The challenge for balancing mobility in Ebbsfleet lies in supporting current residents who do not have a convenient alternative to their cars, while simultaneously putting in place the public transport, walking and cycling facilities to provide a choice of travel options for local journeys in the future.
Private car use remains the predominant mode for many people today, especially in the peak periods when commuting and education related trips are to the fore, as virtually none of the sustainable travel network or services are in place. For new residents, the local roads are relatively uncongested, and alternatives to the car are either basic, inaccessible, inconvenient or perceived as relatively expensive.
This convenience of the car is furthered by the generous levels of on-plot parking that have been provided within the first phases of new neighbourhoods. However this period of convenient car travel is likely to become increasingly frustrated as the city grows, and more cars start to use the local road network.
Interestingly, the travel trends already reviewed in this section suggest that car ownership and usage models are likely to change significantly. This appears to be already happening in Ebbsfleet, where the demand for parking is significantly lower than planned, and lower than comparable local developments.
While these car ownership levels may rise as families mature in the new villages, and older children start to travel independently, the recent data suggests that 18-25 year olds are much less likely than previous generations to travel or own a car at this stage in their lives, and thus current car ownership levels may not rise as was once common in new developments. When this lower level of car ownership is combined with the planned provision of alternative transport systems set-out in the vision (see Vision), this would suggest that Ebbsfleet is already at peak car ownership.
Key recommendations
To balance mobility so that everybody has a choice of travel options for local journeys we should be positively planning and delivering for the scenarios that we want to see, and not for the ones we fear. This means making positive provision for sustainable and resilient modes, and not providing for the continuation of undesirable behaviours.
While private cars are likely to continue to provide a valuable travel option, particularly for certain users and journeys, for many the costs associated with long commuting distances, the harm to the environment, and the impact upon our well-being will mean alternative modes will become more attractive providing they are accessible and convenient.
Use the Ebbsfleet Parking Demand Survey figures (see section 3 ) as a benchmark parking ratio to be used in planning fro parking across future development in Ebbsfleet.
Consider using a resilient approach to the way that parking is provided is likely to be appropriate. The ability to plan parking provision in such a way that it could be re-purposed if not required in the future makes sense. The provision of “on-plot” dedicated spaces, house by house, does not allow for this land to be re-used for something that may be more beneficial, instead these driveways are tarmacked over, and likely to remain so in perpetuity.