Practice what you preach
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ichard Barnett's "Sound Off" (CM n.24-30 July) rightly raises the question of what makes an integrated transport policy, but goes sadly off course in its search for scapegoats.
He thinks grants should be available for bus operators to buy new vehicles (well, coming from the SMMT he would, wouldn't he?) but settles for: "Bus companies should be encouraged to tender for more routes" as a solution.
He seems blissfully unaware that, outside London, the industry is deregulated and 85-90% is totally commer cial, so nobody tenders for anything. Another case of London fixation?
The freight industry seems happy with its view that it's all the fault of the cars and if we could only get the car users into public transport there would be plenty of space for the trucks. Funnily enough, I have yet to hear of any freight manager giving up his essential company car to achieve this. Can I suggest a Commercial Motor Award for the first authenticated case of this happening?
David Holding University of Northumbria at Newcastld