Bonded Mulch Specification

-Several play area surfaces are constructed with bonded rubber bark, that is a product made by using recycled tyres. The truck tyres are crumbled to produce rubber chippings, very similar to the overall look of solid wood bark chippings. They are then mixed with a specialist glue and applied onto the preferred surface in the required design and style. Children’s play spaces along with other exterior places could have this kind of surfacing laid for numerous benefits.

Just like wet pour, the bound rubberized mulch may be set up in numerous depths. The chosen level is based on the Critical Fall Height conditions for any apparatus on the play area. This is done with British test conditions to create the highest level of protection for kids. Recreational rubber bark is incredibly common close to obstacle courses and climbing frames in the United Kingdom. It generates a natural design which fits in with rustic themed places, combined with making the surfacing impact absorbing.

This style of rubberized surfacing is applied onto most existing materials, such as tarmac and grassy surfaces. http://bondedmulchspecification.blogspot.com/ It is good for surfaces which may have muddy patches that come to be hazardous in rainy weather conditions. The flexibility of this system means it can be very easily put on to facilities which have equipment already fitted. We will not really need to set down any groundwork so we are prepared to provide good prices to suit your project. We’ll be prepared to provide you with an inexpensive quote to undertake this type of job.

The premium rubber bark playground design is available in a whole host of different colour options. The most common colours are green and brown simply because they are usually developed for woodland places. https://bondedmulchspecification.wordpress.com/ In case you prefer a much more mixed look, the colour choices can be combined to give a more distinct look. You can easily generate a bespoke specification which can be totally tailored for your budget.

If you have pre-existing apparatus and furniture within the outdoor area, our surfacing can be structured to install beneath these products. You could have equipment like climbing structures; roundabouts, furniture and monkey bars, and we can accommodate all these. Due to spaces between the rubberized fragments, http://bondedmulchspecification.tumblr.com/ the floor is permeable. Because of this porosity, rain water will be able to go through the surface which helps prevent it accumulating and producing floods. This allows the surface to have minimum routine maintenance through the year, and it could be used continually. If you are searching for an alternative to solid wood chippings, this is an amazing choice because it is suited to all weather circumstances. You don't have any mulch getting misplaced from the area as it's all glued down firmly.

Rubber mulch is wonderful for flexible and durable pathways which take lots of pedestrian traffic. Quite a few outdoor spaces such as golf courses also get this particular flooring type laid so that users can move around the area easily. Routine brushing should be enough to help keep the floor free of debris and rubbish. http://bondedmulchspecification.weebly.com/ This can stop dirt from getting trapped in the pores and producing contamination and water damage. We recommend making the surfacing as clean as you can to be sure it’s safe at all times.

Sustrans continues winning with “New Streets Design Award” in London

2 July 2019

We were delighted to receive a “New Streets Design Award” from Local Government News editor, Laura Sharman, for redesigning part of New Park Road in the London Borough of Lambeth.

Our winning design means residents, parents and school children now breathe cleaner air and feel more confident crossing the road, the whole community benefits from the significant reduction in HGVs using New Park Road, and the risk of collision has been significantly reduced.

Safety concerns and listening to the community

New Park Road in Lambeth was in an area where the risk of accidents resulting in injury was 40% greater than on similar roads in the borough. Following concerns from parents, children and staff about traffic volume, the area’s relatively high road collision rate and poor air quality, Lambeth Council commissioned us to work with the local community to come up with a proposal that would transform the character of New Park Road, putting people rather than motor vehicles at its heart. Designs for the area also needed to align with Lambeth’s vision to reduce traffic speeds across the borough to 20mph.

Overcoming challenges

A major challenge for was how to transform a nine-metre wide road serving fast moving cars and lorries, into a place where people could safely walk or travel by bike. Eighty percent of the children arrive at the local school on foot, by bike or public transport, so most of the traffic creating the air pollution and an unsafe environment for the children was created by through-traffic rather than local traffic.

Working with the schools, businesses and residents, we helped transform a dangerous, polluted, car-dominated road, into a place which meets the needs of the local community. Trees were planted to help improve drainage and air quality. Pavements were widened, making for a more pleasant and sociable place.

The narrower road space, created through a series of circular build outs, provides a number of shorter crossing points, where previously no clear crossings existed. Colourful circles on the road are more numerous around crossing points to suggest safe locations to cross. The circles use the school’s colours to give the impression that the school is spilling out into the street. The no priority give way build outs encourage slow driver behaviour, which consequently discourages people from using New Park Road as a through route.

Getting positive results

The well-designed infrastructure and landscaping has resulted in children and local residents feeling more comfortable crossing the road, which benefits local businesses. As a result of the intervention there is now :

• 94% compliance with 20mph speed restriction
• 27% reduction in the average motor traffic speeds         
• 14% reduction in motor traffic volume.
• 30% drop in the number of HGVs using the road - with resulting better air quality, which is good news for residents in the area including the children at Richard Atkins Primary School.

Collaborative design to meet community needs

Our work focused on creating a design based on the communities’ priorities. We worked through many possibilities, including eliminating all through-traffic, with businesses, the school and residents as well as councillors and council officers, as part of our collaborative design process. The result was a design that met the community’s needs, dramatically slowing traffic making the road safer for pedestrians and people on bikes. The proposed design was tested through a day-long street trial, which proved a success with notable benefits including reduced speeds and more people on the street.

Giving the community ownership

Through our extensive engagement process, we collected views from local residents and schoolchildren who highlighted many safety issues, including a lack of safe places to cross the street, high traffic volume and speeds, and collisions. Residents have taken ownership of the street and have added more improvements such as planters. The community is also making plans for additional traffic calming measures on neighbouring streets as the desire to create Liveable Neighbourhoods grows in London.

Sustrans’ London Director, Matt Winfield, said:

“We’re delighted to have helped Lambeth Council make it safer and easier for people to walk and cycle in New Park Road and to see the difference it’s made to how school children travel.

“It is shocking that every school in London is in a location which is breaching World Health Organisation air quality limits. Urgent action is needed. We want national government to support local authorities to make it safer and easier for parents and children to walk, scoot and cycle to school. To do that, the roads outside schools need to feel safe.

Councils and campaigners that want to make streets outside school gates car-free can talk to us about delivering a community-led solution for everyone.”

“ “Winning this award means a great deal to us because it recognises the work we are passionate about – creating a healthy, happy city with people at the centre of street design.” ”

-  Senior Urban Designer, Feras Fathallah

Local resident Ray said “You’ve nailed it. It’s doing what it’s supposed to do - slowing the traffic for the kids. ”

Award winning form

This win comes hot on the heels of our success at the London Transport Awards earlier this year where our winning work featured in two categories covering three boroughs. Brent came top in the Excellence in Cycling and Walking category and Greenwich won highly commended for completing the missing link on the Thames Path. Our work with Greenwich, helping a business cut its carbon emissions by using a cargo bike for deliveries, was also awarded highly commended in the Contribution to Sustainable Transport category.

