Car ownership in the UK must end.

Transport Minister Trudy Harrison MP is calling for a rethink on the way we view personal transport. The environmental damage caused, even through the adoption of electric vehicles, cannot be justified. “Norms” must change if we wish to stop global warming and pollution.

A new age

The UK must move away from “20th century thinking centred around private vehicle ownership”. Instead, we have to move towards greater shared mobility, according to the Minister .

Harrison said that shared mobility must become “the norm” as she outlined support for a future transport system.  She claims it will actually introduce “greater flexibility, with personal choice and low carbon shared transport”.

Discussing the future

Her comments came when she addressed The Collaborative Mobility Conference (CoMoUK). The Transport Minister says it is “staggering” that nearly two-thirds of car trips are taken by lone drivers. She described the UK as being at a “tipping point”. This change means shared mobility will soon be a “realistic option for many of us to get around”.

It comes as many industry analysts speculate whether OEMs will ever return to the highs of pre-COVID new car registrations. A new vision of transport was shared with delegates at the conference. It envisages “mobility hubs” becoming “a familiar part of our street architecture, and where all these options will be available to book and pay for at the touch of a smartphone”.

View the Transport Minister’s keynote speech from CoMOUK here:

Speaking at CoMoUK, Harrison said: “The challenge is to move further and faster to make shared mobility less of a novelty and increasing the norm”. It is essential that it is made as “easy, as convenient and as accessible as possible”.

Harrison talked of reaching a “tipping point where shared mobility in the form of car clubs, scooters and bike shares will soon be a realistic option for many of us”.

The idea is ‘mobility hubs’  on many of our streets, as common as bus stops. Here you would be able to to book and pay for chosen transport options at the touch of a smartphone.

“I think the benefits are really significant”.

Sharing the future

Richard Dilks, chief executive of CoMoUK, said: “The Minister’s comments were very welcome and demonstrate that shared transport is firmly on the government’s agenda.

“Shared transport is the key to a more sustainable future for the UK, enabling people to use transport without the need to own it – shifting to resources such as car clubs, bike share, shared rides and demand responsive transport – with a lower impact on the environment and transport infrastructure.

“By encouraging people to use public and active travel modes more, governments can help reduce the demand for privately owned cars and achieve the country’s net zero strategy.”