June 2015 announce that

Welcome to the latest edition of the Smarter Choices e-newsletter. This quarterly newsletter is designed to inform and promote current and future initiatives that will encourage more sustainable travel within the county. If you have, or know of any schemes or events that you think would be of interest, please send me the details (andrea.cahillane@.gov.uk ) and I will include them in the next newsletter.

Lowestoft Spine Road

The new Lowestoft Spine Road was opened on Thursday 26th March, 2015. The opening ceremony was officiated by the Secretary of State for Transport, Rt Hon Patrick Mcloughlin.

Along the length of the road a new cycle lane has also been constructed, and was used for the first time at the opening ceremony by pupils and staff from Corton Primary School.

The new road was funded by the Department for Transport and Suffolk County. It will give through traffic, particularly lorries and other commercial vehicles, a quicker route to the northern part of the A12 without having to go through the town centre.

Bury St Edmunds Schools – Bike for Life

This fabulous year-long Bikelife Cycle programme is being offered to eight primary schools in .

Outspoken Training and Suffolk County Council are working in partnership, as part of Suffolk’s Year of Cycling, to promote cycling to school. The programme gives children and their families the opportunity, skills and support to build cycling into their everyday lives.

The aim of the programme is to increase the number of key stage two children, parents and staff cycling to school by 15% over the course of the year, helping Suffolk to become ’s most active county.

To launch the scheme, Outspoken Training has been visiting each Blue Sky Photography school to run a cycle try-out show and pedal powered jukebox. All sorts of bikes have been available – balance bikes, recumbent,

tandems, cargo bikes, trikes and many more. Sessions also include ‘learn to ride’ for those who cannot yet cycle, as well as support for parents and teachers.

The rest of the Bikelife Cycle programme involves competitions between the schools to see who can get the most people cycling to school, with prizes including a cycle-powered cinema.

Active Wellbeing Project

The Active Wellbeing Project is a sports project that is having a positive effect on people with long- term health conditions.

The project was set up in 2014 by Suffolk County Council and Suffolk Sport with funding from Sport England. The Active Wellbeing project specifically supports people with long-term health conditions into physical activity.

The University of East Anglia has conducted preliminary research on the project. The study found that, even with a small sample, there are some statistically significant changes in reported time spent participating in sport.

The study’s authors Rachel Cooke and Andy Jones concluded that ‘overall these preliminary findings are positive and suggest that the Active Wellbeing programme may be effective in increasing clinical population’s weekly physical activity at the 3 months stage.’

A full analysis of the project, which will also assess the impact of the project on participants at 6 and 12 months, will be published in 2016.

For more information on this encouraging research, please follow this link.

Rail News

A new waiting room and First Class lounge at rail station are benefiting passengers. Abellio Greater Anglia has upgraded both waiting rooms with funding from Access for All to create easier access for those with mobility issues.

The new waiting room on Platform 3 is now open and benefits from push-button automatic doors and seating, a new train departure summary screen, CCTV, air-conditioning, new flooring and sofas, as well as redecoration in Abellio Greater Anglia colours. Passengers can charge laptops and mobile phones and work while they wait with the addition of wall-mounted plug sockets.

The First Class Lounge on platform 2 has also been completely refurbished and a train departure summary screen, air-conditioning, new flooring and comfortable sofas, as well as redecoration in Abellio Greater Anglia colours.

Ipswich station is to benefit from further improvements later in the year when work begins to redesign the station forecourt, allowing better access for buses and taxis, and improve the booking hall area, thanks to funding from the National Stations Improvement Programme.

Members of the public will be invited to an open day at Ipswich Railway Station to view design plans for the new layout of the station forecourt. The redesigned forecourt will improve the safety and access for those using the station. The designs are being developed by Suffolk County Council in conjunction with Abellio Greater Anglia, Ipswich Borough Council and . It is expected that the open day will take place in July, with a date to be announced by Abellio Greater Anglia in due course on http://www.abelliogreateranglia.co.uk/about-us/latest-news

Record UK Sales for Electric Vehicles

Last month, 6,114 new electric cars were registered in the UK. That’s an increase of over 400% compared with sales in March 2014.

6,104 of the pure electric and plug-in cars sold during March were eligible for the government’s plug-in car grant. Are you thinking of electric vehicles? Talk to EValu8 about the incentives available. http://evalu8-ti.org.uk/2015/04/15/record-uk-sales-for-evs/

Suffolk Show

A huge number of people were drawn to the Suffolk Show last week. Visitors and exhibitors from all parts of Suffolk descended on the Trinity Park Showground for the fabulous two-day event.