Read more about our work in London

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Walking and Cycling portrayed negatively in over 60% of media articles – new research reveals

25 June 2019

New research by Sustrans Scotland has revealed that despite well-documented health and environmental benefits, active travel continues to be portrayed in the media as risky and unsafe.  

The research, funded by Transport Scotland and conducted by Sustrans Research and Monitoring Unit (RMU) analysed 600 articles over a 12-month period from online news outlets papers across the UK and Scotland to explore how walking and cycling is represented, and how people who walk and cycle are portrayed to the general public.  

The research is to be presented in full at this week’s international cycling conference, Velo-City 2019, which takes place in Dublin, Republic of Ireland. 

Researchers analysed articles from four perspectives: “thematic”, looking at the broad news angle; “sentiment”, understanding whether the news article or feature is broadly positive or negative; “discourse, which looks in more detail about how walking and cycling are represented.   The team also did a visual analysis, examining what types of images were used of people walking and cycling. 

It is the first media analysis of this type to look at portrayals of active travel in the Scottish media. 

Key findings include:

News articles seem to zone in on ‘Criminal Acts’ – where a crime is committed by or against a cyclist or person walking, or a person walking or cycling witnesses a crime, or ‘safety’ – reporting an incident or event which results in injury or harm. 

The majority of articles (61%) about walking and cycling are broadly negative.  There are some regional variations, however.  UK National papers have a greater percentage of positive articles about walking, whereas both the Scottish National and regional papers have a much higher percentage of articles that are positive towards cycling.

There were positive themes too. ‘Infrastructure’ is a theme featured in 64% of positive articles about active travel and ‘Health’ is featured in over 93% of articles providing a positive view of active travel.

‘Infrastructure’ articles coded as ‘negative’ were not necessarily anti-walking or cycling, instead discussing poor infrastructure that need to be improved to make these areas safer, again highlighting the perceived ‘dangers’ of active travel.

Health articles were mainly focussed on walking, and found in UK National media. There may be an opportunity to further promote health benefits of cycling in Scottish media.

One of the key findings was in the visual analysis.  Images of active travel in general, and cycling in particular, were predominantly of white males. 

Of those portrayed actively walking or cycling, 50% of images contained only men, while 27% showed only women. This gap widens when looking exclusively at cycling images (63% male and 18% female). Active travel articles significantly over-represent images of white individuals (96%) in comparison to BAME individuals (4%), highlighting the lack of diversity. 

According to the research, images can often make people walking and cycling look vulnerable, or less than human “through the use of isolated or car-dominated locations, a ‘voyeuristic’ camera angle, and content such as showing only someone’s feet, which makes it difficult for readers to connect and relate to the individual pictured.”

“  We in the sector also need to make sure we don’t inadvertently reinforce stereotypes, or add to a climate of fear rather than celebration. ”

- John Lauder, Sustrans UK Deputy CEO, and National Director, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland  

Will Wright, lead researcher, will present the findings in full at Velo-City 2019, in Dublin, an international conference organised by the European Cycling Federation (ECF) with over 1,200 delegates from 45 countries worldwide. 

Commenting on the findings, Sustrans UK Deputy CEO, and National Director, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, John Lauder said: “It was encouraging to see that the Scottish media is reporting health messages on cycling and that the UK media recognise the benefits of walking.

“But there is still work to be done on ensuring both cycling and walking are not stereotyped and associated imagery is much more widely representative. We in the sector also need to make sure we don’t inadvertently reinforce stereotypes, or add to a climate of fear rather than celebration”.

Sustrans Research and Monitoring Unit Deputy Director, Nathan Farrell said: “This is one of the most comprehensive overviews of the media portrayal of active travel in Scotland. It explores some of the key challenges that emerge when reporting on cycling. In particular, it highlights how the media’s preference for the types of dramatic and sensationalist stories that appeal to audiences often underplays the more widespread health and environmental benefits of cycling.

“Ultimately, the research points towards the need for a more engaged dialogue between active travel advocates and media practitioners in order to more accurately represent the benefits of cycling”.  

Find out more about our work in Scotland Read the full report

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Despite growing awareness of climate change, UK families still pushed to use petrol vehicles on days out

24 June 2019

More than eight out of ten parents (83%) think an individual’s choice of transport plays an important role in leading a sustainable lifestyle. Despite this, petrol and diesel vehicles remain the main mode of travel for a day out for over half (56%) of UK families.

A YouGov poll, carried out for Sustrans, the walking and cycling charity, surveyed 1,089 parents across the UK with children aged 18 and under about their views on sustainability and environmental problems.

Over four-fifths (83%) of those surveyed said their awareness of environmental problems has increased in the last year. When asked what changes they have made to their lifestyle as a result of this, over three in five (61%) have reduced plastic usage, followed by recycling more (57%) and walking for shorter journeys (38%), whilst 9% started cycling for shorter journeys.

The survey also revealed:

Walking tops the mode of transportation that is considered sustainable (81%), followed by cycling (72%) and train (35%). 70% say sustainable travel is not a key factor for determining the destination for a day out. Almost one third (29%) stated a lack of public transport as a key barrier to travelling more sustainably, followed by the inconvenience of planning a journey around being environmentally friendly (27%) and limited budget (26%). Almost half (47%) attributed their increased awareness of environmental problems to televised programmes and a further 42% credited this to newspapers and magazines. 92% of parents think it is important to teach their children about the impact their lifestyle can have on the environment.

Earlier in the year, the average concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere hit its highest level in 800,000 years of which transport contributes heavily. New research by the University of Oxford demonstrates that walking or cycling can realistically substitute 41% of short car trips, saving nearly 5% of CO2 emissions from car travel.

MPs also passed a motion making the UK Parliament declare an “environment and climate emergency” following protests organised by pupils across the UK and worldwide demanding urgent action on climate change.

Xavier Brice, Sustrans’ CEO, said: “Environmental problems have dominated media coverage in the last year so it’s great public awareness is increasing. Sadly, transport is the only sector where carbon emissions continue to rise.

“If we are to help everyone travel more sustainably and reduce harmful emissions, we need to make it easier for more people to replace trips that they currently make by car with walking and cycling. Travelling by bike or foot should be as easy as recycling. As the survey shows, people want to travel more sustainably but now they need the right infrastructure to act.

“  Environmental problems have dominated media coverage in the last year so it’s great public awareness is increasing. Sadly, transport is the only sector where carbon emissions continue to rise. ”

- Xavier Brice, Sustrans’ CEO.

“Central Governments recognise the benefits of the National Cycle Network, which makes it possible for 4.4 million people to travel under their own power every year, for both work and leisure. We need to build on the success of the Network and make walking and cycling realistic for more families.

