Tag: Sustrans

Sustrans Big Pedal starts today

Sustrans Big Pedal is back! The UK’s biggest cycling, walking, wheeling and scooting challenge takes place between 19 and 30 April.

Keeping children active is more important than ever and because we don’t know exactly what the rest of 2021 will bring in terms of Coronavirus restrictions, pupils are able to to compete regardless of if they are learning at school or at home.

Big Pedal is back for 2021. Our long-running competition to get more people travelling actively to school has been changed so that children learning at home can take part.

Families are being invited to take part in the Big Pedal 2021.

It’s the UK’s largest cycling, walking, wheeling and scooting competition for primary and secondary schools.

The competition has now been running for 11 years.

And this year it’s fronted by Dame Sarah Storey, British Paralympian and 38-time world champion in cycling and swimming.

Big Pedal 2021 will run from 19 to 30 April 2021.

It will see young people across the UK compete with one another to make the most journeys by cycling, walking, scooting or using a wheelchair.

The theme of this year’s competition is ‘Amazing Journeys’.

And we’re encouraging pupils to see their local areas from a different perspective and learn about the benefits of active travel.

The coronavirus pandemic and national and local lockdowns have meant that many of us are spending more time at home.

So we’ve adapted Sustrans Big Pedal 2021 to become more flexible to the world around us at the moment.

Children will be able to take part in the competition and supporting activities whether they are travelling to school or learning at home.

The importance of staying active during lockdown 

Regular physical activity is vital to promote good physical and mental health.

And guidance from the UK’s Chief Medical Officers recommending children partake in 60 minutes of physical activity each day.

New data from Sport England suggests there has been a decline in the physical activity levels of children due to the pandemic.

Almost a third of children in England are engaging in less than 30 minutes of daily physical activity in the 2019 – 2020 academic year.

But our Big Pedal challenge is an easy way for families to stay active whether schools are open or not.

  Keeping active to help protect the NHS

Dame Sarah Storey, Active Travel Commissioner for the Sheffield City Region said: “I am delighted to be involved with the Big Pedal in 2021, and delighted it will be pandemic-proof this year too!

“Health has been in the spotlight over the past year, like never before, and getting out for a cycle ride has been one of the few activities that have been unaffected by the various restrictions.

“Staying active is one of the ways we can all play our part in protecting the NHS throughout our lives.

“Active people are less likely to fall into ill-health and suffer from the many diseases caused by not getting enough exercise.

“I really hope to see as many people as possible involved this year.

“It will be a fantastic way to start the Spring and to give ourselves a challenge in what has already been a challenging start to the year.”

Sustrans CEO, Xavier Brice said: “We’re excited that the Big Pedal is returning for 2021, after what has been a truly difficult year for all.

“And the need to make time to incorporate physical activity into our daily routines seems important now more than ever.

“We don’t know exactly what the rest of 2021 will bring in terms of coronavirus restrictions.

“But we’re delighted pupils will be able to take part, regardless of where they are learning.

“Active travel has proven its worth over the past year, with more people looking for socially distanced ways to move around and remain active in lockdown.

“As we look towards life after Covid-19 and schools returning as normal, we hope to see local authorities use the next stage of funding announced in November for cycling and walking.

“We need to continue to make it easier for families to travel actively to school.

“More people travelling actively for essential everyday journeys such as the school run means fewer cars on the road.

“And this helps to ease congestion and reduce air pollution around school gates”.

Join in the Big Pedal fun

Another fun and easy way to get involved in this year’s Big Pedal is to enter our family competition.

Share pictures or short videos of you and your children getting active between 19-30 April using #BigPedalWin on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.

Make sure you’re following @Sustrans on your favourite social media platform for the latest news about this competition.

Whether you’re doing the usual school run or just need some inspiration for keeping the family active in lockdown, we’ve got you covered.

Download our free family guide and start scooting, walking and cycling to school like a pro!

Bike event in MacMillan Square

North Edinburgh Arts and Sustrans are holding a bike locking and safety checking session in MacMillan Square on Friday 28th August from 12:00 – 3:00pm.

Bring your bike along to learn how to check it is safe to ride and how to lock it securely to prevent opportunistic theft.

Numbers are limited to 3 households every 30 minutes. Last demonstration will be at 2:30.

See poster for contact details

Survey: Research on communities and active travel

The Scottish Community Development Centre has been commissioned by Sustrans to research how and why communities engage (or don’t engage) with active travel projects

SCDC wants to hear from all types and sizes of community and voluntary organisations across the country.

Wherever you are on your active travel journey your experience matters: from those who have never even considered an active travel project to those that are thinking and planning on to those who have successfully completed one.

