27 April 2012

The Cycle Exeter project, run by Devon County Council, has beaten off competition from over 120 sustainable travel projects across the UK, France and Belgium to be selected as one of six finalists for the inaugural Eurostar Ashden Award for Sustainable Travel. Each of the finalists were recognised for the outstanding quality of their local sustainable travel initiatives and now stand to win a share of £30,000 in prize money, when the ultimate winner is announced on 30 May.

Cycle Exeter has paved the way for Exeter to become a true cycling city. With nearly 50km of new and improved cycle lanes built since 2005, youngsters are being inspired to get on their bikes and employees are encouraged to cycle to work. In addition, the programme has helped increase cycling trips across the city by 40% since 2005, and provided more than 10,000 youngsters with Bikeability training.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation, said: “It’s an incredible achievement to have made the shortlist for this prestigious new award. Everyone who has taken up cycling more often around Exeter, whether it’s to travel to school or work or in their leisure time, has played a vital part in the success of the Cycle Exeter project and they should take great pride in that. To have been selected as a finalist, and for Carsharedevon.com to be highlighted as a case study by one of the other finalists, demonstrates that the County Council has been recognised as a leader in sustainable travel not just in the UK but in Europe as well.”

Nicolas Petrovic, Eurostar Chief Executive, says: “Launching this Award in partnership with sustainability experts, Ashden has allowed us to showcase some of the most ground-breaking sustainable travel projects in the UK, France and Belgium. Devon County Council’s tireless efforts to create a cycling culture in Exeter from scratch should be inspiration to other towns and cities across Europe. By celebrating their achievement and successes we hope to inspire even more people to travel sustainably and consider the environment when making their own travel choices.” 
The 2012 Eurostar Ashden Award for Sustainable Travel culminates on 30 May at the annual Ashden Awards ceremony in London, where the achievements of all the finalists will be celebrated and the winners will be announced.

The Eurostar Ashden Award for Sustainable Travel forms part of Eurostar’s Tread Lightly programme to reduce its impact on the environment and encourage people to switch to more sustainable modes of transport. Since 2007, Eurostar has made substantial progress towards reducing carbon emissions, sourcing responsibly and recycling.

Eurostar has also pledged to reduce carbon emissions across its entire business by 25% by 2015. This ambitious new target will see Eurostar scrutinise every area of its operations including its supply chain and other areas outside its immediate business making changes where necessary.
For more information about the Eurostar Ashden Award for Sustainable Travel or Eurostar’s Tread Lightly programme, visit www.eurostar.com/treadlightly

The five other finalists in the running to win the Eurostar Ashden Award for Sustainable Travel are:
• Cycle Cambridge (Cambridgeshire County Council) was recognised for its new holistic approach to cycle prioritisation, combining large extensions to the cycling network with innovative promotional activities. These initiatives have helped reinforce Cambridge’s position as the city with the highest percentage mode share of cycling in the UK.
• Norwich-based Liftshare.com was selected for its work to fill empty car seats on the roads while offering a friendlier, greener and cheaper way to travel. A number of initiatives, including a national online car-sharing network, have helped the company remove 78,000 journeys from the road every day.
• The City of Ghent’s far-reaching mobility plan was designed to get more people cycling. This included the creation of a car-free city centre, extensive development of the cycling network and investment in creative marketing support.  As a result, one in five of all journeys to work or school in Ghent is now made on two wheels.
• Octopus Plan stood out for its programme to promote walking and cycling to schools in Belgium through a combination of online resources and community engagement. This has helped schools, their staff and parents as well as local authorities to identify and remove potential barriers to sustainable travel. Since 2006 over half of all Flemish schools have joined the Octopus Plan.
• Brittany-based Taxi Tub offers a virtual network of pre-bookable taxis in rural Brittany, helping reduce CO2 emissions, ease traffic congestion and save users money. Fully integrated into the bus network, this innovative scheme makes use of existing vehicles to expand mobility options and enable rural car sharing, where an equivalent scheduled bus service would be prohibitively expensive to run.

25 April 2012

A shared cycle and footpath which links to Exeter International Airport has been officially opened.

