Special points of interest: Volume 1,Issue 1 • What’s Happening When? June 2002 • Who do I contact? • Good ideas from around the South West
Explore the Countryside without a Car!
Bristol City Council, in partner- ship with The Countryside Agency, times of buses and trains. First and the Forest of Avon, have The walks are graded from ‘Very Easy’ to produced two free packs of walks ‘Moderate to Hard’ to help people designed for people to explore the choose suitable walks. The guide also de- area around Bristol without using a notes whether the walks are accessible to car. wheelchairs, pushchairs and people with Groups who have historical and Lo- limited mobility. cal knowledge of the areas have pro- The walks are aimed to improve opportu- duced all of the walks. Information nities for people living within the city of on how to get to the walks by public Bristol to enjoy the surrounding country- transport has been provided and side without the need to own a car. people are encouraged to use the free new public transport telephone en- For a copy of the walks pack, please phone Bristol City Council on 0117 903 quiry line Traveline: 0870 608 2 6701. 608 to check on the availability and
Going Greener in Poole
The Borough of Poole is The Energy Savings Trust, holding an Alternative Fuels Vauxhall, British Gas, Hendy Inside this issue: and Vehicles Conference at Up- Lennox, Ford and E2V. Bodmin Bobbies 2 ton Country House on Tuesday It is anticipated that two hun- 11th June 2002. The objective dred delegates will attend on Dorset School’s Pack 2 of the event is to provide a the day and to-date the event venue for businesses to gain in- has attracted significant interest. Devon’s Best Bus Driver 2 formation on the benefits and practical applications for alter- For further information or an Cycling on Prescription 3 native fuel technology, Travel invitation, please contact Teresa Plans and other innovations. Brown, Travel Awareness Offi- Eden Park Schools Travel 3 cer on 01202 262043. At this stage, exhibitors include Car Sharing in Somerset 3 Calendar of Events 4 Newsletter TravelWise South West Page 2 SOUTH WEST TRAVELWISE NEWSLETTER
Bodmin Bobbies’ Battery Bikes
Community Policeman based at Bodmin less than 200 watts in the front wheel. New tech- are to commence trials on the use of nologies are offering novel solutions to our con- electric bikes. The trials have come about as a gestion and pollution problems and I am sure that result of the police’s collaboration with Cornwall these bikes have a part to play.” County Council’s Travel Awareness Team. Elec- Working with the Travel Awareness Team on a trically assisted bikes are being evaluated as part Safer Routes to School initiative Sergeant Phil of the County Council Travel Plan, with a view to Bullen was introduced to the benefits of the elec- using them at various sites across Cornwall in the tric bikes and immediately saw their potential for future. They can be used in place of a car for police work. short journeys and offer the benefits of producing virtually zero pollution and not adding to road congestion. Conventional bikes are fine in flat ar- eas but, for the average person, the hills of Corn- wall can be very off-putting. The electric bikes are suitable for return journeys of up to approximately 30 miles, although they can be pedalled if the battery runs down. They can travel at speeds of up to 15mph under power and can be ridden by anyone who is 14 years old or over. The bikes are very cheap to run and don’t need a licence or insurance. Pete Keyes, Travel Awareness Officer with the Road Safety Unit, said “The bikes are just the same as normal bicycles, weighing less than 40kg, but benefit from the power of an electric motor,
‘Streets Alive!’ is a voluntary group which helps Dorset Pack for Schools “What a Difference!” neighbourhoods to Dorset County Council have teamed up with porting the events this year, with more than 100 organise their own Dorset Community Action to produce a new Local Authorities involved. More than 20 coun- street parties to teaching resource called “What a Difference!” tries have signed up to support the International experience their The Pack links the key issues of citizenship with event in October. ideas for promoting more sustainable forms of www.walktoschool.org.uk street without traffic transport. It includes a wealth of ideas for primary www.iwalktoschool.org for a day. and middle school teachers. For further details on any of the above, please www.streetsalive.net The Pack is ideal for use during the forthcoming contact Robert Smith on 01305 224680 Walk to School weeks – the first in May and the autumn one in September/October. More than [email protected] 12,000 schools in the UK are known to be sup-
Devon’s Best Bus Drivers
More than 1,000 bus passengers in Devon With over 200 drivers from 24 different bus compa- recently voted for their favourite bus driver in a nies nominated, it was obvious that there were competition organised by the County Council's many bus drivers on Devon’s roads who were held TravelWise officer. in high regard by their passengers. The 4 favourites, The competition, based on an idea from each gaining over 100 votes, were Gloucester TravelWise, was launched on Local presented with certificates and Radio in January and ran until mid March. The cheques for £100 each at a presenta- aim was to raise the profile of public transport. tion in County Hall. Passengers were asked to nominate courteous, helpful drivers who act with kindness beyond Devon’s 4 the call of duty. Best Bus Drivers VOLUME 1,ISSUE 1 Page 3
Cycling...... On Prescription
Cycling could prove to be just the Care Trust and local doctors, in the hope that tonic for patients since Devon County Council TravelWise launched the South people encouraged to cycle for their health West’s first healthy cycling initiative at the will go on to cycle for short journeys previ- Culm Valley Sports Centre in Cullompton in ously undertaken by car. March. [email protected] Patients from local surgeries in Mid Devon 01392 382089 who need exercise to improve mental and physical health, as well as to reduce risk fac- tors for coronary heart disease, are currently referred by GPs to the sports centre where they are assessed and started on a 10 week exercise programme.
