Ryedale transport ‘poverty’ revealed (From Gazette & Herald)
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Ryedale transport ‘poverty’ revealed
11:58am Wednesday 19th September 2012 in News
RYEDALE is one of two districts in North Yorkshire to be worst hit by “transport poverty”, a new report has claimed.
Transport charity Sustrans has warned increasing numbers of people in rural areas face being cut off from the rest of society because of rising fuel costs and poor access to bus services and other public transport.
Its findings said 32 per cent of Hambleton residents are at serious risk of being unable to access essential goods and services, while in Ryedale the figure is 31 per cent.
Sustrans’s research involved looking at how many people live more than a mile from a bus stop or railway station and would need to walk for more than an hour to shops and other services, in different parts of Yorkshire.
“Funding is being cut and that’s obviously having a huge effect, because there are not the bus and rail services available and that means people are forced into owning a car,” said a spokesman for the charity.
Sustrans is calling for more investment in public transport and safe walking and cycling routes so residents in rural areas have alternatives to car use.
