SMARTER TRAVEL FOR SOLIHULL TRAVEL INFORMATION PACK Whitlocks End Tythe Barn Lane Tythe Barn Lane Tilehouse Lane 8 7 6 Tilehouse Lane Tilehouse Rumbush Lane 5 Birchy Leasowes Lane Brixfield Way Fishers Drive Birchy Close 4 Main Street Dickens Heath Road Rumbush Lane Cleobury Lane Beech Lane 2 Dickens Heath Road 3 1 FREE VOUCHERS AND EXCLUSIVE OFFERS INSIDE, PLUS A PRIZE DRAW! 2 3 WELCOME TO FREE THE SOLIHULL INCENTIVES CONTENTS As a resident of Dickens Heath, TRAVEL PACK! you are entitled to an array of Welcome 2 incentives to support more This pack has been produced by sustainable travel choices. Local news 4 Solihull Metropolitan Council for residents in your area* of Dickens You may also enter the prize draw to win either: Map 5 Heath to provide information on all your local travel options, travel news • A one year adult public transport Cycling in the area 6 season ticket, and money saving tips along with • Or an electric bike. Walking in the area 8 free vouchers and exclusive offers to get you travelling sustainably. Bus travel 12 CYCLE TRAINING We’ve created this pack to become a useful A free 1 hour adult cycle training resource for you to refer back to with any Train travel 14 session. All abilities are welcome. If journey or travel needs. Inside you will find there is a particular route you would Greener car travel 17 journey times for all modes of transport to like to improve your confidence on local amenities along with your local map, then our trained cycle instructors will Personal travel plans 20 cycle routes, footpaths and bus stops. cycle you through it. It may not be possible for everyone to make Claim your voucher 22 TRAVEL PASS AND changes to their journeys, but we are here Survey 23 to help support you in choosing a more FRIENDS & FAMILY OFFER sustainable mode of travel where possible! A one week adult travel pass valid across the West Midlands on bus, train Smarter Travel are supporting us to deliver and the Metro Tram. This travel pass the project, they will be in touch if you choose allows you to take someone on the to take up these exciting offers and support. journey with you for just £1 (adult) or 50p (child). * Offers will be shared with a wider area later this year. PERSONAL TRAVEL PLANS FITNESS TRACKER [email protected] Claim a free Personal Travel Plan Find out how many steps you are doing exploring all available modes of dickenheathtp.commonplace.is and compete with others! transport available to you on your most regular journey. This can be CYCLE PUNCTURE anything from your commute into REPAIR KIT work or your weekly shopping trip. Keep yourself on the move whilst Complete the survey on page 23 to cycling the local area. get your free Personal Travel Plan. To claim any of these incentives, see page 22 for further information. 4 5 LOCAL NEWS THE SOLIHULL CYCLING & TEMPORARY CYCLE LANES SOLIHULL WALKING STRATEGY Three new temporary cycle lanes are being Solihull’s Transport Strategy “Solihull developed in Solihull with the aim of making LOCAL AREA MAP Connected”, the Cycling and Walking travel safer, and establishing if there is a Strategy for the borough will enable a long- permanent need for them. term approach to develop a local cycling and The new lanes will be found on: walking network within the borough. The overall aim is to improve cycling and walking • Blossomfield Road Whitlocks End infrastructure across the borough over the • Knowle to Solihull Town Centre next 10 years. • Meriden to Millison’s Wood Tythe Barn Lane Tythe Barn Lane FREE TO USE BICYCLE NET ZERO SOLIHULL Tilehouse Lane REPAIR STATIONS 8 As part of Solihull’s commitment to achieve Three new bicycle repair stations have been net zero carbon emissions by 2041, the council 7 installed in Solihull, thanks to a successful bid is developing a Net Zero Action Plan, which 6 by the Council’s Sustainable Travel Team to the will help inform the kind of action that will be Lane Tilehouse government’s Emergency Active Travel Fund. needed across the borough. Rumbush Lane See page 9 for more details. Find out more: NetZeroSolihull.co.uk 5 Birchy Leasowes Lane Brixfield Way Fishers Drive NEW EV CHARGING POINTS THE WILDLIFE WAYS PROJECT Birchy Close 4 A number of new electric vehicle (EV) The Wildlife Ways team has been working charging points are being installed around Main Street hard to link open spaces and improve Dickens Heath Road Rumbush Lane the borough. In this latest wave Shirley, existing routes across the borough, allowing Knowle, Olton, Silhill, Blythe Valley, Lyndon, wildlife to flourish and helping people to Cleobury Lane Beech Lane 2 Elmdon, Dorridge and Smiths Wood will all connect with nature. benefit from the new