Page 47 - link magazine

Swindon Travel Choices

Swindon Travel Choices aims to make it easier for those living or working
in Swindon to get around without clogging up the road network. We believe
that by giving people proper travel choices, many everyday journeys can be
made by bus, bike and foot rather than by car.

Travel Choices at Big Arts Day on 14 July
Inclement weather before Want to use a car without the expense
the Big Arts Day meant of owning one?
visitors were asked to As part of the Swindon Travel Choices project, we will be
leave cars at home and introducing a car club to the streets of the town centre. A car
walk, cycle or take the club enables people to hire a car by the hour, so for many
bus to Lydiard Park. The people who only use a vehicle now and then, it provides a
Swindon Travel Choices handy way of making journeys without having the expense of
web site gave clear buying a car, tax, petrol, MOT, insurance etc.
guidance on travel options
to the event whilst team There are already 2 cars available for club members to use
members were in the at the Triangle development on Northern Road, and by the
park all day promoting the autumn there should be 3 further cars by the railway station, on
town’s excellent network of In the park, Maureen Corcoran, Princes Street and at Prospect Place in Old Town.
cycling and walking routes. Claire Fleming and Ben Staite For further information about how the car club works, visit:
www.commonwheels.org.uk
You said . . . we did . . .
A survey of town centre workers Active Swindon Cycle Challenge
in November 2011 revealed that a huge success!
the dark nature of the Sheppard
Street tunnel made the pedestrian Running throughout June,
and cycle route from North Star the Active Swindon Cycle
to town unappealing. Work has Challenge drew hundreds
now been completed on upgrading of competitors from in and
the lighting of the tunnel, which around Swindon, be they
is part of the Western Flyer individual challengers or
cycle and pedestrian route. The workplace teams - and
improvements are just the first of boy, did they rise to the
many along the two mile route that connects West Swindon to challenge! Throughout the
the town centre via Barnfield and North Star. course of the event, the
challengers cumulatively
cycled almost 1.5 times
Western Flyer consultation around the world, and
There was a great response logged thousands of
journeys - that’s over 8 tons of CO2 saved!! Over 50 spot
when we exhibited plans for prizes of shopping vouchers and cinema tickets were awarded
the upgrade to the Western to participants to reward their efforts.
Flyer cycle route last month.
The exhibition was held The challenge was launched with hundreds of bananas
at the Link Centre as part being distributed to cycle commuters. Well done to all our
of National Bike Week challengers, whether you did 1 or 1,000 miles!
celebrations and showed
proposals for improving
the two mile off-road link Volunteer Walk Leaders Wanted
between West Swindon and Swindon Health Walks is keen
the town centre. Team member Ben Staite to hear from people who would
For those unable to attend the exhibition, the plans are on the be interested in leading new
Swindon Travel Choices website at: weekly walks in the Stratton or
www.swindontravelchoices.co.uk/projects/project-3.aspx Penhill areas. A free one-day
training course is being held on
Free programme of guided bike rides 14 September at the Link Centre
between 10am and 3pm. Walk
Every Sunday until October we are running a series of leisurely leaders need to be enthusiastic,
led bike rides throughout different areas of Swindon. The rides reasonably active, reliable,
run from 10am to midday and are suitable for all ages and punctual and enjoy meeting new
abilities. The routes use the off-road network of paths, and quiet people.
side streets, and will be at a leisurely pace, travelling through To find out more and to register,
some of Swindon’s prettiest spots.
please contact Amanda on Members of the Toothill Health
For a programme of dates and locations, visit our website: 01793 465413 or email: Walk, Elaine Dix, leader, with Gail
www.swindontravelchoices.co.uk/cycle.aspx [email protected] Light, left, and Caroline Evens
Interact with us: Facebook.com/Swindontravelchoices Twitter: @Swindon_Travel
www.swindontravelchoices.org.uk e-mail: [email protected]

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