In Northern Ireland, cars are used for over 80% of journeys, and Belfast is one of the most congested cities in the UK. This leads to public health issues as people walk and cycle less, air quality worsens, and the risk of road traffic collisions increases. It is therefore of growing importance that we look for solutions to help reduce reliance on cars.

The research team looking at this issue is led by Professor Ruth Hunter alongside Dr Leandro Garcia from the Centre for Public Health at Queen’s University. The team includes Queen’s researchers from a range of disciplines including public health, systems science, urban planning, urban policy, economics, climate change and social psychology.

The team’s recent report found that where positive policies such as the Regional Transport Strategy; modal investment, such as the Glider, Urby, Belfast Bikes; and area-based initiatives such as Belfast on the Move are in place, clear outcomes on car reduction can and have been achieved. For example, Translink passenger numbers increased by 5.8m between 2016-2019, to 84.5m per annum (the highest per annum in 20 years) and 4.8m car journeys have been removed since 2016.

Speaking on the importance of the research, Professor Ruth Hunter, Professor of Public Health and Planetary Health from the Centre for Public Health at Queen’s University and project lead on the research, said: “We are very grateful to the funders, the MRC, our partners and the participants who supported this research. Our findings have important implications in terms of how we begin to support the transition to use our cars less to support better health, society, the economy and the environment, for all.”

Professor Brendan Murtagh, Professor of Urban Planning from the School of Natural and Built Environment at Queen’s University, commented: “We need to fund public transport in a fair and equitable way so that it gets the same support as other places in Britain and Ireland. The evidence shows that investment in public transport creates wealth, strengthens the economy and builds social inclusion.”

Working with Involve NI, the team recently convened a citizen’s jury in Belfast with the aim of learning more about the issue and develop potential solutions for reducing car dependency in Belfast. Among the recommendations from the citizen’s jury report, includes a properly resourced public transport network; fast track planning decisions to support long-term and accessible city centre housing; building a network of cycle access and dedicated cycle lanes; and educate the public about the importance of reducing car usage to support behaviour change.

Rebekah McCabe, Head of Northern Ireland, Involve, said: “Citizens’ juries are a great way to bring members of the public together to explore issues that are complex, controversial, or contentious, and develop solutions that respond to public need. There are many potential solutions to car dependency, but the ones that will be most effective are those that the public gets behind. We hope that policy makers listen to the citizens’ jury’s recommendations and continue to involve the public as they implement solutions to car dependency in Belfast.”

Professor John Barry, Co-Chair of the Belfast Climate Commission, added: “It is often said that ‘the answers are in the room’, meaning that solutions to problems can be found by listening to ordinary citizens and giving them the space, support and time to understand an issue out to them and devise ways of either coping or overcoming them. This report is a great example of this in practice and how ‘people power’ can be understood in a different way. When people are empowered and come together collectively to debate issues they can come up with solutions.”

The research team was supported by partners including the Department of Finance Innovation Lab, Department of Health, Department for Infrastructure, Belfast Healthy Cities, Belfast City Council, Translink, Public Health Agency and Sustrans.

The researchers recently hosted a webinar where findings from both reports were discussed as well as recommendations on possible interventions and policy approaches.

Further information about the project can be found here.

Media

Media inquiries to Sian Devlin at s.devlin@qub.ac.uk