“Dense, high quality networks of walking and cycling paths that connect people to everyday destinations and offer an easy escape to the countryside require cross-government action and large-scale investment.”

The survey has been released to launch Sustrans’ Everyday Adventures campaign to promote the National Cycle Network. Its 16,000-miles span the UK and nearly a third of the Network is on traffic-free paths, providing a safe way to explore our cities, towns and countryside by foot or bike. 

Pauline Castres, Senior Health Policy Advisor at Unicef, said: “Families choosing active travel is not only good for the environment but has health benefits and reduces children’s exposure to air pollution. All children have the right to live, learn and play in a clean and safe environment. Yet 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.

“These survey results highlight a clear need for the UK government to tackle this growing health crisis, by putting children’s health at the heart of its work on air pollution. Unicef UK is urging the government to create a Healthy Air for Children Action Plan promoting urban spaces and active travel schemes and ensuring a child-friendly approach to building walkways and cycle lanes away from polluted roads to reduce children and young people’s exposure to toxic air.”

“  These survey results highlight a clear need for the UK government to tackle this growing health crisis, by putting children’s health at the heart of its work on air pollution. ”

- Pauline Castres, Senior Health Policy Advisor at Unicef.

Julia Hailes MBE, sustainability writer and author of the acclaimed Green Consumer Guide, said: “I’m a huge fan of electric bikes. They really make cycling a realistic replacement to travelling by car - even in rural Dorset, where I live.  And, it’s good exercise too.  Creating cycling paths all over the country is an extremely effective route to cleaner air, better health and tackling climate change.”

Nat Taplin, Director of Good Journey, an organisation which champions car-free leisure travel, said: “This survey has a clear message – that tackling the barriers of poor travel information and cost will make it easier for families to enjoy a car-free day out.

"Kids love the adventure of going by train, bus, bike and foot – free from the confines of the car seat. Having a car-free day out is also one of the best ways we can all help reduce CO2, air pollution, noise and traffic. If we can shift one in 100 day trips out of cars, it will save as much CO2 as taking 50,000 cars off the road.”

Mark Fitzsimons, parent of two from Plymouth, said: “Whenever possible I try not to use my car and have been cycling with my son on the back of my bike since he was six months old. I’ve just bought a cargo bike as my other son is starting school in September and I really don’t want to start driving them both.

“They enjoy the freedom of sitting in the cargo bike as they’re not strapped in; everyone who sees them remarks on how happy they look. It’s also electric which means I have no trouble cycling up hills (there are plenty in Plymouth!) and we take the cargo bike pretty much everywhere – the shops, park and when we visit friends.

“It’s a shame driving is so integrated into our way of life as the benefits of cycling are so wide ranging. You only have to look across to the Netherlands to see how much of a difference it can make to people’s health and also the environment.” 

Find out more about Everyday Adventures

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Scrapped plans for a vital walking and cycle bridge – our response

21 June 2019

Today Transport for London (TfL) has announced that it has scrapped plans for a new walking and cycle Thames crossing from Canary Wharf to Rotherhithe in London. This came a day after plans to build the Silvertown tunnel, a four lane motorway in east London, were revealed.

Sustrans back in 2008 proposed a walking and cycle bridge over the Thames to connect south east London to the Docklands peninsular to make walking and cycling possible for thousands of commuters and residents. Our subsequent feasibility study showed the bridge would lead to a crucial new walking and cycling crossing and provide a vital link across east side of the river.

Commenting on the announcement, Matt Winfield, London Director at Sustrans, said:

“We are hugely disappointed that the Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf bridge has been cancelled. With so much development planned for east London, it is essential that new walking and cycle crossings over the Thames are built so that it is easier for people to reach jobs and services using sustainable, clean modes of transportation.

Cycling and walking are a vital part of the transport mix but not if we force people to share tunnels with motor traffic. London needs significant change to address the problems of air quality, fairness, congestion and health - the cancellation of this bridge takes exactly the opposite approach.”

Find out more about the ‘bike bridge’

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Dublin inspired by UK Bike Life initiative to chart cycling progress in the city

20 June 2019
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Ahead of the world’s biggest cycling conference, Velo-city, which takes place next week in Dublin (25-28 June), the National Transport Authority (NTA) has announced the Dublin Metropolitan Area is to join the Bike Life programme.

Dublin will now join 17 UK cities and urban areas, including Belfast, in the Bike Life programme which began in 2015 and reports every two years on cycling progress.

Delivered by Sustrans, the walking and cycling charity, Bike Life is the UK’s biggest assessment of cycling development, including infrastructure, travel behaviour, satisfaction and the wider impact of cycling on an urban area.

Bike Life is inspired by the Copenhagen Bicycle Account which began in 1996 and has helped transform the Danish capital into a model cycling city where more than 60 per cent of trips are made by bicycle.

Anne Graham, NTA Chief Executive Officer, said she was delighted to join the programme.

“Bike Life gives us an invaluable insight into our progress on cycling in the Dublin Metropolitan Region and the views held by people who live and work there.

“It will help us quantify the health, economic and environmental benefits of cycling, and will provide us with really useful information about the kind of projects that the public believes we should be investing in, if we are to make cycling a safer and more popular mode of transport.”

Xavier Brice, Sustrans Chief Executive, welcomed Dublin to the Bike Life programme:

“It is a very exciting development to welcome Ireland’s capital city to join Bike Life. Since Sustrans began the programme in 2015 it has grown in size and profile with the number of urban areas involved more than doubling in just four years. This is testament to the quality of the data collection and interest by government authorities in the survey findings.

“We know the more cycle-friendly a city is, the more liveable and attractive it is. Dublin has always had a cycling culture but like many UK cities has been blighted in recent decades by the dominance of car traffic. By taking part in Bike Life, our aim is to promote cycling as an everyday means of travel. Dublin will be able to share in learning from the other UK cities and we know the UK can learn from Dublin’s experiences.”

Bike Life surveys a representative group of at least 1,100 people in each of the cities involved covering a wide range of issues including bike ownership, cycling provision (routes and cycle parking), gender and ethnicity, safety and security and perceptions of cycling. The report also looks at the impact cycling has on the health, economy and environment of each city.

The UK cities are Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Greater Cambridge, Greater Manchester, Inverness, Liverpool, Newcastle, Paisley, Perth, Southampton, Stirling and Tower Hamlets borough of London. 

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Sussex school children investigate air pollution and its effects, making every day a Clean Air Day

19 June 2019

25 schools across Sussex have been working with walking and cycling charity Sustrans on a major air quality education project funded by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs .

Working in partnership with Sussex Air Quality Partnership and Living Streets, Sustrans aims to raise awareness and engage school communities to keep air quality on the agenda throughout the year, not just on Clean Air Day, which falls on 20 June this year.

