'My Journey' personal travel planning for Gosport residents

Monday, 08 October 2012

In a move aimed at encouraging people to use alternative ways of travel instead of their cars, a team of four specially trained travel planning advisers will be working in the Elson and Hardway areas of Gosport until the end of October, offering travel information and advice to up to 2,000 households.

Advisers will help people consider travel options

Personal travel advisers will be asking people to consider their travel options for everyday journeys and to try taking the bus or train, walking, cycling or car sharing instead of driving.

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

"Research has indicated that Hampshire residents are keen car users, above the national average. But with the rising price of fuel and ever rising volumes of traffic on the roads, many people are beginning to realise the cost saving benefits of taking the bus or cycling for instance, as well as the benefits to their health as a result of increased levels of physical activity.

"My Journey aims to make it easier for people to work out whether their local journey in the car can be made just as conveniently by bus, bike or by car sharing instead. Following the success of this same activity in Basingstoke where over a third of participating residents actively made a change to their travel routines, we are now offering personalised travel advice direct to residents in the Elson and Hardway wards of Gosport. The travel planning advisers will provide tailored practical help and support to individual households and offer incentives to tempt people out of their cars. Our project partner First Group, for instance, has offered free one week bus passes for people who have not tried using local bus services in the Gosport area, so they can sample the benefits of using the excellent E1 and E2 Eclipse Bus Rapid Transit services for themselves. To support this work, a new Gosport cycle map has been produced, which the travel planning advisers can give to those keen to try cycling, and the advisers will have up to date bus and ferry timetables and information about car sharing to leave with householders."

Visit the 'My Journey' website

For more details about the Personal Travel Planning work being delivered in Gosport visit www.myjourneyhampshire.com. The website also offers a one-stop shop for advice about the different options for travelling in Hampshire. Details of local events such as leisure cycle rides together with special offers and competitions can also be found on the web pages.

The 'My Journey' campaign is funded by the Department for Transport's Local Sustainable Transport Fund. The objectives of the Government's fund are to reduce congestion at peak times, and to reduce carbon and greenhouse gas emissions. These objectives will be met at a local level, through 'My Journey' initiatives to encourage less use of the private car and a more active lifestyle by encouraging walking, cycling, use of public transport or car sharing to travel around, particularly for local journeys.

• My Journey - Helping Hampshire Get Around

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