Hampshire Now - your County Council magazine

My Journey - Keeping Hampshire moving with sustainable travel

Thursday, 14 June 2012

Hampshire County Council is aiming to reduce congestion with a sustainable transport and travel awareness campaign - 'My Journey' - which will be funded from the £4.1m grant received from the Government's Local Sustainable Transport Fund.

The 'My Journey' campaign will highlight the many activities planned as part of the Hampshire Sustainable Transport Towns project, which aims to increase people's use of sustainable and public transport and reduce congestion on our roads by ten per cent. Initially, 'My Journey' activities will be carried out in Aldershot, Andover, Basingstoke, Farnborough, Fleet and Winchester.

People encouraged to walk, cycle, use bus or rail

Over the next three years, those who live or work in these towns will be encouraged to make greater use of walking, cycling, bus or rail in their everyday journeys. As part of this programme, people will be informed about the options available to them and encouraged to give alternatives to the car a try. This might mean taking the bus for local journeys or sharing a lift to work with a colleague.

Personal travel planning to be offered

Central to the 'My Journey' campaign will be an offer of personal travel planning to approximately 17,150 households in targeted areas of Basingstoke, Andover and Farnborough. Specially trained personal travel advisors will be offering travel advice and incentives to try alternatives to the car. Residents in Chineham and Popley will be the first to be able to access personal travel planning.

Councillor Mel Kendal, Executive Member for Environment and Transport, commented:

"Research has shown that Hampshire residents are keen car users, above the national average. With the rising price of fuel however, as well as ever increasing traffic on the roads, many people are beginning to consider the money-saving benefits of walking, cycling or using the bus not to mention the benefits to their health and well-being of walking and cycling.

"The My Journey campaign aims to make it easier for people to work out whether their local journey in their own car could be made as conveniently by bus, bike or by car sharing instead. Personalised travel advice will tailor practical help and support to individual needs and offer incentives, such as free bus tickets, pedometers and bike lights, to tempt people to give other travel options a try.

"If more people can be encouraged to walk, cycle or travel by bus or rail, this will have a positive impact on reducing congestion and carbon emissions, as well as support economic growth locally."

A 'My Journey' website - www.myjourneyhampshire.com - has been developed to offer a one-stop shop for advice about the different options for travelling in Hampshire. The website includes details of local events such as leisure cycle rides, together with special offers and competitions.

The County Council plans to extend the 'My Journey' campaign to other towns in the county, subject to securing further funding from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund.

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