Suffolk County Council provided lots of opportunities for people to experience, or find out more information, about cycling in Suffolk. There were ‘have a go’ sessions on circuits or fixed cycles, Suffolk Year of Cycling events, details of the Women’s Tour, Cycle Safety, free cycle maps and information on where bikes can be purchased for bargain prices – and much more!

Cycling was a subject that drew interest from a considerable number of people, of all ages, whether it was cycling to work/education, shopping or purely leisure. Suffolk definitely seems to be getting the cycling bug!

Bus Week

Hop on board for Catch the Bus Week - 29th June to 5th July!

There are so many great reasons to travel by bus: it’s cheaper than running a car, reduces your carbon footprint and eases congestion. It’s also social, frees up personal time and can improve health and well-being, especially if you walk stop further to catch your bus!

Check local bus companies nearer the time to see what they are doing for ‘Catch the Bus Week.’

Find the best bus route for your journey on Suffolk on Board

June Cycle Initiatives

With these great initiatives to encourage cycling, is there any excuse not to get involved?

Bike to School Week 2015 - 1st to 5th June

Bike to School Week is an opportunity to celebrate all the fantastic things schools have achieved throughout the UK to encourage cycling all year round.

Sustrans, who organise the programme are producing a new guide for schools containing ideas for what to do on each day of Bike to School Week, and is available to download from their website. This guide can also be used to promote walking, scooting and skating to school.

It’s not too late to get involved in Bike to School Week, have a look at Sustran’s 6-week plan for increasing active travel to school. The following activities are also free to use at any time of the year:

National Cycle Challenge – 8th June to 28th June

As part of the nationational challenge, Love To Ride Suffolk is all about workplace participation!

Which workplaces can get the most people to ride a bike for just 10 minutes or more? Businesses and organisations compete against each other to see who can get the most staff to ride a bike.

It's not about who can cycle the most miles, but who can encourage the most people to give cycling a go. It’s free to register and there are some fantastic prizes to be won!

Bike Week 2015 – 13th to 21st June

Bike Week 2015 - is an annual opportunity to promote cycling, and show how cycling can easily be part of daily life by encouraging ‘everyday cycling for everyone’. The 2015 event will take place 13-21st June but events still take place through until September and beyond!

This year’s Bike Week has a special focus and will encourage people to use their bikes to cycle to work. Be part of this nationwide event and take advantage of free support and advice to help you make your involvement a success, and

Women’s Tour 2015

Stage 1, Wed 17th June 2015, Bury St Edmunds to Aldeburgh

The Women’s Tour 2015 route heads out of Bury St Edmunds, through and on towards Ipswich. Continuing east through Woodbridge and , the final stretch will see the peloton travel along the seafront from Thorpeness down to the finish line in Aldeburgh.

Also taking place in Bury St Edmunds will be a free-to-attend team presentation event, the evening before the opening stage, on Tuesday 16 June, giving fans the chance to see the world’s top teams and riders who will be taking part in the Friends Life Women’s Tour. For more details, check the Woman’s Tour website http://www.womenstour.co.uk/

Beat the Streets - Lowestoft

Lowestoft in fun challenge to walk, jog and cycle around the world - From 22nd June until the 21st July, residents of Lowestoft will be taking part in a fun walking and cycling challenge to help people become more active, as well as raising money for local charities.

Called Beat the Street, the whole community is being invited to walk, jog and cycle the equivalent of 25,000 miles around the world. Click this link for more details.

Wheels Event Sunday 19 July

The new Wheels Event for Ipswich this summer, on Sunday 19th July, will offer something for all the family.

Classic and modern cars, motorbikes, buses, bikes, fire engines and trucks will line up on the Waterfront this summer as thousands of visitors are expected to celebrate Ipswich Wheels.

The FREE festival is all about wheels through the ages and will include radio-controlled cars and buses from the present day as well as from the Ipswich Transport Museum.

Special features include “Women on Wheels” and advice for younger cyclists. Organiser Ipswich Borough Council says this is not just for petrol heads but also for people who want to take up a new sport or find out more about the history of transport.

https://www.ipswich.gov.uk/content/new-wheels-event-ipswich-summer

Ipswich Cycling Weekend 22 & 23 August

A two-day cycling celebration with top-class rides for everyone. Get on your bike and get involved!

22nd August 2015 - Challenge yourself to cycle 55km, 100km or 100miles in the Crafted Classique sportive.