Sustrans’ air quality project officer, Daisy Addison, is working on the year-long project with primary school children. The project includes monitoring air quality, data analysis, an awareness campaign and clean air route-mapping.

Daisy said: “Our sessions are fun and informative. They encourage young people to identify the sources and effects of air pollution whilst developing an understanding of what can be done to improve it. Clean Air Day provides an opportunity for all schools to introduce this topic to their pupils and raise awareness of the far-reaching effects of poor air quality to human health and the environment.”

Alongside schools from all over Sussex, pupils from St Luke’s Primary School in Brighton have been investigating lichen and using nitrogen dioxide diffusion tubes to measure and monitor air quality around their school. They have been thinking about how people can work together to help minimise air pollution in a variety of ways, including discussing the role of walking or cycling to school.

Fiona Byrne, teacher at St Luke’s Primary School said: “Year 3 were very engaged with the Air Quality Project because it was about their local area and directly related to their experience. It was a great opportunity for them to do some practical science by using test tubes to test the air quality around the school. We are now using the information to plan healthier routes to school, so benefiting the whole school.”

“  “The evidence on air pollution and the risk it poses to the public’s health is clear, so we must take action. ”

- James Cleeton, Sustrans Director for England South

James Cleeton, Sustrans Director for England South, said: “The evidence on air pollution and the risk it poses to the public’s health is clear, so we must take action.

“It is great to see schools, agencies and communities working together on initiatives like this, which help to raise awareness and tackle the issue of poor air quality.

“We hope that everyone who participates in this project will continue to make choices that help reduce air pollution. Enabling people to make walking and cycling a normal part of their day will play a huge role in improving air quality, particularly around our schools, and will protect future generations for years to come.

“To help clean up our air, the UK Government needs to show leadership by helping local authorities fund and deliver better cycling and walking infrastructure, so that every child is able to travel on foot or by bike to school in safety and with confidence.”

Councillor Anne Pissaridou, Chair of the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee at Brighton & Hove City Council, said: “This project has raised important awareness about air pollution as a serious environmental risk to human health.

“As we know, road transport is the biggest source of emissions in Brighton & Hove. By encouraging children and their carers to make more journeys on foot, by bike or on public transport, or turning off the car engine when stationary, this project empowers people to respect and make a difference to the air we breathe.

“The sessions run by Sustrans point our school communities towards ways to cut air pollution and to minimise our exposure to it. We will continue to work with Sustrans to support these initiatives which are so important to informing and educating future generations about the difference they can make to improve air quality in the city and protect our local environment.”

Read more about how every day should be a Clean Air Day

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Sustrans invite you to ditch the car for Clean Air Day

19 June 2019

Sustrans are taking part in a wide range of activities across Northern Ireland to promote Clean Air Day on Thursday 20 June. Clean Air Day is a national campaign to raise awareness of the problems caused by poor air quality.

To mark the day, Sustrans are inviting people to ditch the car for the day and either walk, cycle or take public transport in an effort to lower air pollution levels.  In East Belfast at CS Lewis Square you can take part in some fun activities including a pedal powered smoothie bike or a Geocache Walk and fill out a pledge card on what you will change for Clean Air Day.

The Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast continually has congestion and car parking problems that contribute to poor air quality in the area, Sustrans Workplaces team will be at the hospital and encouraging staff to walk, cycle to work or use public transport. 

In Derry~Londonderry, Sustrans are supporting Derry City and Strabane District Council in their campaign to lower air pollution levels in the North West. There will be on-street promotions in both Strabane and at the Foyle Arena, as well as a lunchtime walk for Council staff.

Sustrans volunteers will also have a street presence in Armagh, which was found to have the worst particulate air pollution in Northern Ireland according to a World Health Organisation (WHO) report in 2017. The WHO surveyed the air quality of the UK’s 51 towns and cities. It found 44 failed the test for fine sooty particles smaller than 2.5 microns across that have been linked to heart disease and premature death.

Armagh was the worst in Northern Ireland with 14 micrograms per cubic metre. Belfast was next on 12 with Derry next on 11 micrograms per cubic metre. London and Leeds both had 15 micrograms of the particles in every cubic metre-sized parcel of air.

Air quality is becoming an increasing problem in towns and cities across Northern Ireland, it is not only damaging our environment but also our health. Every year, up to 36,000 people die from air pollution in the UK.[1]

Anne Madden from Sustrans said: “Road traffic is a major cause of air pollution which is damaging our health and the environment. We need urgent action by government to reduce air pollution. Governments need to do more to encourage less car use, invest in public transport and cycling infrastructure; and enable more people to walk and cycle for their everyday journeys. We believe government must take a “fewer not just cleaner” approach to motor traffic.”

There are some simple steps you can take that will have a big impact on the air you and your family breathes.  Making cleaner travel choices is just one way to make the air cleaner and healthier for everyone.  What will you pledge for Clean Air Day?

To learn more about how air pollution could be affecting you and your family’s health, visit www.cleanairday.org.uk and follow the campaign #CleanAirDay and #LoveAir on Twitter

[1] ‘Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (2018)

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Children at risk of day-long exposure to polluted air inside and outside London Classrooms

18 June 2019

Sustrans has collaborated on a new report, which today has been published by Health & Environment Alliance (HEAL). Entitled “ Healthy Air, Healthier Children,“ it shows the air quality inside - as well as outside - primary schools across Europe must be improved to protect children’s health and ensure optimal learning.

The data for London was built on a citizen science monitoring initiative that measured indoor and outdoor air pollutants at seven schools in Lambeth, which is one of the most polluted boroughs in London. It shows the presence of nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) inside and outside all classrooms, highlighting the urgent need to further tackle traffic pollution. The monitoring also found high levels of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) inside classrooms, indicating the need for better ventilation. 

Jonathan Grigg, Professor of Paediatric Respiratory and Environmental Medicine at Queen Mary University, said: “This report highlights that exposure of children to toxic compounds in the air not only occurs outdoors - but also in schools. More research is therefore urgently needed on the health effects of these exposures, and health-based indoor exposure limits must be developed for school children.”

Air pollution is the number one environmental threat to health in Europe and globally, leading to 400,000 premature deaths and hundreds of billions of euros in health costs in the EU each year. In the UK alone, around 40,000 deaths are attributable to exposure to air pollution. Evidence demonstrates that children are particularly at risk from polluted air, which can increase the risk of a child developing asthma and lead to an increase in the number and severity of asthma attacks, especially if a child lives close to a busy road. Indeed, the UK has the highest prevalence of childhood asthma across Europe.

Air pollution can also impact a child’s heart, brain and nervous system development, even before birth. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that no level of air pollution can be considered safe. It is already known that London exceeds EU NO 2 air quality standards, with half of emissions coming from road traffic. For the HEAL citizen science monitoring project, particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) were monitored during March-April 2019, with the active participation of schools and children and HEAL’s partner organisation Sustrans. The initiative was also rolled out in five more European capitals - Warsaw, Berlin, Paris, Madrid and Sofia - totalling 50 schools.

