the city's revised Local Transport Plan, including:

  • traffic lights to be adjusted so there is more time for pedestrians to cross the road
  • a crackdown on vehicles parking on pavements
  • encouraging more children to walk to school
  • better cycle lanes
  • a coordinated bus network and central bus exchange
  • more electric vans and cargo bikes for city centre deliveries.

The Forum says many measures introduced by the council during the first lockdown - including the footstreets extension and The Groves traffic restrictions - were welcome, but needed to offer more alternatives for disabled drivers.

Other schemes, such as the one-way system in Bishopthorpe Road, were poorly designed, it said. And even where schemes worked well, poor consultation sometimes 'generated antagonism'.

The Forum said the council should consult people early while alternatives were being considered rather than present changes as a done deal.

Prof Tony May, a leading member of the Citizens Transport Forum and the chair of York Civic Trust’s Transport Advisory Group, said: "(We are) proposing a new approach to public engagement, based on collaboration and consensus."

Members of the Transport Forum will meet with council representatives - including transport boss Andy D'Agorne - on January 15.

Welcoming the Forum's report, Cllr D'Agorne said: "The experience of lockdown has shown what it could be like to walk and cycle in York and to hear the birds in your neighbourhood."

Tony Clarke, City of York Council's head of transport, added: “We are grateful to York Citizens Transport Forum for its work exploring the opportunities presented by a refresh of York’s Local Transport Plan and for promoting the city-wide effort to become cleaner and greener. Details of how residents can be involved with the development of the LTP will be issued later in the year.

“As we look to address the challenges our city faces, it is important that we continue to prioritise accessibility, sustainability and accountability to residents as the city evolves. The Forum’s key strength is that it is completely independent of the Council and we value their input into this city wide conversation, which sits alongside our Our Big Conversation and other resident consultations discussing the future use of the city and its infrastructure.

“I look forward to meeting with representatives from the Civic Trust, next week and continuing to work together with them to improve the city. ”

Read the report here.

Don't miss tomorrow's Press for a more detailed look at the Forum's suggestions.