Sunday 23rd August – A fantastic fun day for family and friends. Join the Sky Ride and explore traffic-free routes you can't usually ride. There will be lots to do both on and off the bike, with cyclists of all ages and abilities taking over the town centre. Register now for your FREE place! http://www.ipswichcyclingweekend.co.uk/

Lowestoft Local Links

Lowestoft Local Links in Action! Great news! A short film has been produced highlighting some elements of the Lowestoft Local Links project. Find out more about some of the multi-award winning engagement programmes by watching this video

Fun for all the family at the Lowestoft Cycle Festival More than 3,000 people visited the Lowestoft Cycle Festival on the weekend of 16/17 May. The event brought together cycling organisations, cycle retailers and entertainers from across the local area. Aimed at the whole family, there were activities to suit all ages and abilities from cycle games and competitions to BMX stunt displays and live entertainment.

The event provides and brings together facilities and services to help make it easier for new and returning cyclists to make a healthy change, as well as supporting existing cyclists.

The design and implementation of the festival was undertaken in partnership with local student volunteers from Lowestoft College and Sixth Form College and Duke of Edinburgh students from Pakefield High School, who helped make the event a success.

Street Velodrome Street Velodrome UK is visiting Lowestoft on the 18th - 19th July. The unique outdoor velodrome gives you the chance to take part and watch the action over the fun filled weekend. Visit http://www.streetvelodrome.co.uk/ for more information

New cycle map – an updated Lowestoft cycle map has been produced. Visit the Tourist Information Centre to pick up a free copy, or download here - http://www.greensuffolk.org/travel/journey- planning/cycling/

Travel Ipswich

Work to upgrade the Norwich Road double roundabouts area was completed in March. Improved facilities have now been provided for cyclists and pedestrians who wish to use this busy junction. Work included: providing a new toucan crossing, one of the existing pedestrian crossings was simplified and changed to a toucan crossing, some footpaths have been widened to allow shared cycle and pedestrian use, also some new paving, street lighting, new cycle lanes and resurfacing of the junction have all been provided. Traffic signals have also been upgraded to allow them to be included in the UTMC system.

After

Before After

e e The final project in the Travel Ipswich scheme will be work to upgrade the pedestrian and cycling facilities in the Mulberry and Major’s Corner area of the town centre. This work has been programmed into the college and school summer holidays, to reduce the impact on traffic.

Please see this link for more details on this final project.

Dog-Friendly Suffolk

There are some excellent Suffolk walks for you and your dog to enjoy. Try exploring Suffolk with these dog-friendly walks.

Or stroll along some fabulous dog-friendly beaches.

Then stop for a rest at a dog-friendly pub!

For more information of Suffolk’s dog-friendly ideas check here.

Local events and activities

Wednesday 3rd June, 19:30 - Ground Bungay Summer Series, Race 1, a 10km run starting at Bungay Area Running Centre, Maltings Meadow Sports Friday 5th June, 19.30 - Kirton 5 2015, a 5 mile run starting at Kirton Recreation Ground Friday 5th June - Evening walk at Springs, Ipswich. 7:30pm - 9:30pm, - no need to book. All welcome. Sunday 7th June - BioBlitz at Holywells Park Ipswich, 6:00am - 9:00pm. A day of wildlife recording and guided walks in the park. Experts will be on hand to help identify what you find and there will be guided walks and family activities. Sunday 7th June - Bumblebee Walk and Talk in Geldeston, near Beccles, 2:00pm - 5:00pm. Booking is essential. Sunday 7th June – Come and try Orienteering, at Orwell County Park, Ipswich. Courses for adults and children. Friday 12th June, 19.30 - Bury Friday 5, a 5 mile run starting at Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds Saturday 13th June – Wattisham Triathlon at Wattisham Airbase, Swim 300m, Cycle 20km, Run 5km (full for participants). Sunday 14th June – Family Cycle Fun Day at Kesgrave Community Centre, 10am – 2pm. Thursday 18th June, 18.30 – Suffolk Orienteering Club Summer Event at Haughley Park, Stowmarket Friday 19th June, 19.30 - Stowmarket Friday 5, a 5 mile run starting at Haughley Park, Stowmarket. Friday 19th June – Splash N Dash, 800m open water swim followed by 5km run at Alton Water. Saturday 20th June – Great East Swim, 1/2 Mile, 1 Mile, 2 Mile & 5K swimming event at Alton Water Sunday 21st June - Newmarket Hilly Charity Sportive, a hilly and challenging charity Cyclo-Sportive around the beautiful country lanes of Suffolk. 3 routes: 100 mile, 50 mile and 25 mile Fun Ride starting at Newmarket. Sunday 21st June - Capel 5 and Fancy Dress Fun Run, 5 mile run at Capel St Mary. Sunday 21st June - Ron Sampson Cycle Ride 2015, organised by Lowestoft East Point Rotary Club.

