Hundreds take up travel challenge

Monday, 08 October 2012

Almost 2000 residents in Chineham and Popley rose to the 'My Journey' challenge this summer, taking the opportunity to consider if they could travel around Basingstoke, or further, in ways that do not involve using their car.

Personal travel planning advice to 1,950 households

Personal travel planning (PTP) advice, provided through the 'My Journey' travel awareness campaign, has given many residents support and encouragement to try using the bus, train, walking, cycling, or to car share instead. A total of 1,950 households were visited by a travel adviser who asked people about their everyday journeys and helped them to consider how they might do their journey differently, providing information on local bus and cycle routes, quick short cuts when walking and car sharing options.

As a result , during the 11 week period, a total of 670 households actively took up the challenge to leave their car at home and test out other ways of getting around in their area. Furthermore, of all the households that the advisers contacted, 60% requested personal travel information packs and the team of five personal travel advisers delivered: 625 cycle maps; 205 car-sharing leaflets; and 500 guides to fuel-efficient driving.

More than 200 residents tried the bus using free ticket offer

Over 200 residents, who do not normally travel by bus, took advantage of the offer of a free, seven day Basingstoke Megarider bus taster ticket, supplied courtesy of the local bus operator Stagecoach, giving people the chance to see if some of their usual car journeys could just as easily be made by bus.

Residents of Basingstoke and other towns across North Hampshire can log onto the 'My Journey' website: www.myjourneyhampshire.com to see how regular journeys can be made from where they live and work without using a car. There is also information about events (such as community cycle rides), cycle training for adults, special offers, competitions and real-life case studies of how people have saved time, money, or adopted a more active lifestyle by making the change.

Hampshire County Council's Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Environment and Transport, Councillor Mel Kendal, said:

"It is good to hear that the personal travel planning activity has been so well received by people in Basingstoke. Given the high price of fuel in recent times, 'My Journey'; can help people find alternative ways to travel in place of taking the car, and potentially save themselves money. With people choosing to use their cars less for some journeys to work, shopping and even on the school run, there will be positive effects to be seen in terms of the impact on local congestion. People will also benefit in health terms by increasing their level of physical activity, particularly if they choose to walk or cycle instead of driving."

Mandy Hurford from Popley said:

"I completed my own 'My Journey'; travel challenge., Instead of driving to town, I walked there and back. A good 30 minute work out each way and a nice sunny day to work off those calories."

Lynsey Robson from Chineham said:

"Thank you for the seven-day Basingstoke Megarider taster ticket. I used it three times to travel into town and will definitely make the effort to use the bus into town more as it's very convenient and more than likely cheaper than diesel and the cost of car parking."

£4.1 million Government funding

'My Journey' is funded from a £4.1m grant received from the Department for Transport 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.

• My Journey - Helping Basingstoke get around

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