It doesn’t matter the focus of your organisation – Sustrans would like to know how they can work with all sections of our communities to deliver the benefits of active travel to everyone.

Complete the short (ten-minute maximum) survey by clicking on the link below. Closes Friday 28th August at midnight:

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/communities_and_active_travel

School street closures could improve level of active travel to school, study shows

Edinburgh Napier and Sustrans team up for project funded by Road Safety Trust

A new report has found that school street closures[1] can improve the number of children walking, cycling and wheeling to school without creating road safety problems.

An increase in school street closures would also not result in traffic displacement causing road safety issues in neighbouring streets, the findings show.

The new report – led by Dr Adrian Davis, professor of transport and health at Edinburgh Napier University – sets out the findings of a review of existing literature on the impact of school street closures designed to create safer spaces for walking, cycling or street play.

A total of 16 studies – including three from Scottish authorities in Edinburgh, Perth and Kinross and East Lothian – were used to evidence the report.

The findings of these 16 studies have been supplemented by semi-structured telephone interviews with relevant officers responsible for local authority school street closure schemes.

Alongside increasing active travel, the findings also suggest that in almost all cases, the total number of motor vehicles across school street closures and neighbouring streets reduced.

There is also consistent evidence that motor traffic displacement does not cause road safety issues of any significance and that mitigating measures, where needed, have been applied successfully by local authorities.

The report also suggests that school street closures are supported by the majority of parents and residents living on the closed and neighbouring streets and that their support increases after any trial period.

The literature review is the first to provide an assessment of the impacts of school street closures published in the English language.

The Road Safety Trust, a charity dedicated to making the UK’s roads the safest in the world, awarded funding to Sustrans to evaluate the impact of school streets on the safety of surrounding roads.

The literature review is part of this ongoing wider project to investigate the impact of school streets – streets that are open to pedestrians and people on cycles but closed to cars at drop-off and pick-up times – for children’s safety.

Dr Adrian Davis, professor of transport and health at Edinburgh Napier University, said: “It is noteworthy that such a simple intervention can have really positive impacts in terms of increasing children physical activity levels and with this the associated improvements in wellbeing.

“School street closures looks to be a win-win for residents, schools and children and their families.”

John Lauder, deputy CEO Sustrans, said: “With the growth in numbers of family groups discovering the joy of cycling, walking, and scootering during lockdown, and with many parents and guardians continuing to work at home, the return to school is a crucial moment.  We want it to be easy and sensible for as many children as possible to get to and from school actively.

“This research shows clearly how school street closures make the streets around schools safer, cleaner and healthier. It also shows that school streets help increase active travel to school, making it easier for children to start the school day awake and alert.  We call on local authorities to give this consideration.”

Sally Lines, chief executive of Road Safety Trust, said: “We want to make the roads safer for all users in particular vulnerable road users which includes children, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, and the results from the literature review are a welcome step towards this. 

“It’s great to see the funding we provided to Sustrans showing these early results in the form of the literature review and that the results can inform best practice across the UK.”

The City of Edinburgh Council has already trialled a number of school street closures within the city, including around Leith Primary, St Mary’s in Leith and Gilmerton Primary earlier this year.

A host of other measures, including street widening and traffic limits, have also been implemented across the city to help people socially distance while travelling and exercising.

The full literature review relating to school street closures can be found here.

Cycle hire offer to NHS staff extended

Transport for Edinburgh has announced the release of an additional 250 four-month passes for Edinburgh Cycle Hire (Just Eat Bikes) for NHS staff

Developed in partnership with Sustrans Scotland and Edinburgh Cycle Hire operators Serco, the scheme has been made possible with funding through Sustrans’ Partnership Programme, supported by Transport Scotland.

Since the end of April 2020, 100 NHS workers have been benefiting from the first phase of the programme using free annual passes. These have supported NHS staff throughout the Lothian area, and provided a healthy way to travel for essential journeys and for work during the Covid-19 crisis.

Recognising the success of the 100 passes, and building upon the support demonstrated for the scheme through over-subscription to the first phase, a further 250 passes are being made available to NHS Lothian employees.

The new four-month Edinburgh Cycle Hire passes can be applied for by emailing a request to support@edinburchcyclehire.com using an NHS email address (@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk or @nhs.net).

The passes will provide workers with a code to load into the Edinburgh Cycle Hire App, allowing them free access to use both pedal and e-bikes up to 60 minutes per ride for the first two months from date of issue. The final two months of the four-month pass will revert to pedal bikes only up to 60 minutes per ride free. E-bike trips will then cost 10p per minute.

