How will we get around in 2025? What means of travel will be open to us if we are using half as much oil as now?

By 2025 our need to travel will be substantially reduced. Working locally will be the norm with a range of workspace and office accommodation being available to locally owned enterprises employing local people with the wide ranging practical skills required in a re-localised economy. This will free up a large amount of the time that people currently spend commuting. Everyday necessities will be produced and available locally and a wide range of local entertainment and recreation opportunities will make much travel unnecessary.

Streets and neighbourhoods will have been redesigned to make walking and cycling the preferred option for short journeys so that streets become spaces for social interaction and children’s play while bringing further benefits in health and wellbeing.  Public transport will be efficient and reliable with buses for local journeys integrating with train and coach services for travel further afield.  Buses will be equipped to easily carry bikes, buggies and wheelchairs.  A community owned and run minibus service will be much more responsive to local needs especially for rural areas.

Car clubs will give access to a car or van when necessary without the need for private ownership. Electric vehicles, charged from renewably generated electricity, will be increasingly common.  ‘Tripshare’ type car sharing schemes will be popular to ensure that cars are mostly full and costs shared.

There is likely to be a revival of interest in sail assisted sea freight with a renaissance for Dunbar Harbour as a trading hub.

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