points. Dickens Heath Road 3 To find out more about this £16.8 million project, part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund, visit 1 www.wildlifeways.co.uk 1. Tidbury Green 5. Dickens Heath Primary School Medical Centre Cycle repair station 2. Blossoms Pre-School 6. Library FREE BIKE TRIALS Alternatively, why not contact FREE GYM PASSES FOR & Nursery Bus stop a local cycle store and see what 7. Dickens Heath AND CHECKS e-bikes they offer? OVER 75s 3. Dickens Heath Village Church 30-minute E-bike trials & FREE bike Available at either Tudor Grange The Electric Bike Shop Solihull Nature Reserve health checks at Halfords (Solihull Leisure Centre or North Solihull 8. Dickens Heath Community Business Park) Red Kite Cycles Sports Centre Footpath 4. Tesco Convenience Store Primary School halfords.co.uk everyoneactive.com 6 7 Many of us are now already commuting far less, not only is cycling great for commuting but even better for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. There are many scenic cycle routes in the local area near to Dickens Heath, which can be a great CYCLING activity for all levels. Why not try some of our suggested routes? LEISURE CYCLE ROUTES IN THE AREA DICKENS HEATH TO TIDBURY FREE ONE TO ONE CYCLE GREEN & EARLSWOOD This is a 6-mile easy route on country lanes to Earlswood TRAINING SESSION Cycling is around three times faster than walking Craft Centre and Earslwood Lakes, with the Red Lion pub on route. One of the incentives of this pack is a and in some cases, due to traffic, it can be quicker free 1 hour adult cycle training session. than driving! HOCKLEY HEATH TO PACKWOOD All abilities are welcome. HOUSE & LOWSONFORD An 11 mile ride along narrow country lanes, passing historic To redeem your session visit Packwood House, to the canal-side hamlet of Lowonsford. SmarterTravel.uk.com/Solihull DICKENS HEATH TO or head to the back of this pack! TANWORTH & EARLSWOOD A 10 mile ride along country lanes through the quaint village of Tanworth-in-Arden. FREE CYCLE PUNCTURE To view these routes or find plenty more REPAIR KIT head to: or cyclesolihull.org.uk scan here When completing the survey you can opt for a free puncture repair kit as your incentive which will be posted directly to you. Head to SmarterTravel.uk.com/ Solihull or the back of the pack to claim yours! E-BIKES E-bikes offer you that extra assistance, • BEECH LANE allowing you to travel further as effortlessly 6 mins • WHITLOCKS END TRAIN STATION as you like. With an average full charge cost 7 mins • WYTHALL TRAIN STATION of only 17p, they are a great cost saving 10 mins • SOLIHULL RETAIL PARK method for those awkward length journeys! 13 mins • MONKSPATH BUSINESS PARK To find out more and even trial an E-bike 21 mins SOLIHULL HOSPITAL Check out the new cycle repair for free, head to the Halfords website: • stations across Solihull! 22 mins • SOLIHULL TOWN CENTRE Halfords.co.uk 8 8 9 FREE BIKE REPAIR STATIONS CYCLE TO WORK SCHEMES Three new bicycle repair stations have been installed in Solihull, these are free to use Cycle to work schemes are a UK and each includes a stand to put your bike government tax exemption initiative on, a pressure gauge pump and just about which allows individuals to hire a every type of tool that you need for repairs. bicycle and cycling equipment (for an Located at: agreed length of time). • Stratford Road, Shirley outside At the end, you then have the option Shirley Park to purchase it for a fraction of the • High Street, Solihull Town Centre original cost. This is organised through • Whitlocks End Rail Station car park your employer and saves you between 25 and 39% of the original cost. Many different schemes are available. Speak to your employer to find out HEALTH BENEFITS more. Cycling is not just a mode of transport but it also provides an excellent low impact workout too; there are many health benefits from hopping on your CYCLING EVENTS bicycle and many studies to back this ACROSS THE UK up. Why not turn your commute into a workout? There are a number of cycling events held across the UK each year including: Health benefits of cycling can include: • Love To Ride • Increased cardiovascular fitness; • The Big Pedal • A decrease in stress levels; • Bike Week • Strengthened bones; and • Bike to School Week • Improved posture and • Cycle to Work Day coordination. STRAVA CYCLESTREETS BIKE CLUB BIKEABILITY Keep track of your cycle One of the most As your children grow, The leading cycle journeys and share your comprehensive cycle you can continually training programme in routes with friends and route planners and it’s upgrade their bikes England, giving everyone family! free to use! through a lease scheme.