The TravelWise ‘Cycling on Prescription’ ini- tiative takes this scheme one step further by offering patients the opportunity to cycle for Swindon Borough real. TravelWise has purchased cycles and Council is looking helmets which are kept at the sports centre. Short, safe, level cycle routes have been iden- for an officer to Devon GP Dr Neil Rushton supporting the TravelWise Cycling tified by a local GP, and a volunteer will be on Prescription Initiative. manage Travel available to cycle with patients. TravelWise Awareness in the originated this project, and worked in part- nership with the District Council, Primary Borough. If you have a genuine Eden Park Schools Travel Plan enthusiasm for the promotion of Eden Park Infant and Junior schools in Amongst the children there is a strong desire to sustainable forms Brixham are the first schools in Torbay to publish use sustainable transport modes with only 20% their joint school travel plan. Overall just under wanting to be driven to school. of transport, 60% of children walk to schools, which is above Key actions from the plan include: contact Helen the average for Torbay. • Practical road safety training each year for all The final plan has been revised to reflect residents Powell, details on children; concerns – mainly to do with congestion on local Page 4. roads. The location of the schools, bounded by a • Identification of appropriate traffic calming main road on one side and a residential area on and pedestrian safety measures ; the other, makes the problems of getting children • Instigation of “Park & Walk” areas. to school more difficult. Car Sharing for Somerset Employees
Employees working at Somerset County Coun- sharer and procedures have been put in place to en- cil’s County Hall are getting the chance to halve their petrol sure the safety of those signing up to the scheme. costs with the launch of a new car share scheme at the be- ginning of May 2002. If you require further information on this scheme The launch will highlight the benefits of car please contact Craig Lamberton at sharing and encourage a reduction in com- Somerset County Council on 01823 muter traffic. 355598 or e-mail CLamber- The scheme has been developed to maxi- [email protected] mise the potential of car sharing in the rural county of Somerset, where public transport is often not a viable option for commuting journeys. The scheme is designed to be flexible to the Regional Contact Details
Borough of Poole – Kathy Saunders (Team Leader – TravelWise) 01202 262051 [email protected]
Designed, Edited and Printed by: Borough of Poole Bournemouth Borough Council – Richard Barnes (Business Travel Plan Co-ordinator) Transportation Services 01202 454654 [email protected] St John’s House Serpentine Road Poole, Dorset BH15 2DX Bristol City Council – Alistair Cox (Senior Transport Planning Officer) 0117 903 6713 [email protected] Phone: +44 (0) 1202 262051 Fax: +44 (0) 1202 262093 Email: [email protected] Cornwall County Council – Pete Keyes (Travel Team Leader) 01872 327889 [email protected] Web: www.boroughofpoole.com Devon County Council – Lesley Smith (TravelWise Officer) 01392 382089 [email protected]
Dorset County Council – Adrian Welsh (Principal Planning Officer – Transportation) 01305 225085 [email protected] velwise. www.tra Gloucestershire County Council – Paul Hardiman (Principal Sustainable Transport Officer) g.uk 01452 426449 [email protected] or Plymouth City Council – Alex Huke (Senior Transport Officer) 01752 305514 [email protected]
Somerset County Council – Craig Lamberton (Principal Travel Plan Co-ordinator) 01823 355598 [email protected]
Swindon Borough Council - Helen Powell (Team Leader) 01793 466450 [email protected]
Torbay Council – James Reeves (Senior Transport Planner) 01803 208821 [email protected]
Wiltshire County Council – William Prendergast (TravelWise Manager) 01225 713388 williamprendergast@wiltshire.gov.uk
What’s Happening When?
20-24 May – National Walk to School Week (1) (www.walktoschool.org.uk) 26 May-3 June – “Don’t Choke Britain” Breathe Easy Week (www.dcb.org.uk) 4-10 June – National Environment Week (5 June – World Environment Day) 8-16 June – Green Transport Week (www.eta.co.uk) 14 June – National Lift Share Day (www.liftshare.com) 15-23 June – The Festival of Cycling (National Bike Week) (www.cyclingfestival.org.uk) 22-23 June – Sustrans Pedalling Picnics 17-23 June – Child Safety Week 21 September – Greenlink Walk for Health Day 22 September – European “In Town Without My Car” day (www.carfreeday.net) 23-29 September – Brake Road Safety Week (www.brake.org.uk) 30 September – 4 October – National Walk to School Week (2) (www.walktoschool.org.uk) 2 October – International Walk to School Day (www.iwalktoschool.org) 12 October – Ride for Road Safety Day (British Horse Society) (www.horse-and-road-safety.com) 1 November – World Town Planning Day (www.ceu-ectp.org) 4-10 November – European E-work Week (www.etw.org)