In London, outdoor NO 2 (a pollutant coming predominantly from traffic, especially diesel-powered vehicles), measured at the school entrances for one month, came close to the annual EU legal limit and WHO guideline of 40μg/m 3 , with averages of 35μg/m 3 and 36μg/m 3 NO 2 at two schools. These levels are averages, however, and are likely to have been higher during school hours, particularly drop off and pick up times, due to higher traffic volumes compared to evenings and weekends. The project also found NO 2 inside each of the seven classrooms ranging from an average of 12 μg/m 3 up to 26 μg/m 3 . As there are no indoor sources of NO 2 , this pollutant is travelling in from outside.

Yvonne Morris from Hitherfield Primary School, one of the seven schools that actively participated in the project, said: “We take air quality very seriously in our school, as we want to provide the best environment we can for our children inside and outside the school. It was very interesting to monitor the pollution, particularly inside the school. Before we started the project, we didn’t really know much about nitrogen dioxide, the fact it might travel into the buildings and how harmful that could be.” Keeping windows and doors closed to prevent pollution from entering is not a solution, as there is a need to air out classrooms, especially to decrease CO 2 levels. A previous study expressed the need to limit CO 2 to 1,000ppm to prevent a negative impact on academic performance, as higher concentrations can contribute to headaches, dizziness and the inability to concentrate. The HEAL study found levels of between 1,195ppm and 2,750ppm in London classrooms.

Xavier Brice, CEO at Sustrans that carried out the air quality monitoring around the seven schools in London, said: “This report contributes to the mounting evidence that air pollution is a real threat to our health and wellbeing, and in particular to our children’s. Until we end our reliance on motor vehicles for local journeys, the plague of pollution over our streets and inside schools will continue. The UK government needs to show leadership by making it easier for local authorities to close streets outside schools to motor vehicles during drop off and pick up times, and deliver a network of walking and cycling routes to school so that every child is able to travel by foot, cycle or scooter in safety and with confidence. The failure to resolve this denies our children their basic human right - to breathe clean air.”

Jemima Hartshorn, Founder of Mums for Lungs, a network of parents campaigning for clean air, said: “We are really supportive of this project. Lambeth is one of the most polluted boroughs in the UK and the air quality is having a negative impact on children’s health. By measuring the levels of air pollution in schools, where children spend so much time, this project will raise real awareness amongst pupils, parents and policymakers about the urgent need for action – and will allow stakeholders to ensure that the best and most pollution-reducing action is implemented.”

The report includes recommendations for policy-makers, but also for school authorities, parents and the health sector. These focus on the need for comprehensive, long-term monitoring, but also a range of measures that will clean up the air outside, so pollution does not travel inside the classrooms.

Anne Stauffer, Director for Strategy and Campaigns at HEAL, said: “HEAL’s snapshot investigation underlines the need for policy, teacher and parent action on clean air in schools. This should start with policy-makers prioritising healthy schools where children can breathe healthy air. It is unacceptable that the cities in our investigation, and many more in the EU, exceed the EU’s air quality standards. In cities, emissions from cars, buses and lorries are a major contributor to poor air quality, so investments should be made into not only reducing traffic around schools, for example with a ban on engine idling or restricted school streets, but also to finance those measures that will lead to a decrease in car use overall.”

Read the full report

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Your views on cities and towns

14 June 2019

We want your help to shape our work in cities and towns.

If you live in a city or town in the UK we want to hear about your experience and views on what would make them better places to live. Please take part in our survey today.

The survey closes on the 8th July at 5pm.

As most people live, work, study and play in urban areas we believe it is important that the many benefits of living in cities are towns are accessible to everyone and that living in them contributes to our health and happiness.

Sustrans has always worked in cities and towns – from schools to workplaces, transformation of city centres to research on public opinion and a whole lot more – we have been working for decades to make them easier places for everyone to walk and cycle.

We are currently planning the future of how we work in cities and towns – learning from what we’ve done before and setting ambitious new aims for what we do next. 

Your views will be a vital part in shaping our next steps and we’d love to hear them. You can share them via our survey here.

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£6.8 million boost to help thousands more rail commuters travel by bike

14 June 2019

Thousands of new cycle spaces will be added to rail stations around the country thanks to new investment in the Cycle Rail programme.

Xavier Brice, CEO for Sustrans, commented:

“Walking and cycling should be the easiest way for everyone to get to their local station, making our towns and cities better places to live by reducing congestion and air pollution, and improving our physical and mental health. But it’s not always easy.

"Train operators and their partners have come up with a range of schemes that will make it easier for people to get to and from their station under their own power, which we hope will encourage more people to choose cycling and walking as part of their everyday journey.

"The Cycle Rail programme has already tripled the number of cycle parking spaces at more than 500 stations, bringing the total to over 80,000.”

Find out more about the Cycle Rail Programme

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Sustrans Reaction to vote on 20mph

13 June 2019

Sustrans Scotland is hugely disappointed at the Scottish Parliament’s rejection of the 20mph (restricted roads) Bill. 

We had worked alongside many third sector bodies and charities to present evidence of the benefits of 20mph in making our streets safer, and our towns and cities better for people.  This remains Sustrans position and will continue to advocate for 20mph as one of the best ways to improve places for people walking and cycling.

We welcome the contributions made by many MSPs, from the SNP, from Scottish Labour and from the Scottish Greens in support of the Bill.  It is clear that road safety is not just a health issue, but also a social justice issue, and commend the MSPs who highlighted this. 

We are also heartened by the broad support for 20mph in principle, even amongst many who do not support the 20mph (restricted roads) Bill. 

We respect the vote of the parliament and will reflect on the vote against. We are also committed to working with any interested local authorities looking to roll out 20mph.

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Sustrans and Wandsworth organise borough’s first ever Play Street

12 June 2019

We’ve been working in partnership with the London Borough of Wandsworth and Granard Primary School to transform the road outside the school into the borough’s first ever Play Street, making it safer, less polluted and more enjoyable for pupils to walk, cycle or scoot.

Making positive change happen

Our extensive experience with schools and local authorities throughout London means that we can make positive change happen. In Wandsworth, we worked with Granard School on creating a Play Street event for the children and their families and we liaised with the borough on behalf of the school for permission to close the road. We will be monitoring parents’ views of the Play Street and providing Wandsworth with a report and evaluation which is part of our work to support the borough in their ambition to role out regular School Streets more widely. 