Employees from some of the biggest private businesses in the county will be able to make use of the 915 metre track which has been developed as part of an £85,000 scheme to provide a safe access running through the airport car park. The route runs from the roundabout off the A30 to the main entrance of Exeter International Airport, and the existing signal controlled crossing by the main entrance to the airport has also been widened to accommodate cycle use.

As it forms part of the Local Transport Plan for the area, it also connects to the existing shared cycle and footway which leads on to the Exeter Airport Business Park, and also links back to Exeter via Clyst Honiton  and the recently opened Redhayes Bridge. New routes are also currently underway to Cranbrook and Exeter Science Park.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation, said:

“This path will provide a much safer route to the Airport for cyclists and pedestrians, giving people the choice to make short journeys without their car. It is another piece in the jigsaw of our extensive walking and cycling network that’s being developed as part of the Exeter and East Devon Growth Point. I’m sure it will be particularly useful to staff at the Airport, the Business Park as well as the developments which are currently underway in the Exeter and East Devon Growth Point.”

Flybe, which has its headquarters at the airport, operates a scheme that encourages its staff to cycle to work.  A significant number of its 1,000-plus staff regularly cycle to and from work, many of them year-round.

Flybe’s Director of HR and intrepid cycle-commuter, Simon Charles, says the new cycle-way is an “absolute delight” and one that will be well-used by staff.

“This short part of our journey along such a heavily used country lane has always been extremely difficult and all of us who cycle would like to thank all those involved for providing this new much-needed, safer cycle route,” he said.

Exeter International Airport’s managing director, Matt Roach, said: “Although we welcome passengers who wish to cycle to the airport, the route will be mainly used by those commuting to and from work. Until now cyclists using the B3184 between the A30 and airport have had to share the narrow road with cars and lorries, so I am very pleased that we have been able to play a part in making the journey safer.”

Councillor Peter Bowden, local county councillor for Broadclyst and Whimple, said: “I know for a fact that many cyclists and pedestrians are delighted that this route is open and that their safe passage to and from work will be improved.”

13 April 2012

Work on the £1.1million pedestrian and cycle bridge linking Newton Abbot and Kingsteignton will get underway on Monday (16 April).

The new 90-metre long steel cable-stay over the River Teign is being developed in partnership between Devon County Council and charity Sustrans, as part of the charity’s work in developing new everyday walking and cycling links in communities across the UK, with funding from the Big Lottery.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation, will carry out a ceremonial turf cutting at 3pm on Monday 16 April to mark the start of work.

Councillor Hughes said: “It’s fitting that work should start on this bridge during the national Summer of Cycling which is aiming to get more people cycling than ever before. This bridge should do exactly that, making it much easier and more convenient for people to cycle to work or school. This new link will provide a safe alternative to the main traffic route between the two communities of Kingsteignton and Newton Abbot which can help tackle congestion, reduce carbon emissions, improve people’s health, and save people money. It will also support our local economy by attracting visitors to the area on the National Cycle Network.”

The development of a new path from Hackney Marshes, alongside the railway line, got underway a few months ago. Other connecting paths in the Hackney Marshes local nature reserve were opened last year. The cycle/footbridge, and connecting paths will eventually extend along the North bank of the River Teign to Teignmouth, as part of the National Cycle Network.

Sustrans South West Director Adrian Roper said: “Once complete, the new route will also link to the railway station and industrial estate, making it easier for people to get around on foot or by bike for everyday journeys to work, school or the shops. We know that providing safe, traffic-free routes is an excellent way of encouraging people to make more of their everyday journeys without needing to rely on a car. This bridge and the new routes will make walking and cycling a much more attractive option.”

The new bridge has been designed and project managed by Devon County Council following several years of negotiations, detailed investigations and design development. It is expected to be completed and open to the public in December 2012.

The scheme is being carried out with the co-operation of landowners Network Rail, Newton Abbot Racecourse, Teignbridge District Council, Newton Abbot Town Council and the Crown Estate. The main contractor is Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd. Rowecord Engineering will be carrying out the fabrication and erection of the bridge.