George Lowder, Chief Executive, Transport for Edinburgh said: “We are delighted to have secured a second tranche of funding from Scottish Government via Sustrans, to provide further support for up to 250 NHS Staff in Edinburgh, giving them four months free access to the scheme and then an opportunity to remain members of the scheme at less than half the price of an annual pass.”

Ross Miller, Senior Transport Integration Officer at Sustrans Scotland said: “After seeing such a positive response to the first phase of this programme, we are delighted to provide funding to support a further 250 NHS Lothian staff in making happier and healthier journey choices.

“These four-month passes, combined with reduced price membership renewal, offer a healthy and convenient transportation choice, and we hope that by giving more of our vital NHS staff the chance to access the scheme, more staff members will adopt changes in the way they choose to travel which will last beyond this pandemic.”

Alex Macdonald, General Manager of Just Eat Cycles, said: “We want to thank all NHS employees for their incredible efforts and the sacrifices they continue to make.

“Our network is proving to be a lifeline for many people during these unprecedented times with many essential workers using the bikes to travel to and from places of work. We hope these additional NHS Passes can go some way to support NHS employees during what is an incredibly challenging time.”

Pupils being driven to school at the highest recorded levels

Edinburgh: Cycling at highest recorded levels (was 4.5% in 2010, is 7.0% in 2019). Has more than doubled since the first survey in 2008, in which it was 3.3%

The percentage of pupils travelling to school by car reached its highest ever recorded level in 2019, according to new data released by Sustrans Scotland.

More than a quarter of pupils said they used private motorised transport to get to school each day, with 23.8% reporting they arrived by car – the highest level since the survey began in 2008.

And, despite remaining the most frequently reported mode of travel to school in Scotland, active travel fell to its lowest recorded level over the same period. Of the 47.8% of pupils who reported travelling actively to school, 41.0% walked, 4.1% cycled and 2.7% scootered or skated.

Cycling to school is at its highest recorded level, whereas walking to school is at its lowest recorded level.

The findings form part of the annual Hands Up Scotland Survey, an official statistic in Scotland. Funded by Transport Scotland, the survey was carried out in September 2019 by Sustrans Scotland in partnership with all 32 Scottish local authorities. 78.9% of all state schools in Scotland (excluding nurseries) took part in this year’s survey.

Bus use also continues to decline from 18.2% in 2010 to the lowest recorded level of 16.0% in 2019, whilst the percentage of pupils travelling to school by park and stride (driven part of the way and walk the rest) increased to a high of 10.2%.

The findings also reveal a difference in active travel between independent and state schools. 44.5% of pupils from independent schools are driven to school whereas 23.6% of state school pupils are driven.

Commenting on the findings Sustrans Scotland’s National Director John Lauder said: “We want to thank all the schools who took part in the 2019 Hands Up Scotland Survey.

“The report is an incredibly useful indicator of trends in how children travel to school. Helping schools, local authorities and partners identify what needs to be improved to help more children travel actively every day.

“What we have seen during lockdown, with fewer cars on the road, is that people will change their behaviour if they feel their streets are safer.

“Travel patterns will have inevitably changed as a result of lockdown. It is important we make it easier and safer for children, parents and teachers to travel in an active and sustainable way.

“Our streets cannot afford more congestion and air pollution and our children cannot afford more inactivity after months of homeschooling. Let’s bring back something better.

“We need to make it easier and safer for children, parents and teachers to travel in an active and sustainable way, once schools re-open in August.

“Only then will we be able to ensure that walking, cycling and scooting is seen as a viable alternative to the private car.”

Pedalling towards healthier lungs

  • A recent survey by Asthma UK and British Lung Foundation Scotland found that almost 70% of Scots are looking to do more active travelling in a post covid-19 world.
  • Another study by Asthma UK and British Lung Foundation shows that 1 in 6 have noticed improvements to their lung health with the decrease in air pollution.  

The coronavirus outbreak has had unexpected effect of lowering air pollution levels across Scotland’s towns and cities. A recent survey by Asthma UK and British Lung Foundation Scotland found that 1 in 7 (14%) people with a respiratory condition are reporting they have felt the benefit of cleaner air. 

As we look towards life after lockdown, Asthma UK and British Lung Foundation Scotland are calling for the Scottish Government to make active travel and public transport options safe and accessible to ensure we continue to see the benefits of cleaner air. 

The recent announcement that Transport Scotland are increasing their Spaces for People fund to £30 million to support active travel infrastructure is extremely encouraging, given that almost 70% (69.4%) of Scots are looking to using more active methods of travel in a post-Covid world. However, without the continued progression of the Low Emission Zones in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow the impact will be limited. 

