Blog: By Beth Morley, Human Insights Lead, Cenex

Living in Nottingham, I often need to remind myself just how unique the city’s public transport system is. Here, the expectation for reliable, accessible, and integrated transit isn’t just a hope, it’s a reality. My own experiences exemplify this: I didn’t learn to drive until my 30s because I didn’t need to. Nottingham’s comprehensive bus network, bolstered by features like colour-coded routes and group ride tickets, made it simple to navigate and cost-effective for family trips.

This city has long embraced the principles of sustainable mobility. Beyond buses, I’ve relied on car clubs for everything from weekend getaways to moving house. I find that being car-free has its ups and downs. Never having to worry about parking is a big positive, getting into the city centre is quick and easy on the bus and getting to drive a wide variety of new cars has its perks. However, it does require more planning and there are times when I have regretted my choices having the walk home after a long day, struggling with three small children on a busy bus or getting caught in the rain.

The biggest positive for me is that as my children get older, they are confident to take public transport around the city and can build independence doing so. Nottingham also launched its e-scooter trial in 2020, integrating it into its bus and tram networks, making travelling between different parts of the city easier than ever. Although Superpedestrian withdrew its service in late 2023. This month the city announced that the e-scooters are coming back, with Dott as the provider. It has been met by the usual fearful press, but the city’s response has been to calmly set out the measures that will be in place and explain the importance of e-scooters in developing sustainable travel.

In April 2023, Lime added e-bikes to Nottingham’s transport ecosystem, completing a true multimodal offering. As a resident and a professional in sustainable mobility, it’s exciting to see the city at the forefront of innovation in active and low-emission travel options. With recent commitments from the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Labour Party to invest in active travel and e-scooter schemes, the future of transport feels promising—not just here in Nottingham, but across the UK.

What makes Nottingham stand out, however, isn’t just its transit services. It’s the policy backbone that supports it. Introduced in 2012, the WPL charges businesses with more than ten parking spaces an annual fee, currently £428 per space. Employers can choose to absorb this cost or pass it on to employees. The funds raised have been transformative, with £90 million pounds worth of funding for public transport initiatives like the city’s tram expansion and the electric bus fleet, helping to make Nottingham one of the rare places outside London with a truly integrated public transport system. The levy is attributed to helping cut congestion growth by 47% while saving 7,840 tonnes of CO2 emissions. This has contributed to a 33% reduction in carbon emissions in Nottingham since 2005.

Mass transit remains the best way to move people efficiently and sustainably within cities. Without the WPL, much of Nottingham’s success in achieving a ‘London-level bus service’—as highlighted in a recent Government announcement—simply wouldn’t have been possible. It’s a bold policy that other cities could learn from, showing how local taxation, when implemented effectively, can drive real change in public transport and urban sustainability.

The DfT is currently consulting on a national integrated transport strategy, intending to improve transport access for all and develop transport systems that work for users. To me, this means taking a holistic approach that considers the entire system. It involves regulating and creating policies that prioritise, invest in, and promote sustainable travel. Additionally, it requires the development of infrastructure that supports walking and cycling, addressing the imbalance in our cities by reducing reliance on private vehicles and creating more equitable public spaces. It means clear messaging that supports sustainable travel options, this can be from government (national and local) and our media. All these elements can help us as individuals to access the transport options we need and make it easier to choose the sustainable choice more often.

Learn more about our work in shared mobility: IUK East Lothian Bus Shelter – Cenex