TRANSPORT LIP2 RESPONSE TO RBK 2011

Policy PT1

We question whether the word "commuters" should have been omitted from the policy

We draw attention to the Plan's references to poor public transport in Coombe and note the increasing and unhelpful privatisation of roads and estates in that area. A universal public transport service under financial pressure, must prioritise where it is most needed, it is most needed in high density housing areas and we trust the Council will rank its demands on TFL funding according to such priorities. We also again remind the Council of the need in this area to work with Merton as there are bus routes pertinent to this which do not appear to be identified as "work in progress" in the strategy. There are bus routes linking Coombe to Merton which run through to Raynes Park an area where regeneration is overdue.... it is a mistake to always consider Kingston and Surbiton as the main train services here, work on journey comparisons and planning, as suggested above may open up neglected opportunities.

Kingston FOE are in receipt of information from RBK regarding how bus waiting times are identified. We understand that the IBUS system is an automated system on board the buses. This explains many of the concerns that are arising as a result of overcrowding and an apparent lack action over severely overcrowded buses that occurs at various times, and leads to waiting times at bus stops that exceed the quoted statistics in the

There are three areas of concern with regard to overcrowding we would draw attention to as requiring urgent attention:-

1. We have encountered distressing situations on early morning cross border buses in the TW direction, and have been told of real problems experienced by commuters from that direction into Kingston. The situation has been so bad (journeys made over a year ago) that drivers allow buses to be over filled to the extent that they are breaching their own rules. This places passengers and drivers at risk. The IBUS system seems a wholly inappropriate system for montoring capacity, and we are aware that drivers are in a difficult position with regard to registering complaints. We hope that studies of what actually happens at bus stops and on buses will be conducted, not by the Bus companies, but by independent consumer orientated bodies.

2. The increased use of bus services within and cross border by school children. There is an additional aggravation for bus drivers where incorrect passes are used, this has been evident on the Kingston/Elmbridge route. Bus drivers again show a lack of confidence in registering issues at the garage.

3. The peak shopping times pre Christmas and possibly in the sales, This issue represents a major concern with regard to the elderly and frail particularly in bad weather. During the freezing winter weather of 2010/2011 the frail and elderly were left standing for unacceptable periods of time at bus queues whilst overcrowded buses (65) drove past bus stops in the Richmond Road.

No policies are provided as to the improvement of journey planning and interchange information with the rail network. We therefore propose the following at a starting point.

For transport integration to work, the user (the traveller) needs to know what the options are and how they work together. This is why TFL's Journey Planner is so very useful, it provides practical information of where to go and where to connect for long journeys, the only frustrating element is the initial steps, which may tend to be too obvious and if printing off the enquirer may end up with reams of unnecessary advice....another reason for more local enabling infrastructure for wider utilisation. Are such minor issues relevant to a strategic planning document.... yes of course they are, because helping the traveller to navigate journeys without the use of the motor car is essential if public transport is to be seen as a viable and trustworthy alternative.

RBK has a wasted opportunity for travel awareness and journey planning assistance for travellers at the mainline Surbiton Station. We draw attention to the current wasted space at Surbiton Station. Whilst the station may not be owned by the borough, we assume that initiatives aimed at improving support for the rail structure as opposed to cafe bars (as seen at Kingston Rail station) are likely to be taken seriously by the owners of this station infrastructure.

Whilst the Help points on platforms is greatly appreciated, this is mostly of use for the traveller already on a journey, not for the traveller wishing to compare routes and options available.

There are currently a host of internet options available for those of us trying to work out new routes, however, these come with problems, not least overly aggressive marketing from Alot and Crawler toolbars which threaten to take over our PC home pages. TFL's journey planner is highly useful once it is accessed. Lack of Access to TFL's Journey Planner is an issue in itself which runs against inclusive policies and requires a fairer distribution via transport hubs in public transport venues. The TFL journey planner suffers from a lack of local knowledge.... infact typing in Cromwell Road Bus Station recently failed to supply a starting point! Most travellers simply are not prepared to spend the time investigating routes, and those already partly through their journey cannot rely on finding an appropriate answer easily. Please note these issues should be read in conjunction with travel information suggestions regarding the bus network.

It is clear that TFL's Journey Planner is the best building block for evolving IT Travel Information in the future for journey planning in London, it simply needs support at a local level so that it may improve and be extended to a wider network by perimeter boroughs with transport issues extending beyond Greater London. It also needs to be more accessible, to provide greater take up, lack of accessibility and knowledge of such resources needs to be addressed. Transport planners cannot afford to waste such useful resources. Relevant support which can only really be sustainable if networked with public transport users. A local transport planner hub at Surbiton station with input from subscribed travellers seems an appropriate way to provide useful travel knowledge where it can be utilised. Kingston E's transport team are happy to join any forum on this matter. Core infrastructure at Surbiton could allow for networking of interchanges throughout Kingston and beyond. This is a new vision complimenting labour intensive travel advice that has never provided a comparison and overview of longer journeys.. The lack of easy sustainable travel planning remains a key barrier to delivering effective and inclusive sustainable transport which now has to compete with the Sat Nav addicted motorist - we live in a changing world and public transport cannot stand still it must change to keep up.

Countdown is not only an information system, it is a reassurance that something is happening. It does not however address overcrowding issues, which perhaps it could do, and this is something that should be looked at with regard to infrequent services, or Bus shelters near public transport alternatives. As an example, it would have been useful last winter, to have been provided with information about the overcrowding on the bus 65 route at stops around Kingston Rail station, such information would have provided indications as to whether to switch to rail to avoid lengthy waiting in freezing conditions.

This is something we suspect RBK has not considered sufficiently. Bus shelters in the borough currently are provided with the TFL map which shows bus routes in a London tube style map (we cannot think of the terminology for this style - apologies). This style depicting bus routes is not therefore shown as a road based map, the only reference to local roads being a tiny insert. The result of this is that looking at the map or the grid does not reveal how to walk to an appropriate bus stop for those looking for alternative bus options. Neither does this show how to get to alternative public transport such as rail stations...... in other words the intergrated transport system that RBK says it wants in this policy, breaks down at all bus stops throughout the borough. The TFL mapping on its own simply does

Strategic Routes

We express concern that as well as the A3, the parallel network of minor roads running along the A3 may also be excluded. The strategic network does not cover all routes, and there are many essential cycle trips running along the side of the A3 that need supporting and could be improved. There is a particularly bad piece of pathway approaching New Malden from Tolworth.