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This think-piece challenges the car dependency prevalent in rural areas. It considers the policy background, including recent changes to policy delivery in rural areas, and the broad role of both sustainable transport measures and accessibility planning in improving the efficiency and sustainability of rural communities.

A variety of public transport solutions is explored together with the role that Smarter Choices can play in changing travel behaviour. The paper includes a review of good practice examples of partnership working leading to sustainable rural transport solutions, with evidence drawn from both the literature and discussions with practitioners. The variety of schemes highlighted include: flexibly routed bus services, car clubs, community transport schemes, and, school and employer travel plans.

The paper concludes that, for those without a car or members of households without access to the car, there is the potential for worsening isolation and social exclusion. In addition the paper posits that accessibility partnerships are a positive way of enabling improved rural accessibility, providing they are delivered in an effective way.

Features that help to make up a successful partnership are highlighted alongside barriers that can hinder their development and implementation. Finally, attention is drawn to inadequate joint working across service delivery agents, poor engagement with communities and lack of funding, as key barriers in the achievement of sustainable rural accessibility.

This is one of 5 new thinkpieces on transport in rural areas. The other thinkpieces are:

• The implications of technological change for rural transport

• Rural life without carbon

• The potential impacts of road pricing on rural areas

• The contribution of transport to sustainable rural communities