The UK has some of the worst public transport of Europe’s “more economically developed countries” after decades of austerity and lack of investment into public services. But which local councils would you say have made the most out of what they have had to work with in developing a transport network that is effective for people to get to work, school and social events? What would you say makes each of them so effective and how did they achieve these things? I have excluded London as the UK (in my opinion) has a problem with pretending like London is the only place worth investing in when it comes to public transport.
I ask this question so that we can reflect on how places can make the average citizen’s life easier for getting about whilst on a budget. Even though the UK is in dire straights at the moment, it might be worth looking to the towns and cities that make the most out of what they’re given to understand how to develop good public transport (which will inevitably develop those micro-economies)
Thanks.
I’m not going to rank it, but I am going to discuss two reasons why I think London beats other UK cities.
First is obviously that the city is the political and economic capital of the UK.
Second is the creation of the Greater London Authority and giving it transport as a responsibility. Having elected officials directly responsible for mass transit has made policies like tolling the CBD and projects like the Overground possible.