The Croydon Tramlink has benefited businesses and employment in the local area For my coursework I will be looking at the above Hypothesis. I must decide if I agre

* Not agree or disagree

* Disagree

* "The Tramlink has reduced traffic congestion"

* "The Tramlink means that I now shop in different areas"

* "I prefer using the Tramlink to other forms of public transport."

* "The Tramlink means that I can use the car less often."

* "Local business have benefited from Tramlink"

* "This is much better now than it was before the Tramlink"

Open Question

* What so you think are the best and worst effects of the Tramlink?

* Which groups of people have benefited the most and the least by the Tramlink?

Question 4: "the Tramlink means that I now shop in different areas" -->

We asked as many people as possible of different ages and genders to see what they thought about the Tramlink. The people we asked were friendly and helpful.

We then got back on the tram and continued with our land use survey. Our next stop was east Croydon. While here we visited the Tramlink shop to collect some secondary data. We also asked some more people our questionnaire and carried out another shopping survey.

When we completed the final part of the journey to New Addington. Again we carried out the land use survey. When we arrived in New Addington we completed our last shopping survey and completed our questionnaire. We found time to have our lunch. We then got on the tram and returned to Wimbledon station where we were dismissed.

Along with this primary data we were able to look at information booklets, videos, research through the internet. We were also very fortunate to have a representative from Tramlink to come and talk to us- Mr Stephens.

Key Questions

Having visited the local area affected by the Tramlink and after examining a range of secondary evidence. I am now able to start looking at the Hypothesis. To help me break the Hypothesis down I will be looking at the following key questions.

. INTRODUCTION

In recent years there has been a increase in traffic in urban areas

. What are the causes of traffic in urban area?

* Greater wealth has increased car ownership and families have two cars.

* More people commuting to work or travelling to city centres for shopping or entertainment.

* Reduction of public transport at the expense of cars.

* More vans and lorries delivering goods to city locations.

2.This has had an the effect on employment and business of increasing traffic in urban areas.

* People can't travel from one side of the city to the other-it takes too long.

* Impacts on employment quality of life and they may not be as productive in the work place.

* Employees can be late or delayed in traffic.

* Traffic congestion can cause stress and depression.

3. People have started to think of different solutions.

* Building bypasses to divert traffic away from the centre and expressway to improve access to the centre.

* Congestion charge.

* Restriction parking and increasing charges.

* Encouraging motorists to leave their cars in the suburbs-park and ride schemes.

Advantages and disadvantages

Question 5: "I prefer using the Tramlink to other forms of public transport"

Advantages

Disadvantages

***********************************BUS

BUS***********************************

Bus lanes can mean buses are faster then cars.

Buses are unpredictable- inefficient often late.

Good for short journeys as there are a lot of stops.

Can be crowded.

Flexible-lots of routes.

Buses can get stuck in traffic.

Buses often run 24 hours.

Business people that need to travel long distances would not take the bus.

*********************************Trains

Trains*********************************

Fast.

Delays.

More space.

Noisy and polluted.

Trains more reliable.

Not may train stops- so may need to commute to stations.

Excellent for long distances.

Difficult for elderly people, families and disabled.

********************************Walking

Walking********************************

Healthy.

Takes a long time.

Free.

Not suitable for the elderly or disabled.

No pollution.

Difficult when you have a lot to carry.

***********************************Cars

Cars***********************************

Efficient and fast-no waiting.

Expensive.

Good for carrying bulky items.

Pollution.

Good for families

Traffic jams.

*********************************Trams

Trams*********************************

Easy access for elderly and disabled.

Can beak down.

Frequent and efficient

Only limited routes.

Cheap.

Can be crowded.

Quit and little pollution.

Fast-no traffic jams.

Chapter 1 -The Croydon Tramlink

In this chapter I will look at the following questions:

. How has the Tramlink improved transport services provision?

2.what are the practical advantages and disadvantages of the Tramlink?

3.what jobs have been directly created by Tramlink?

A proposal was put forward to bring a tram system to Croydon and surrounding areas. It was thought that the Tramlink could:

*Provide a time efficient transport system

*Gain trust from the public that the tram is a reliable mode of transport

*Be environmentally safe

*Provide transport for local businesses around the tram stops

*Money "friendly" costing

Question 1 : How has the Tramlink improved transport services provision?