“ It’s great to be working with Granard School and the London Borough of Wandsworth, as they take the first step in creating a safer and cleaner environment outside the school. ”

-   Sustrans’ London Director, Matt Winfield Pedal power and freedom to play

Children were able to walk, scoot, cycle and play freely outside their school in the afternoon of Wednesday 12 June 2019 when the council closed Cortis Terrace to motor traffic in the afternoon. By opening the street to children and parents they provided children with a safe space to play. The aim of closing the street outside the school was to ease congestion, improve air quality and road safety. These are issues that many families are concerned about, particularly during drop-off and pick-up time.

Our June Play Street included fun playground games, scooter and bike skills and a smoothie making bike! Everyone had great fun making their own delicious, nutritious drinks using pedal power.

Big step to a safer and cleaner school environment

Organising a Play Street is a great first step to making the roads outside schools safer and less polluted. A Play Street can also lead to a more permanent School Street, where the road restricts motor traffic access every school day at drop-off and pick-up times.

“ By demonstrating that closing the road outside our school is achievable, and by measuring its impact and sharing our findings, we are aiming to encourage more regular street closures. ”

- Headteacher Cheryl Grigg Together we make a difference

We already have a great relationship with Granard Primary School, delivering our bespoke schools behaviour change programme Bike It Plus. Our Bike It officer, Emma, works closely with the school delivering activities such as bikers breakfasts, classroom activities and topical assemblies. 

Sustrans’ London Director Matt Winfield said:

“It’s great to be working with Granard School and the London Borough of Wandsworth, as they take the first step in creating a safer and cleaner environment outside the school.

“All the schools across London are in locations which breach World Health Organisation limits for air quality. Urgent action is needed, and we want national government to support local authorities to make it safer and easier for parents and children to walk, scoot and cycle to school. To do that, the roads outside schools need to feel safe. A great start is eliminating motor traffic at the beginning and end of the school day.

“It’s wonderful that Granard School has ambitions to do this on a more regular basis and that Wandsworth is keen to roll out School Streets to other locations in the borough. Hopefully, others will follow Granard’s example.”

Granard’s Headteacher Cheryl Grigg said:

“The streets around our school are often dominated by idling cars and traffic at drop-off and pick-up times, resulting in air pollution and an environment that is generally unpleasant for walking and cycling.

“By demonstrating that closing the road outside our school is achievable, and by measuring its impact and sharing our findings, we are aiming to encourage more regular street closures.

“Ultimately, we want to affect a permanent change in the way children travel to school and also hope to inspire more schools to try this approach and to raise awareness to the public about travel and its impact on health, well-being and the environment.”

While vehicle traffic is normally prevented from entering any school streets, it does not apply to local residents who live in the streets or drivers with a disability who need access. The schemes apply only during term times.

Read more about our work in London

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Double boost for cycling in Londonderry

12 June 2019

Cycling in Derry~Londonderry got a double boost with two new resources launched in Bike Week (8-16 June).

A new online map was launched by Derry and Strabane District Council (DCSDC) which marks out all local cycling routes, bike parking and useful cycling facilities such as bike repair stations.

Launching the new resource, Derry City and Strabane District Mayor, Councillor Michaela Boyle, said it would be a really valuable guide for people who cycle, especially those new to the area.

“I’m delighted to see the launch of the online map which offers quick and easy access to the latest information on all our local greenways, park cycle paths, shared use paths and on road cycle lanes in our District,” she declared.

“Making it easier for people to travel in a more active way is a key objective for Council as it’s good for our environment, reducing congestion and carbon emissions. And it’s great for people’s physical and mental health.

“With our ever-expanding traffic-free greenway network and the development of our parks and green infrastructure we are making really positive strides towards developing a more sustainable region.”

New bike storage unit

Commuters who would like to cycle but don’t have access to a bike can now benefit from a new bike unit which has opened this week at Ebrington Square in the city.

Six new bikes will be available from the bike storage unit as part of the Leading The Way programme, funded by the Public Health Agency (PHA) in the north west. Sustrans delivers the programme to encourage commutes by cycling or walking to public sector staff from the Western Health and Social Care Trust, DCSDC and PHA.

Krysten Maier, Sustrans Active Travel Officer said: "We’re really pleased to be able to extend the use of six new bikes to employees through the Leading the Way project. Ebrington is a wonderful public space in Derry and it will be a great meeting point for staff across the various organizations to come together for a range of cycle-based activities.

“With a close proximity to the Peace Bridge and Derry’s extensive riverside greenway network, we’re hoping this new bike storage unit will be a great way to break down some of the barriers that staff in the North West face when it comes to cycling and inspire them to get back on the bike more and more.”

View the new cycling map by visiting the Council’s website Find out more about our routes in Northern Ireland To find out more about the Leading The Way programme contact Krysten.  

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John Lauder, Deputy CEO of Sustrans, calls on Scottish Parliament to back the 20MPH (restricted roads) Bill.

12 June 2019

John Lauder, Deputy CEO of Sustrans, and National Director Sustrans Scotland, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland calls on MSPs to support the 20MPH (restricted roads) Bill.

On 13 June, the Scottish Parliament will be voting on making 20 mph the default speed limit on residential roads across Scotland.

There is strong evidence that slower speed limits save lives and prevent injuries (studies have shown a fatality risk of 1.5% at 20 mph versus 8% at 30 mph).

There is also major public support with 66% approving plans to lower speed limits on residential streets. Encouraging more people to walk and cycle, helping to create safer places for people to live, work and travel.

A national approach, rather than a local authority by authority roll out, would be cheaper and help avoid confusion amongst motorists.  

Sustrans Scotland believe the evidence presents an overwhelming and irrefutable argument towards lowering residential speed limits and call on MSPs to follow the example set recently in Wales and legislate to set the restricted roads default speed limit at 20mph in Scotland.

Read more about the 20MPH (restricted roads) Bill

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Sustrans response to new Cycle to Work Scheme

10 June 2019

Responding to the Government’s updates to the Cycle to Work Scheme, Xavier Brice Chief Executive at Sustrans, the walking and cycling charity, said:

“We warmly welcome the new Cycle to Work Scheme guidance published today which highlights the UK Government’s ambition to make cycling an activity for everyone.

“Removing the cap an employee can spend on a bike will open up cycling to more people, enabling them to purchase specially adapted or electric cycles, which was not previously possible due to their high cost.

“Encouraging more people to get on bikes means that more people can enjoy the National Cycle Network. Sustrans is busy making paths on the Network more suitable for everyone by removing 16,000 barriers, as well as increasing the number of people who can actively travel to work with a smile on their face.

“There’s no doubt that cycling is good for our health and the environment which is why we would like all employers and their workforces to take full advantage of the Scheme. In future we would like to see similar schemes on offer for those not in work so that more people can access cycles no matter their age or employment status.”

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One third of disabled people in UK cities would like to start cycling

6 June 2019

The “Inclusive cycling in towns and cities” report, published today by Sustrans and Arup highlights that women, older and disabled people continue to be neglected in cycling. This is despite the UK having a legal obligation through the Equality Act 2010 to protect everyone from discrimination in wider society.

