I would like to ask you about pretty basic matters, regardless of getting a healthier planet - see below. Questions over the straight competence of your officers that advise you; let alone green competence! I believe, basic competence is a serious issue at 16 Summer Lane, quite regardless of climate change and resource depletion.
Do you realise that, because of Metro trams still being given top priority over, even, reinstating trains on railway lines, you have delivered a slower, longer and worse public transport journey? And, this, for eleven bus routes that for many years sped us on our way into the city centre via the Five Ways underpass and Broad Street? Now, all those buses are pushed out to queue on the Five Ways roundabout, on a diversion via the Arena on narrow roads with many parked cars to add to the mayhem!
Or, shortly, we could instead, get off the bus opposite 54 Hagley Road, cross the road and wait up to 15 minutes for the tram to take us through the underpass and along Broad Street. This change and delay makes thing worse, discourages car drivers from using buses and, is totally unacceptable, in my opinion.
I do think some issues are so obviously unhelpful (pointless, grossly extravagant, climate-wrecking HS2, Metro, Sprint) and should not be pursued, while others are very advisable. I would suggest, spending only on projects immediately, that will do the most to cut deadly greenhouse gas emissions; and not duplicating or replacing buses and trains with greedy, wealth flaunting, vanity projects to impress visitors but that take and burn the most finite fossil fuels to worsen our prospects. Unfortunately, these glitz and glam projects are the very ones that excite us most and that all of us, politicians and people, simply adore! I love trams and brand new, flash, everything! But, we have to show some restraint in the light of the Climate, Ecological, Nature emergency. Hence:
ACTION - my suggestions to reduce catastrophe in transport (not just climate catastrophe):
Minimise finite fossil fuel use as much as possible.
To get competence, let alone low climate impact from transport - stop destroying railway lines. For urban railways, can their commuter trains be returned; can the railway lines no longer be built on; or, if not for trains, can they be used as cycle-walkways?
Stop converting railway lines and bus routes into tramways for "bus on rails" trams.
Use electric buses going directly on roads, without the railway tracks.
Use the money saved from abandoning tram extensions into Fare-Free Public Transport (FFPT) for all and not just old people like me that I have enjoyed for 13 years!
Move from multi-modal transport that is multi-mixed up transport with more changes and delays, into sticking with making buses more sought after. That means FFPT and electric buses on bus priority roads.
FFPT is essential to compensate for a slightly higher risk from Covid transmission when using public transport.
FFPT is essential to cut greenhouse gases, congestion and polluted air in cities.
FFPT is a reward for leaving the car at home.
Upgrade the major, strategic, 22 Kms Black Country Cycle-Walk Mudway so it can be used by everyone who goes human-powered and not fossil fuel-powered, including horse riders.
Oppose HS2 extensions and scrap Metro and Sprint to concentrate on the basics - the buses, our local 106 Kms of mothballed or freight-only railway lines and, cycle-walkways for commuting, business and leisure use that are not waterlogged and muddy.
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