Sunday 21st June - Suffolk Villages Bike Ride, a choice of 25, 50 and 100 km routes starting from Blackbourne Centre, Elmswell. Sunday 21st June - Orwell Walk/Cycle starting at Gainsborough Sports Centre in Ipswich. 3 principal routes of 12, 18 or 25 miles but you can finish at any checkpoint on the route if you so wish. The Orwell Cycle Ride offers three routes of 5, 15 and 27 miles. Wednesday 24th June, 19.30 - Bungay 10K – summer series, 10km race at Maltings Meadow, Bungay. Friday 26th June, 19.30 - The Wibbly Wobbly Log Jog, 5 mile off-road race at Brandon, High Lodge Forest Centre. 26th/27th/28th June - Ipswich Hospital Bike Ride, 72, 75 or 53 mile cycle. The sportive (ride) will take you on a journey around the beautiful Suffolk countryside exploring all the villages that are wards at Ipswich Hospital. In aid of The Sunrise Appeal. Saturday 4th July, Walk for butterflies, Wildlife walk with Woodbridge Wildlife Group - no need to book, 2:00pm - 4:00pm Sunday 5th July - Suffolk Orienteering Club Summer Event at Gunton Denes, Lowestoft Sunday 5th July - Newmarket 10k 2015, 10km run starting at Ley Road, Stetchworth. Sunday 5th July - Mud, Sweat and Gears Eastern at Ickworth House, Bury St. Edmunds. MSG caters for the very youngest through to the very oldest, from the serious racer through to the first time novice, with something for everyone. Sunday 5th July - Suffolk Fire Ride, hosted by Eye Fire Station, the cycle event offers three distances of 30, 60 and 100 miles. Sunday 5th July - The Women On Wheels charity bike ride for women held in Bury St Edmunds. Distances of 5, 20 or 50 miles. In aid of St Nicholas Hospice Friday 10th July - Evening Walk at Kirton Creek, Henley. Suffolk Wildlife Trust - no need to book. All welcome. Tuesday 14th July - Suffolk Orienteering Club Summer Event at Ipswich High School, Woolverstone Friday 17th July - Evening Walk at , near Leiston, 7:30pm - 9:30pm, Suffolk Wildlife Trust - no need to book. All welcome. Sunday 19th July – Suffolk Spinner 100, 73 and 43 mile cycle event starting at Otley College. Thursday 23rd July – Suffolk Orienteering Club Summer Event at Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds. Sunday 9th August – Suffolk Coast, charity cycle ride starting and finishing at Glemham Hall, Woodbridge. There’s a choice of two routes of 35 & 60 miles and a new 100 mile challenge route.

Keep up-to-date on cycle events in Suffolk by logging on to Suffolk’s Year of Cycling events page.

Check the Suffolk Wildlife Trust What’s On for details of other great walks and outdoor activities.

Ipswich Buses Real Ale Runabouts – Visit more than 30 of East Anglia’s finest hostelries.

Ipswich Buses Trips – to Pleasurewood Hills

Parkruns at Brandon, Bury St Edmunds, Gorleston, Great Cornard, Kesgrave, Ipswich & Ipswich Juniors. A new Lowestoft parkrun is in the pipeline but there isn’t a start date at the moment.

Parkrun organises weekly, 5km runs. These are open to everyone and are safe and easy to take part in. Runners take part for their own enjoyment. It’s free to participate! Register online and then go and join in, whatever your pace!

Stepping Out in Suffolk is a programme of health walks offered across the county by Livewell Suffolk. These are low impact, guided walks that enable people to increase or maintain levels of physical activity in a supportive, sociable environment.

The walks are with trained leaders and at walkers’ own pace. Buggies and wheelchairs are welcome where stated that the walk is suitable. http://www.livewellsuffolk.org.uk/healthwalks.php http://www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk/yourfreetime/steppingout/

If you know of anyone who would like to receive this newsletter please let me know and I will gladly add them to the distribution list ([email protected])

Contact information:

Andrea Cahillane www.travelipswich.co.uk [email protected] Sharon Payne www.freshwaystowork.org.uk [email protected] Steff Jones www.greensuffolk.org/travel/transport-projects/lowestoft-local-links [email protected] Kerry Allen Transport Planner (Rail) [email protected]