Norfolk County Council has been awarded a £1.48 million grant by the Department of Transport to support its multi partnership Pushing Ahead Your Journey Your Way programme over the next three years.
Focussing specifically on the economic hubs of Greater Norwich and the enterprise zone of Great Yarmouth the funding will enable the partnership to help improve access to employment, education and training, by encouraging and facilitating cycling and walking activities in these two areas.
The Pushing Ahead, Your Journey Your Way programme builds on the successful and innovative AtoBetter travel planning programme and all the initiatives currently being delivered using the Sustainable Transport Transition Year (STTY) funding. The new funding will enable a whole range of activities to be supported including:
1) Cycle and walking activities
- Expansion of the existing cycle loan scheme to more than 200 bikes
- ‘Try before you buy’ on folding and electric bikes
- Fun and social ‘Parkride’ event
- Provide cycle maintenance and training to over 3,000 people
2) Personalised journey planning
- for job seekers,
- for people needing to attend hospital appointments or to access education.
3) Multi modal activities
- Further development and promotion of the holdall smartcard
- The delivery of additional station travel plans
The funding will also target those looking to get back into work because access to transport and the cost of travel often restricts where jobseekers can look for work and their ability to attend interviews.
Councillor Hilary Cox, member champion for walking and cycling said:
“It’s fantastic news that we’ve been awarded this grant and it’s a great opportunity to provide a firm focus on cycling and walking in Norwich and Great Yarmouth. The programme will help open up cycling to residents who haven’t yet considered this as a viable transport option and it will provide clear information about the new trails and pedalways opening up in these two areas. Encouraging more people to take up cycling and walking is not only great for the environment but is also a cost effective way of getting from A to B and that can only be a good thing”.
Tracy Jessop Assistant Director Highways and Transport said:
“We are very excited about the new opportunities that this fund will bring to the communities of Norwich and Great Yarmouth, our cycle loan scheme has been very popular so it’s fantastic we’ll be able to expand this offering. We’re also looking forward to working closely with community groups to run activity events, safety awareness sessions and to help make cycling and walking around their local areas a practical option. All our planned events, initiatives and details on the cycle loan scheme can be found on our Pushing Ahead website, we would encourage everyone in the target areas to take an active interest so they can benefit from the scheme.”
