Shopping is the most frequent reason for travel in the UK. The RAC Foundation conducted a study to investigate the effect of shopping on transport policy and vice versa. The key recommendations arising from the study werethat a long-term vision is essential for a town's vitality, that cars can't be wished away and must be planned for, that parking is a service and not a source of revenue and should be used creatively, and that planning needs to reflect the reality of how people live. It was recommended that each housing estate should have good public transport links to one supermarket. The study found conflict between the objectives of town centre managerslooking for commercial regeneration and traffic/transport planners focused on transport solutions. Congestion and lack of parking are a deterrent to shoppers. Congestion charging could deter people shopping in a charged zone. The report found that despite the increase in e-shopping, transport access to shops will remain important for the foreseeable future and shouldbe planned for by local and national government.
Samenvatting