An estimated 84% of disabled people living in the UK’s biggest cities never cycle for local journeys, yet one third (33%) say they would like to start cycling. The significant interest in everyday cycling is mirrored amongst other demographic groups, including women (32%) and people over 65 years old (15%).

The report uses data from Bike Life 2017, the largest assessment of cycling in seven major cities, and interviews with 12 focus groups consisting of women, older people and disabled people with reduced mobility, learning difficulty, hearing loss, partial sight, or mental health conditions.

Findings

It finds that people from these demographic groups face systematic barriers to either beginning to cycle, or to cycling more, including:

An association that cycling isn’t an activity for people like ‘them’. Heightened safety concerns when sharing road space with motor vehicles. Lack of seamless and dedicated cycle infrastructure to connect people to everyday destinations suitable for different types of cycles. Access to and the high cost of adapted cycles, including electric cycles, and where government support exists e.g. through the cycle to work scheme, it is only available to those in employment.

Interestingly, many participants who cycle only do so for leisure, as they can choose their own routes through parks or along familiar quiet roads. This means cycling to everyday destinations like work, school, the shops and community services is out of reach for them.

“ If I had an adapted bike, I think I would feel less disabled and feel a bit cooler. I would feel more confident getting out and about. ”

- Participant with reduced mobility from Greater Manchester

Barriers to cycling can also often affect people’s independence and confidence to travel, and, in some cases, push people into isolation.

Recommendations

The report sets out a number of recommendations for towns and cities, including:

Ensuring the voices of underrepresented groups are integrated in policy and planning. Creating a dense network of cycling routes within and around where people live and amenities. Reducing through traffic in local neighbourhoods to improve safety. Better access to cycle training and to adapted cycles.

Sustrans and Arup will use the initial findings from the report as the basis for further work to engage with organisations representing women, older people and disabled people to inform the transport sector to make urban cycling fully inclusive.

Xavier Brice, CEO for Sustrans, said:

“Inclusive transport is at the heart of a fairer society, and cycling can play a vital role in enhancing social inclusion. Sadly, in the UK an estimated 70% of the population can face systemic barriers to cycling, which shape and often limit their mobility, life opportunities and independence.  

“Our urban areas are predominantly designed around the car and only those brave enough to share road space with motor traffic currently consider cycling as a mode of transportation. However, women, disabled people and older people, who on average are less likely to regularly drive, suffer from the impact motor vehicles create, such as congestion and air pollution, which is damaging to their health and wellbeing. 

“ Cycle lanes end too quickly. They don’t last very long and you’re back on the road again. I think they’re great, because they are segregated cycle paths. They’re safe, but the fact that they make then run for half a mile is pointless. ”

- Female participant from Glasgow

“This report acknowledges that the UK can achieve big social changes. While it’s clear central governments need to show leadership and prioritise investment in cycling, we urge cities and towns to work with us to make cycling inclusive, safer and attractive for more people, regardless of gender, age and abilities.”

Mei-Yee Man Oram, UK Access and Inclusion Lead at Arup, said:

“Inclusive travel is an extremely important issue and we hope that this collaboration with Sustrans will open up a wider public conversation about ensuring everyone can access the benefits of cycling.

“Given the backdrop of climate change and air pollution in our cities - it’s vital we get more people involved in activities, such as cycling, which are not only good for their own personal health and wellbeing but for the environment.

“We’re excited about moving onto the next stage of this project with Sustrans, we hope our findings will be a valuable tool for the transport sector in making cycling more inclusive.”

Isabelle Clement, Director of Wheels for Wellbeing said:

“We welcome this Sustrans/Arup report, which re-affirms our charity’s own research findings and many of our own recommendations. As the campaigning voice of Disabled cyclists in the UK, we are encouraged to see major players across the cycling world give detailed attention to this agenda.

“Vast numbers of Disabled people are hampered from cycling at all or as much as they’d like to, not by their impairments but by infrastructure, financial and attitudinal barriers to cycling. The resulting costs for them and for society at large are huge (avoidable physical and mental ill-health, social isolation, etc.). Identifying these barriers means they can be removed.

“We very much look forward to working with Sustrans and Arup on pushing for full implementation of the report’s recommendations during phase two of this project”. 

For further information, images and interviews, and the report, 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.

Read the report: Inclusive Cycling in Cities and Towns

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Sustrans win prestigious award at The STAR conference

30 May 2019

Sustrans Scotland are pleased to announce that Emily Gait and Irene Tortajada won the award for “Best Paper by a Young Professional” at The Scottish Transport Applications and Research (STAR) conference in Glasgow.

Their paper, ‘the role of collaborative design in delivering inclusive, cohesive and self-sufficient communities’, demonstrates how Sustrans is leading the way in developing people focussed design processes and identifying behaviour change opportunities that are beginning to and could help transform the social and physical health of the communities we are working in.

The STAR Conference is the leading annual event for publishing, assessing and debating innovation and research in transport across Scotland.

Irene Tortajada and Emily Gait, Community Engagement Officers, Street Design, Sustrans Scotland, said:

“We are very pleased to have been awarded the best paper by a young professional at the STAR Conference. It has been a great opportunity to showcase the amazing work of Sustrans Scotland Street Design programme, particularly our ongoing projects empowering communities in areas of deprivation to re-design their neighbourhoods, making them more liveable, inclusive and sustainable.”

The programme committee at STAR said: “What stood out was a genuine, user focussed approach, including rapidly delivered temporary interventions, chosen and maintained by communities to build momentum for more major improvements.”

“The paper demonstrates the importance of context shaped and targeted engagement and the increased value of it in areas of high deprivation in Scotland”

The full paper is available on the STAR website.

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Sustrans expands senior management team, including charity’s first Director of Urbanism

30 May 2019
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Walking and cycling charity, Sustrans, has made a number of senior appointments UK-wide and in Scotland and Northern Ireland to reflect the charity’s ongoing commitment to people-centred places, and expansion of operations in these locations.

John Lauder, who has been Sustrans Scotland’s Director since 2005, will now take the role of Deputy Chief Executive of Sustrans, as well as National Director Scotland, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland.  He has overseen an expansion in Sustrans Scotland’s operations over his 14 year period with the charity. In addition, John has been at the helm throughout a period of intense change in the role, profile and policy position of walking, cycling and wheeling in Scotland, not least a doubling of the Scottish Government’s budget for active travel to £80M a year in 2017 and the appointment of an Active Nation Commissioner in 2018.

After a year acting as Deputy Director, Grace Martin will move to a new role of Director, Scotland.  She joined Sustrans Scotland from previous senior leadership roles in Scottish charities, most recently as Director of the Scottish Seabird Centre.

