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Since last June, over 30 volunteers in Birmingham have signed up to our community-led project to tackle social isolation by improving accessibility and creating an age-friendly environment. For many people aged 50 and over, the urban environment can be inaccessible, which can deter them from leading a healthy, active lifestyle. That, in turn, can affect their wellbeing and lead to social isolation.
The volunteers have focused their efforts in Castle Vale, Pype Hayes and Birches Green. They’ve been busy assessing the street scene to identify problem areas with a bespoke toolkit developed especially for the project.
With the audit now complete, the next stage of the project is beginning to get underway. During this phase, we are looking at what changes the community would like to see and work with them to develop their ideas. These ideas will then be trialled with the findings of the project brought together into a community plan in May 2020. This will contain a set of proposals for lasting change which could be implemented over a 5-10 year period.
As the project is community-led, it’s not yet known what ideas will emerge. However, the group has already identified a range of low cost and short term measures which could be trialled. These include changes to short timings on crossing points and the addition of seating for resting. They’re also keen to make better use of local public spaces and address difficult links between neighbourhoods.
Castle Vale resident, John Shearer, was keen to have his say after noticing problems caused by inconsiderate with parking. Commenting on the project he said; “I am fairly mobile, but some of my friends are in mobility scooters and struggle to get around due to vehicle obstacles, main road crossings etc. Also, my grandsons (aged 5 and 3) and I often walk through Castle Vale to the shopping centre and have problems. It made sense to me that Sustrans asked for local involvement to try and make things better and improve safety and access. It is nice to have someone take an interest in local problems and to date, I have personally enjoyed being a part of the process.”
Commenting on the project Sustrans Community Engagement Officer, Ridhi Kalaria, said; “Since last June we’ve engaged over 90 people through pop-up events in food stores, at mapping workshops and other community events. Many of them were surprised to learn that the layout of our local street scene can have a big impact on wellbeing and social isolation. So far people have been keen to get involved in this exciting community-led project and I’m really pleased with the response! Although it’s focused specifically on Tyburn there’s a lot that we can learn which could have a big impact for a much wider audience.”
We’re delivering the project as part of the Ageing Better in Birmingham programme to tackle social isolation. Along with other projects across the city, it’s been commissioned by Birmingham Voluntary Services Council with a £6 million grant from the National Lottery Community Fund.
Please visit https://www.ageingbetterinbirmingham.co.uk/latest-news/age-friendly-tyburn or contact ridhi.kalaria@sustrans.org.uk for more information about the project.
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Sustrans Scotland have today, along with 24 other organisations in health, child advocacy, poverty, environment and active travel, written to the First Minister to call for leadership and her support of the Safer Streets Bill.
Lower speed limits, and particularly 20mph in urban areas, save lives. They are proven to reduce the number, and severity, of injuries on the road. Disadvantaged communities are disproportionately affected by vehicle speeds, as are children and older people.
We welcome the support the Scottish Government has given for active travel, setting an example for the rest of the UK. National leadership on the issue of 20mph would have Scotland lead the way and would ensure an approach that is more equitable, more cost-effective, and offers the greatest scope to reduce casualties.
The letter is below:
An open letter to First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon
The Restricted Roads (20mph) Bill (Safer Streets Bill)
Dear First Minister,
We are writing to you directly to reiterate our support for the Safer Streets Bill. The undersigned organisations working in active travel, health, child advocacy, poverty and environment fully support a nationwide move to lower the default speed limit on restricted roads from 30 to 20mph, and believe that the bill is the best way for Scotland to achieve this. We hope that the Scottish Government will seize the opportunity and support this bill.
Lower speed limits, and particularly 20mph in urban areas, save lives. They are proven to reduce the number, and severity, of injuries on the road. We understand reservations about a ‘blanket’ approach to implementation, but there are significant benefits to a national approach led by the Scottish Government:
1. It is more equitable. When schemes are introduced piecemeal, there is a danger that the areas with the loudest voices - and where implementation is easiest - get prioritised. Road traffic casualties disproportionately occur in the poorest areas and we believe that leaving 20mph schemes up to local decision making risks widening these inequalities. That does not fit with Scotland’s strong commitment to fairness.
2. It is more cost effective. Leaving it up to local authorities to devise, implement and individually promote each 20mph scheme will inevitably cost a great deal more than if the national government does so centrally. Evidence given to the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee suggests that the Safer Streets Bill will be substantially cheaper for local authorities to implement than the present system.
