Letter: Local Councils Should Seize Opportunity Presented by Covid Crisis

Published on: 27 May, 2020
Updated on: 27 May, 2020

From Andrew Halliday

director of Safeguard Coaches

In response to: Emergency Investment Planned to Improve Cycling and Pedestrian Infrastructure

We at locally-based Safeguard Coaches support the concept of seizing the initiative to bring lasting good for Guildford from the terrible coronavirus pandemic. We will support any actions that prioritize the use of sustainable transport modes which includes buses, given that not everyone can cycle or walk.

Although caused by a terrible event we have all seen the benefits of reduced traffic on air and noise pollution and the simple ability to walk along or cross roads that are currently much quieter and perceived as less dangerous.

We urge Surrey and Guildford Councils to act quickly (initially using emergency powers and on a trial basis) before previous unsustainable habits return. Giving more priority to buses will help them to support the town’s economy, particularly retail, and allow them to be viable again as quickly as possible.

We suggest starting by transforming the entire length of North Street into a bus, cycle, pedestrian thoroughfare, with all other traffic restricted to access only. This will improve air quality, connectivity and make the retail experience much better.

Ambitious? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely.

Responses to Letter: Local Councils Should Seize Opportunity Presented by Covid Crisis

Jim Allen Reply

May 27, 2020 at 5:50 pm

I totally agree that it is time to change. Perhaps the first thing to do is to ask the residents of Guildford, all of them – not just some, when and where they want to travel to and from and at what times. Then they can replan the bus routes to meet these needs. There is no point in simply putting busses into the current system when they don’t go to where the “potential” passengers want to go.
Kathleen Parrish Reply

May 28, 2020 at 9:06 pm

A bus shelter would be ideal as it’s not much fun waiting for buses with rain pouring down. Yes, it would be ideal if a lot of the cars would disappear and along with it the planes that are parked in the deserts.

It is travel that brings people and, with some of them, diseases such as Covid-19.

I hope that the property developers go broke.