How 'transport poverty' is affecting Bradford's car ownership levels

New data has put the spotlight on the huge gap between levels of car ownership in different parts of the district amid the cost of living crisis and expensive insurance costs.  

Less than half of households living in several areas of Bradford have access to a car, according to the latest Census results – compared to 90.1 per cent in a more rural area.

The figures show central Bradford is facing the lowest level of car ownership with just 34.4 per cent having access to a car – followed by Barkerend West and Little Germany (47.6 per cent) and Holme Wood (47.9 per cent).

In Broomfields and East Bowling, 48.6 per cent of households have access to a car, while the figure is 52.5 per cent in Holme Top.

View over Bradford by the T&A Camera Club's William D Oliver (Image: William D Oliver)

But the number of car-owning households rises by a significant amount in rural and typically more affluent areas – such as Menston and Burley Moor at 90.1 per cent.

That is followed by Riddlesden and East Morton at 88.3 per cent; Baildon North at 87.4 per cent; Steeton & Silsden Rural at 86.8 per cent and Crossflatts and Eldwick at 86.7 per cent.

Cllr Matt Edwards, leader of the Green Group on Bradford Council, said: “This data shows there is a big variation of car ownership across Bradford. In parts of our district fewer than half the households have access to a car as a means of getting around. If we want to make sure everyone benefits from investment in transport, important that we invest in public transport and alternative methods of travel like walking and cycling.

“We are seeing bus services being lost - even in places where people rely on the bus to get around. In Holme Wood, less than half of households have access to a car but we have seen a reduction in services along Tong Street in recent years - most recently when First Bus withdrew their 256 services.

“Bradford Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority need to rethink their approach to transport planning and focus on public transport and building networks of safe, segregated cycle routes to make cycling a genuine option. This will help reduce congestion.”

• Read more: See all the new cycle lanes being built for Bradford's 'green' future

Cllr Rizwana Jamil (Labour, Bowling and Barkerend) said many people living in her ward simply cannot afford a car's running costs. 

“The biggest issue from what people say is the cost of insurance,” Cllr Jamil said.

“We’re going through a massive cost of living crisis so it’s all about food and heating at the moment. The cost of fuel, like the cost of insurance, is a really big factor.

“You’re looking at possibly £100 a month to insure a car especially for young drivers. That’s just not affordable.

“We’ve got areas in Bradford which have very high levels of deprivation and poverty so those households especially in areas like my ward are just surviving at the moment. Surviving I wouldn’t say, some people are struggling to meet their financial obligations. The cost of food is still going up. People are choosing whether to eat or heat their homes.”

But it isn’t all about wealth, it's about investment in public transport. 

It's something that cycle industry campaign group Bike Is Best call “transport poverty”.

Cllr Edwards (Green Party, Tong) said: “It’s not necessarily linked to wealth. Places like Silsden, Steeton and Addingham, because of the public transport, people are under more pressure for car ownership.”

Councillor Caroline Whitaker, a Green Party councillor for Craven Ward which includes Addingham, Steeton and Sildsen, said: “Car ownership is so expensive and I know many people are looking at ways to cut down their bills. The costs associated with owning and running a car are such a big percentage of people's incomes now - especially for those on lower incomes.

“It is no surprise that car ownership in the North of the District is as high as it is when there are so few options for people to get around - even in places like Addingham, Steeton and Silsden the bus service is only hourly in the evenings and on Sundays and you can only get to a limited number of destinations.

“Now more than ever, we need to make sure that we all have access to affordable, frequent public transport and safer ways to get around on foot or by bike.”       

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