Transport, social exclusion and young people in rural England

Social exclusion is high on the UK Government's agenda, and over recent years there has been an increased recognition that transport should be seen as a central issue in this debate. In particular, a range of evidence has pointed to the need for adequate transport in rural areas and drawn attention to the needs of young people. At the same time, there has been a growing acknowledgement that those who are 'socially excluded' should have a voice in decision making, as evidenced in the Local Government Acts 1999 and 2000 and in the Transport Act 2000. Against this background, this paper examines the experiences of young people in relation to transport provision, and also the extent to which they feel that they 'have a say' in local decision making. To do this, it draws on a research study involving in-depth interviews with over 200 people in a rural county, paying particular attention to those undertaken with young people. The paper concludes by highlighting the implications for both transport planning and government policy.