3. It offers the greatest scope to reduce casualties. The recent Atkins report for the UK Department for Transport found that it was the scheme with 'blanket’ provision - in Brighton - that saw the most significant casualty reductions. Current guidelines to only implement 20mph speed limits on roads where speeds are already quite low are too timid.
Changing the national speed limit ensures the inclusion of more roads where traffic speeds are higher and will lead to the greatest average reduction in speeds.
A Scotland-wide reduction in speed limits will save lives every year, not only through reduced casualties but as more people choose active forms of travel and the air quality in our communities improves. We cannot wait for individual local authorities to implement this in a few limited areas, as and when they have the resources. We cannot wait for more studies.
We need Scotland to lead, as it did banning smoking in public places and reducing the alcohol limit for drinking and driving. The Safer Streets Bill offers the best chance of safer, fairer roads. The time to act is now.
Gavin Clark, Aberdeen Cycle Forum
Gregory Kinsman Chauvet, Bike for Good
Joseph Carter, British Lung Foundation (Scotland)
Katharine Byrne, Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland
Jackie Brock, Children in Scotland
Keith Irving, Cycling Scotland
Paul Tuohy, Cycling UK
Professor Adrian L Davis, Transport Research Institute, Edinburgh Napier University
Dr Emily Stevenson, Faculty of Public Health
Richard Dixon, Friends of the Earth Scotland
Bruce Whyte, Glasgow Centre for Population and Health
Iona Shepherd, Go Bike! The Strathclyde Cycle Campaign
John Davidson, Highland Cycle Campaign
Stuart Hay, Living Streets Scotland
Ian Findlay, Paths for All
Sally Hinchcliffe, Pedal on Parliament and Cycling Dumfries
Marguerite Hunter Blair, Play Scotland
Peter Kelly, Poverty Alliance
Professor Steve Turner, Royal College of Paediatric and Child Health
Craig Burns, Scottish Cycling
Dave du Feu, Spokes the Lothian Cycle Campaign
John Lauder, Sustrans Scotland
Colin Howden, Transform Scotland
Suzanne Forup, Women’s Cycling Forum
And:
Lee Craigie, Active Nation Commissioner
Professor Danny Dorling, Oxford School of Geography and the Environment
Find out more about or our position on 20mph speed limits in built-up areas.
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, 
Nearly two thirds (63%) of teachers would support a ban on motor vehicles outside the school gates during school drop off and pick up times, new figures reveal.
A YouGov poll carried out for Sustrans, the walking and cycling charity, surveyed 840 teaching professionals across the UK about their attitudes towards air pollution and the actions they think should be taken to improve air quality outside the school gates.
More than half (59%) of those surveyed want the Government to take urgent action to improve air quality near schools. When asked what would help bring down the levels of air pollution outside schools, just over a third of respondents (34%) thought that encouraging more people to walk, scoot and cycle would help reduce toxic fumes, followed by educating the school community about the cause and effects of air pollution (28%) and school road closures (26%).
The survey also revealed:
Over half (59%) cited a lack of other routes for motor traffic as one of the main barriers to closing the road outside the school; Almost half of the respondents (48%) cited that driving is a more convenient option for families and is one of the biggest obstacles to more people walking, scooting or cycling the school run; More than one in three (36%) said they need support from parents to enact change on the school run and 27% said they need backing from local authorities; One in three teachers (30%) are worried about air pollution, with 43% stating idling car engines outside the school gates cause concern, while a further 63% cited it’s a concern because the school is based on or near a busy main road; The number of teachers concerned about air pollution near their school rose to 55% in London.Air pollution is linked to up to 36,000 premature deaths in the UK each year and more than 2,000 schools and nurseries are near to roads with damaging levels of motor emissions.
Earlier this month, Public Health England published a set of interventions for local authorities to urgently limit transport emissions, including banning idling car engines around schools and investing in foot and cycle paths.
Xavier Brice, Sustrans’ CEO said: “We need to radically change the way we travel. Idling car engines and snarled up roads poison the air and our children’s bodies across the UK.
“For too long now, dangerous levels of air pollution near schools have been ignored. Finally, this is starting to change. Our survey makes it clear that teachers want urgent action to clean up toxic fumes. They see closing the roads outside their school as an effective solution but need support from local authorities to enact change.
“Across the UK, councillors that care about their young constituents are leading the way by implementing school street closures during the school run, to reduce air pollution and create a safer environment for families to walk and cycle. We want to see more. Our 40 closures for the Big Pedal show it’s possible.