You could say that over time the service has gained trust with the public as it's done the following as said in the proposal.

Traditional there is no way to get from West-->East South London. Only by bus or car which results to causing traffic congestion.

The tram opened up another way to avoid traffic congestion.

Question 2 : what are the practical advantages and disadvantages of the Tramlink?

The table above shows that I have identified advantages and disadvantages of different types of transport.

Since it's opening in May 2000 the Tramlink has many advantages to it ,as as they have:

· Level boarding for wheelchairs and buggies.

· Passenger lifts at Wimbledon Station.

· Tactile strip lighting to help blind and partially sighted people.

· Disabled, elderly, parent & baby seating and space for wheelchairs and buggies.

· Intercom button allows passengers to talk direct to the driver.

· Stop request and opening buttons at an easily accessible height.

· Drivers always announce the next stop to make sure you don't miss yours.

· Run by electric, friendly to the environment.

But only few disadvantages such as:

· To get to the destinations required, (tram stop to tram stop) tram lines had to be laid in various places where trees had to be cut down.

· Takes a lot of money and time to build new routes for the tram.

One of the Solutions was to take other forms of transport such as bicycles, walking, train, underground and cars.

Question 3 : What jobs have been directly created by Tramlink?

The Tramlink itself provides many job but there are types of employment which have been provided or have been improved (directly and indirectly) by the Tramlink are jobs like building the network the trams before the tram was running.

Workers such as Mr Stephens, a traffic control officer for the Tramlink, and found that lot of people have gained employment because of the Tramlink such as jobs in driving, cleaning and inspecting the trams.

As well as those who benefited indirectly, the staff working on the trams to keep it running smoothly. The groups of people who have benefited form this in directly are those in the local area who have a direct link to their work.

Shopping and other services have also been improved by the increasingly amount of business they are retrieving.

With customers travelling to larger shopping areas, due to the Tramlink and its easier efficiency, shoppers are now getting the competitive prices that shops are offering.

South west London is well served by public transport and there is also many car users. Each type of transport has advantages and disadvantages.

Several of the questions used in the questionnaires where designed to test the views of local people on how efficient and effective a tram service was compared with other forms of transport.

Chapter 2 : Local Employment

I saw lots of different types of employment in my journey. The land use survey showed a variety of job opportunities that included retail ( shop work ), offices and light industrial work.

In this chapter I will look at the following questions:

. What types of employment are provided or have been improved indirectly

2. What type of groups have been benefited?

Question 8: "This area is much better now than it was before the Tramlink"

Question 1 : What types of employment are provided or have been improved indirectly?

Many of the shops around the following area of the Tramlink have received a positive effect since the opening of the tramline as it has enabled many shoppers to reach areas that are out of bounds for them usually.

Question 2: What type of groups have been benefited?

Many shops and businesses have benefited , shops have bought in more customers and businesses have more employees/staff as it would enable more ranges of people to come in from other places using the Tramlink.

Chapter 3

In this chapter I will look at the following questions:

. In what ways has the pattern of shopping changed?

2. Is there a hierarchy of shopping centres along the route?

3.Have high order shops benefited more than a low order centres?

Question 1: In what ways has the pattern of shopping changed?

The shopping patterns of tram users is growing as the trams route runs through many shopping centres and recreational centres. They draw in tram users with the nearness of tram stops to shopping areas.

Question 2: Is there a hierarchy of shopping centres along the route?

At the start of the route there is Wimbledon's centre court shopping centre, Half way through the journey there is a business park and upon arrival at Croydon there is the Alder's shopping centre.

Question 3: Have high order shops benefited more than a low order centres?

Yes as they serve to all ranges of age ranges and consumer groups. Croydon is one of the highest order shopping centres that fit this build in criteria.

Conclusion

"The Croydon Tramlink has benefited businesses and employment in The local area"

In conclusion, my views on the hypothesis is that it is true. For the reasons of helping different groups of people. It is cheap so both wealthy and poor can afford it.

It runs on time so both school goers and working people can arrive at the destinations on time thanks to the time accuracy of the trams. It is easy access to both disable and able bodied people and helpful too as your destination is told to you step by step during the route.

It provides jobs both directly and indirectly to many people from driving the trams to cleaning them up!

Theses are all the reasons that I feel my hypothesis is correct.