Following a year’s secondment to City of Edinburgh Council leading the much-admired City Centre Transformation project, Daisy Narayanan has been appointed as Sustrans’ first ever Director of Urbanism. She will continue her secondment to Edinburgh for another year, but in the meantime, she will continue to build Sustrans thinking and influence in Urban Design and placemaking. She will both support the delivery of high quality design through the charity’s funded programmes, and support development of the charity’s strategic priorities in defining what liveable towns and cities for everyone means.

Ashley Hunter joins as Sustrans Director, Northern Ireland & RoI. Ashley will be accountable to the Deputy Chief Executive on all operational programmes and developments. John Lauder will be working with Ashley and the team in Northern Ireland to develop Sustrans Northern Ireland’s work strategically, as well as reviewing and refreshing programmes and continue to deliver and evidence impact.

All appointees, Director, Scotland, Grace Martin and Director, Northern Ireland, Ashley Hunter and Director of Urbanism, Daisy Narayanan will report to John Lauder.

Commenting on the appointments, John Lauder said: “I am delighted with all the changes taking shape in Sustrans throughout our charity, not least the review of the National Cycle Network, which produced our Paths for Everyone commitment to improving the network and our continued commitment to make walking, cycling and wheeling easier for everyone. Grace Martin brings superb insight and experience to the role of Director, Scotland.

“The appointment of Daisy as Sustrans’ first Director of Urbanism is hugely significant as she brings a wealth of experience from her secondment to City of Edinburgh Council, where she has helped lead the City Centre Transformation project. Daisy will do much to help Sustrans shape our priority to help make cities and towns right across the UK high quality, people-centred places. In addition, the appointment of Ashley Hunter following the retirement of Gordon Clarke provides a new stimulus for our work throughout the island of Ireland.”

Commenting on her appointment, Daisy Narayanan said: “In the appointment of a Director of Urbanism, Sustrans has made a bold statement of intent – with a clear commitment to people-centred place making at the heart of what we do.  I’m delighted and honoured to take up this appointment and look forward to both learning, and contributing to the charity’s thinking.”

Grace Martin, Director, Scotland said: “In the field of active travel and place making, the team Sustrans Scotland has an unrivalled range of skills, expertise and talent. I am delighted to be leading this team.  We are also fortunate to have a committed and engaged funder in Transport Scotland, and to work with such a range of partners in local authorities, community trusts, NHS estates and others. I look forward to building on the excellent work already done by John and the team.” 

Ashley Hunter, Director Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland said: “I’m thrilled to take up the position of Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland Director for Sustrans,”

“My predecessor Gordon Clarke successfully developed behaviour change programmes in schools, workplaces and communities to reduce car dependency and encourage walking and cycling. There is still much to do on the whole island of Ireland, especially to improve infrastructure for active travel, but I look forward to the challenge.”

Find out more about our directors Read more about our liveable neighbourhoods project

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Sustrans Big Pedal helps London families ditch the car to bike, scoot or walk over half a million school runs

29 May 2019
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It’s been a fantastic Big Pedal year with a record-breaking number of schools taking part in our annual challenge. It was great to see so many families ditching the car and getting to schools under their own steam.

Over half a million school runs cycled, scooted or walked

Our Big Pedal, the UK’s largest cycling, scooting and walking competition, has resulted in school children across London making over half a million school runs by bike, scooter or on foot. In a record-breaking year, 239 London schools took part in the 10-day challenge.

School Streets for cleaner air

As part of the Big Pedal, we also worked with seven London schools, their local authorities and the local communities to trial School Streets where they closed their streets to motor vehicles during pick up and drop off times to create a safer, less polluted car-free environment for families to cycle, walk and scoot.

Making change happen

Big Pedal demonstrates that giving people incentives to change habits and opt to walk, cycle or scoot their everyday journeys helps to create healthier, happier communities, as people ditch their cars for an active and more sociable school run.

Sustrans’ Head of Built Environment in London, Giulio Ferrini said: “Our work with schools across London shows that we can make change happen. It is shocking that every school in London is in a location which is breaching World Health Organisation limits. 

“  Our work with schools across London shows that we can make change happen. It is shocking that every school in London is in a location which is breaching World Health Organisation limits. ”

-  Giulio Ferrini, Sustrans’ Head of Built Environment in London "Urgent action is needed to bring down current pollution levels. We want national government to support local authorities to make it safer and easier for parents and children to walk, scoot and cycle to school. To do that, the roads outside schools need to feel safe. We are looking forward to working with more Boroughs to make streets outside school gates car fee, by delivering community-led solutions that work for everyone.

"It is great to see more and more people getting involved in our Big Pedal challenge. Changing the way young people travel is fundamental to their health and wellbeing. Schools and councils need to take bold decisions to make this happen.

"We are passionate about playing a major role in helping London meet the Mayor’s target of 80% of all trips in the capital to be made on foot, by cycle or by public transport by 2041. We are doing this by continuing our work in schools and the communities around our great city to make people feel they can leave the car at home and travel more actively.”

Claudine Richardson, Bike It Champion at St Richard Reynolds Catholic College in Richmond said: “We decided to take part in the Big Pedal this year as a survey of our students revealed that air pollution and congestion outside the school gate was a big concern.

"During the competition, we saw a huge surge in the number of pupils walking, scooting or cycling to school and this has continued even after the challenge. It is fantastic to see the pupils come in so energised in the morning after a brisk walk or cycle.”

Keeping healthy and fit

For London, all the pupil journeys to school made by bike, scooter or on foot during the 10-day challenge is estimated to have burnt over 47.6 million calories in total - the equivalent of 196,906 doughnuts.

According to London’s Childhood Obesity Taskforce, nearly 40 per cent of all London’s children are overweight or obese. Walking, scooting or cycling to school could play a key role in helping children get their recommended hour of physical activity a day and enable them to maintain a healthy weight.

Greater London Authority research has shown that if every Londoner walked or cycled for 20 minutes a day, it would save the NHS £1.7bn in treatment costs over the next 25 years. This includes 85,000 fewer people being treated for hip fractures, 19,200 fewer people suffering from dementia, and an estimated 18,800 fewer Londoners suffering from depression. It is the ambition of the Mayor that Londoners walk or cycle for at least 20 minutes every day – currently, only 34 per cent of Londoners manage to do this on any given day.

Organised by Sustrans, and sponsored by Micro Scooters and Tonik Energy, the Big Pedal, which took place from 25 March to 5 April, is the largest inter-school cycling, walking and scooting competition of its kind in the UK.

If you would like the street outside your school closed to motor traffic during pick-up and drop-off times, get in touch and we can help.

See the results of the Big Pedal competition Find out about our work in London Read our latest annual review

from News https://www.sustrans.org.uk/news/sustrans-big-pedal-helps-london-families-ditch-car-bike-scoot-or-walk-over-half-million-school
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