“Young people across the world are taking action for a better future. Isn’t it time we did too? We urge local authorities to follow their peers. And call on Governments across the UK to support local authorities and implement clean air legislation to tackle motorised traffic, including large scale investment in walking and cycling to enable more people to choose active and cleaner ways to travel for local journeys.”
The teachers’ survey has been released to launch the Big Pedal 2019 (25 March – 5 April), the UK’s largest competition to encourage more young people to cycle, walk and scoot to school. Held annually by Sustrans, this year’s challenge has over 2,200 schools registered to take part.
Additionally, for the first time, 40 schools across England, Wales and Scotland, are closing their streets to motor vehicles for one day to improve air quality and safety outside the school gates, in partnership with Sustrans, Playing Out and their local authority.
Radio and television presenter Angellica Bell, who has today launched the Big Pedal at St Richard Reynolds Catholic College in Twickenham, said:
“I know first-hand the joys and benefits of riding a bike and how important it is for children to be active from an early age and that’s why I support the call for creating a safer and calmer environment around schools for children to cycle and walk.
“Events like the Big Pedal are fantastic because they demonstrate to children, parents and teachers just how beneficial it can be to travel actively to and from school for a few more journeys a week.”
Sophie Gallois, Unicef UK’s Director of Advocacy and Communications, said:
“Every day, one in three children in the UK is breathing in harmful levels of air pollution that could damage their health and impact their future. Worryingly, children are most exposed to toxic air on the school run and while at school, so a ban on motor vehicles outside of school gates has the potential to make a real difference. Reducing children’s exposure to air pollution is not just about the school street itself, but also taking quieter routes to school, away from busy main roads.
“The Government must take urgent action to tackle this growing health crisis by putting children’s health at the heart of its work on air pollution. That includes focusing interventions on places where children are most exposed to toxic air, like schools, and promoting behavioural changes that will create real impact for children now and in the future.”
The Big Pedal is organised by the walking and cycling charity Sustrans. The lead sponsor for this year’s challenge is Micro Scooters and the supporting sponsor is Tonik Energy.
Follow us:
Twitter - @sustrans #BigPedal
Facebook - https://en-gb.facebook.com/Sustrans
ENDS
For further information, images and interviews, and the full version of the YouGov survey, please contact:
Anna Galandzij, Senior Press Officer at Sustrans, anna.galandzij@sustrans.org.uk, 07557 915648
Liv Denne, Press and Media Officer at Sustrans, liv.denne@sustrans.org.uk, 07768 035318.
About SustransSustrans is the charity making it easier for people to walk and cycle. We connect people and places, create liveable neighbourhoods, transform the school run and deliver a happier, healthier commute. Join us on our journey. www.sustrans.org.uk
Sustrans’ school programme works intensively with over 1000 schools to transform the school run, making it easier for children and families to walk, scoot and cycle to school.
Sustrans provides free information for schools, parents, pupils, councils and anybody else interested in school travel initiatives. For more information visit http://www.sustrans.org.uk/our-services.
Sustrans is a registered charity no. 326550 (England and Wales) SCO39263 (Scotland)
About the Big PedalThe Big Pedal is a UK-wide challenge which aims to get more young people cycling, walking and scooting to school, backed by British television, radio presenter and cycling advocate Angellica Bell. It’s the largest competition of its kind and will see participants across the UK leave their cars at home and get on their bikes, feet and scooters for their journeys to and from school.
During the 10 days participating primary and secondary schools will compete with one another to make the most journeys by bike, foot or scooter. The theme of this year’s Big Pedal is ‘Travelling around the body’, with pupils tracking their progress on a wall chart, learning about how cycling benefits their health along the way.
About the surveyAll figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 840 teaching professionals. Fieldwork was undertaken between 25 February and 8 March 2019. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK teaching professionals (secondary and primary schools).
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It may only be March, but a community group in Lincoln are calling for volunteers to sign up to an Easter egg hunt with a difference! During the event on Saturday 13th April, participants will search for a series of clues while cleaning up at the same time!
So far around six families have signed up to take part in the quirky event, which is being organised by the Moorlands Local People Project. They’re aiming to recruit another twenty families before the big day.
It comes from an idea at a recent steering group meeting where local residents said a cleaner neighbourhood was one of their biggest priorities. The idea for an Easter egg hunt was also put forward and the decision was taken to roll both into a single day.