Joseph Carter, Head of Asthma UK and British Lung Foundation Scotland, said: “It’s been very reassuring to see such high levels of support for active travel.

“As lockdown restrictions are lifted and we start to venture further from our homes, we hope that people will continue to walk and cycle wherever possible. Not only will it bring benefits to our physical health through exercise, but we will all benefit from the long-term benefits of reduced air pollution.”

Karen McGregor, Director of Sustrans Scotland, said: “Our recovery from the pandemic can be a catalyst for positive, long-lasting change in the way we live and move around.

“Cleaner modes of travel and fewer cars should be at the heart of our recovery plans. What we have seen during lockdown, with less cars on the road, is that people will change their behaviour if they feel their streets are safer.

“Failure to make is it easier and safer for people to travel more actively and sustainably will increase our car dependency, which is a major source of air pollution and greenhouse emissions in this country.” 

Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, said: “Walking and cycling brings huge benefits to our physical and mental wellbeing, while at the same time protecting our air quality, our climate and helping to manage demand on our public transport network.

“I have reallocated £30 million in order to put forward a package of support for our local authorities to implement temporary active travel measures. This is already helping to ensure that people can walk, wheel and cycle during this public health emergency whilst physically distancing and protecting them from traffic and it will continue to help as our recovery progresses.

“To improve air quality, to respond to the climate emergency and to protect public health I am committed to introducing Low Emission Zones in Scotland’s four largest cities as quickly as possible.

“Local authorities share this ambition and Scotland’s first LEZ in Glasgow has been in place since 2018. Reviews will be undertaken across 2020 and 2021 to determine the earliest date when LEZs could realistically be introduced using the powers of the Transport (Scotland) Act.”

Council mapping tool: £5 million ‘doon the pan’?

A new online platform enables people to share suggestions for creating safer spaces for walking, cycling and wheeling safely in Edinburgh as the current restrictions begin to be lifted – but one local business owner says the city’s plans are ‘a disgrace’.

  • Mapping tool launched to help people suggest improvements to make active travel easier and safer
  • £5m funding from Transport Scotland via Sustrans will support changes across the city
  • Package of measures already underway to help people walk, cycle and wheel as restrictions are lifted

In collaboration with Sustrans, the city council has launched the  Commonplace mapping tool, which, throughout June, will allow residents to highlight ‘pinch points’ where emergency measures could help people maintain physical distancing safely on foot, bike or wheelchair.

Earlier this month the city council announced a package of suggested interventions to make it easier and safer for pedestrians and cyclists to move around the Capital.

As well as providing extra space, the proposals recognise a rise in active travel since lockdown began and aim to facilitate this as the phased lifting of lockdown continues. On Wednesday, Edinburgh was granted £5m Transport Scotland Spaces for People funding, administered by Sustrans, to help deliver measures to achieve this.

Over recent weeks the council has received many suggestions for road closures, widened pavements, segregated cycle lanes and other possible actions from across the city.

Now, the public will be able to highlight specific areas on an interactive map and provide feedback on barriers experienced, as well as identifying improvements. This, along with ideas already shared, will help shape council efforts over the coming weeks and months.

Cllr Lesley Macinnes, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “We’ve hit the ground running with an extensive programme of measures to help people observe physical distancing while walking, cycling and wheeling, and to support them to continue to do so once restrictions are eased.

“This week we were delighted to receive a fantastic £5m funding award from Transport Scotland, via Sustrans, which will help us to go even further to achieve these aims.

“We’ve seen a real increase in cycling and walking since the beginning of lockdown and we want to help this to continue as we return to a sense of normality.

“We’ve already had an incredibly enthusiastic response from residents who also want to see calmer, safer conditions maintained as we return to normal. This new tool is a great opportunity to involve the very people who use our streets to help shape our plans.”

Cllr Karen Doran, Transport and Environment Vice-Convener, said: “Our transport officers are working extremely hard to implement these changes as quickly as possible, and we’re delighted that the measures already in place have received such a great response from residents.

“We’ve received lots of ideas from across Edinburgh for further interventions, and this tool will help even more people highlight areas for improvement. We’d also like to reassure everyone who has already submitted suggestions to us that there is no need to resend them via this new tool, as we are reviewing all suggestions collectively no matter how they come to us.”

Dave Keane, Infrastructure Manager, Sustrans Scotland, said: “The City of Edinburgh Council has shown great ambition to make it easier for people to get around safely on foot, by bike or wheelchair during Phase 1 and beyond.

“We hope people living in Edinburgh will engage with the Commonplace mapping tool – it’s really simple, clear and easy to give feedback. Most importantly, it will help the council get a clear picture of where temporary interventions are needed most.”

