The issues

Market towns are increasingly choked by motor traffic. Photo:  Ian Britton

Increasing traffic
Motor traffic is increasing more on rural roads than any other type of road, more even than on motorways. It has grown by 17% since 2001, compared to 5% on all roads (source: DfT annual traffic figures 2008).
> Increases in motor traffic levels – 1993 – 2007 (578K PDF)

Increasing danger on the roads
Almost two-thirds of all road deaths are on rural roads and the proportion has been increasing (source: DfT Road Safety Strategy Consultation 2009). However, these figures only represent the tip of the iceberg of the safety problem as many people are too scared to walk, cycle or ride horses on rural roads as the combination of high speeds and lack of footways or safe crossings make them intimidating. Our Rural Traffic Fear Survey highlights the scale of the problem.
> Rural Traffic Fear Survey (83K PDF)

Public transport services being cut
Many bus services are being cut back as the Rural Bus Services Grant is not keeping up with rising costs of running services, particularly following the impact of the introduction of concessionary fares.
> The Rural Thoroughbred: Buses in the countryside (summary) (97K PDF)

High cost of car dependency
Transport poverty – where a household spends more than 10% on getting around – is  highest in rural areas due to the lack of alternatives to owning a car.

Limited access to a car even with high car ownership
Although only 18% of households in rural areas do not own a car, our research has shown that at any time as many as 50% of people in all households in rural areas do not have access to a car, for example where the main earner has used it to get to work.

We’re losing our local shops and services
Local shops, post offices, hospitals, pubs, schools and other vital facilities are being shut at an ever increasing rate as catchment areas increase. This reduction in accessibility is the other side of the coin of lack of transport choice.