Covering around one square mile each, there will be three trails available to participants on the day. The event will include a woodland trail, a street trail and a playground hunt. The volunteers will be divided into groups and will take one route each.
The children taking part will be searching for a number of varnished stones which have been hidden. They’ll need to collect the stones at each point to show they’ve completed the course to receive their prize.
The varnished stones are being prepared by a local craft group which is part of the Moorlands Local People Project. They’ve also created a number of Easter egg baskets from recycled materials. These will be filled with Easter eggs and handed out to children that participate when they complete the course.
The event has the full backing of the local YMCA who’ll be helping to clean up on the day. Organisers are also seeking support from local businesses.
Commenting ahead of the event, Community Project Officer Wanda Wilson from Sustrans, said; “Local residents have told us that cleaning up the neighbourhood is a big priority for them. So we came up with the idea of an Easter egg hunt with a difference! It’s a way of making our neighbourhood cleaner and having a bit of Easter fun at the same time. During the hunt you follow the clues, clean up your area and get an Easter egg for the rubbish you pick up and bring back. So why not come and join in the fun by cleaning up your area for the Easter Bunny?”
Funded by the People’s Health Trust, the Moorland Local People Project is an exciting initiative which aims to improve health and wellbeing by creating a better place to live. We’re delivering the project with support from Lincoln City Council and Lincolnshire County Council.
The event will take place between 11am and 12pm starting at the old butchers shop at the Moorland Avenue round shops. Please contact wanda.wilson@sustrans.org.uk or visit: https://www.facebook.com/MoorlandLocalPeople/ for more information and to get involved.
Families in Bedford are backing this year’s Big Pedal competition ahead of its launch next week. So far 20 schools in Bedford have signed up for the UK’s largest cycling, walking and scooting challenge for schools - more than double the nine that took part in 2018. Across the country, 2,145 schools have signed up with 692,959 pupils taking part, although this figure is growing by the day.
This year’s competition is backed by Angellica Bell, British television, radio presenter and cycling advocate, who took on the ‘Tour de Celeb’ in 2016 where she found her love for cycling. It will run from Monday 25 March to Friday 5 April and will encourage young people from across the UK to travel by bike, foot or scooter for their journey to and from school. During the 10 days, participating primary and secondary schools will compete with one another to make the most journeys by bike, foot or scooter.
The Big Pedal is now a regular feature and last year nine schools in Bedford embraced the competition recording an impressive 9,028 journeys. One school that took part in last year’s contest was Castle Newhnam, achieving a national position of 337 with more than 22% of pupils taking part.
The school are looking forward to taking part again this year. Commenting ahead of the competition, Year 3 Teacher and Sustrans School Champion Anna Humphries, said; “Last year the number of children scooting and biking to school increased during the two-week slot and more parents also made the effort. We had a lot of staff who cycled in and it encouraged them to think about travelling this way more often instead of bringing the car in. This year we are looking forward to including walking to school as well. The number of children who live locally means that they will encourage their family to make the effort to increase their daily exercise! We also have Year 5 and 6 taking part on the North site.”
The theme of this year’s Big Pedal is ‘Travelling around the body’, with pupils tracking their progress on a wall chart, learning about the human body and how active travel benefits their health as they go.
Angellica Bell, who is backing the campaign, said: “I’m delighted to be supporting this year’s Big Pedal. It’s a fantastic way to encourage more children to cycle, walk or scoot – doing wonders for their health and the environment around them. I hope as many schools as possible sign up for the challenge and inspire children and families across the UK to get on their feet, scooter or bike for their journey to school.”
Matt Easter, Sustrans England Director Midlands and East, said: “The Big Pedal may only run for two weeks but can leave a lasting effect on the way children travel to school. It can show parents what’s possible and how easy it can be to leave the car at home for a few extra journeys a week. We are confident that 2019 will be even bigger and better than 2018!”
The Big Pedal 2019 is open to individual classes as well as whole schools, with hundreds of thousands of pupils expected to take part. For schools unable to take part in the main challenge, there is also a one-day version, which can include cycling, walking and scooting activities during the school day as well as on the journey to school.
Schools and classes will be entered into a daily prize draw for rewards, including scooters, if more than 15% of a school cycle, walk or scoot on each day of the challenge.
Ask your child’s school to sign up to Sustrans Big Pedal 2019. Please visit www.bigpedal.org.uk for more information.
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