Responses received through the Commonplace platform will be recorded and used to inform plans, though temporary interventions that will have the greatest benefit to public health and can be delivered in a short timeframe will be prioritised. The website will close for comments on 29 June.

A council spokesperson said: “While we welcome every response, we won’t be able to deliver all the improvements suggested, with any work dependent on available funding, procurement of materials and the availability of contractors.

“We’ll soon be sharing information on schemes that have been suggested alongside those that are being progressed on our website.”

A programme of changes is already underway across the city. The latest measures to be implemented include the partial closure of Stanley Street and Hope Lane (between Stanley Street and Christian Grove) and the closure of Warriston Road to through traffic.

The first will provide a low-traffic corridor for people to walk and cycle and access nearby green spaces like Figgate Park while the latter will create a wide pedestrian and cyclist-friendly space leading to access to the North Edinburgh path Network.

The council says existing temporary road closures in Silverknowes, Greenbank, Cammo and Leith have been welcomed by community members, creating welcoming and safe spaces for pedestrians and cyclsts of all ages and abilities – but at least one business owner is furious over ‘bungling council road closures’ (see below). 

The Council’s overall approach will be implemented to support the Scottish Government’s phased approach to lifting lockdown.

All measures that are introduced will be closely monitored and refined or adapted in response to any issues, where necessary. The design process for any intervention will consider all road users, particularly people with mobility or visual impairments, and will seek feedback from organisations including RNIB, Edinburgh Access Panel and Living Streets.

At least one less than complimentary suggestion will be winging it’s way to the council. Boardwalk Beach Club, located on Silverknowes foreshore, is furious over a council decision to close local roads and is calling for consistency across the city.

In a statement on Facebook, Boardwalk Beach Club said:

*** COUNCIL BUNGLE WITH MISMANAGED CLOSURES DISCRIMINATING AGAINST DISABLED, ELDERLY, YOUNG FAMILIES, BUS USERS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES ***

“Road of Cramond Glebe Road and Silverknowes Road and closure of Cramond Car Park leave only one road access to Silverknowes and Cramond Beaches via 50 Marine Drive EH4 5es accessible via Silverknowes Parkway/Pennywell Road/Lower Granton Road).

“A disgrace and terrible for businesses and disabled, elderly people and young families in the area. Expect Cramond to have no businesses or services very soon. The village has been dying with less shops and businesses than the 1960’s and this will continue with the loss of Cramond Car Park.

“A total disgrace to businesses who didn’t open during Lockdown to help the community and who are now being hit with a double whammy as this disgraceful council discriminates against Cramond Beach/Silverknowes Beach while Portobello Beach is huge crowded with people and cars with little or no traffic restrictions.

“It doesn’t make sense that elderly, disabled people, young families and others can now not access two major roads leading to the safest, widest, most beautiful Promenade in Edinburgh within the second largest park in Edinburgh and largest coastal park and deny them access to buses within one mile (removing the 29 Lothian Bus from Silverknowes Promenade).

“And removing more than half of the free car parking at a time when Lockdown was lifted and Phase One measures allow people to meet in parks and on beaches in groups of up to eight people when people are travelling by car to congested garden centres and supermarkets.

“Please can The City of Edinburgh Council explain why Cramond Beach and Silverknowes Beach continue to be discriminated against when other beaches are accessible and open?

“Ten years without a bus, three years with no JustEat Hire Bicycles on a 3 mile promenade which is now flooded with people cycling, Noddy small roadside bins which constantly overflow with rubbish, six cycle racks along a 3 mile promenade when 15 were put in outside small shops elsewhere, uncut grass, roads closed in order to cause traffic jams to justify more roads being closed.

“The Council is a disgrace discriminating against elderly, young families and disabled people wanting to enjoy the amazing Cramond Beach and Promenade. Marine Drive is now fully open but disabled people have to search for a place close to the entry and for some this is too much.

“Please reconsider for beach access for all, especially since the 29 Lothian Bus service to Silverknowes Promenade was removed due to your closure of Silverknowes Road.

“It looks like the monies from The Scottish Government will be going DOON THE PAN!

“Edinburgh Council are turning the situation into “Go oot, dinnae go oot”. Why deny access to amazing safe social distancing setting and shoehorn people into tight areas? It makes no sense, especially when people are allowed to cram into small garden centre car parks and rammed supermarket car parks.

“It’s utter nonsense. Let’s make this place awesome. Please contact your Councillors, MP and MSP to make your voice heard. Live the dream.”

Submit suggestions on the Commonplace tool online, by 29 June.