Thousands of Birmingham families sign up for green initiative

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More than 5,000 homes in south Birmingham have signed up for free customised travel advice in a bid to beat soaring petrol prices and get greener.

Expert travel advisers spent twelve weeks visiting more than 10,000 homes near the Pershore Road in Bournville, Stirchley, Cotteridge, Kings Norton, West Heath and Kings Heath to tell families how they can take advantage of the full range of travel options on their doorstep.

More than half of those visited asked the advisers to sit down with them and draw up free personalised travel support.

The 5,157 who signed up were provided with information or help, such as free bike training, to help them get from their own front door to their destination without having to jump in the car.

And with the AA reporting this month that petrol and diesel prices are at their highest ever levels for this time of year with further increases likely in the New Year, the change to public transport could prove a cheaper alternative over the winter.

The support offered is individually tailored to help residents switch to local bus and rail services and make more local trips on foot or bike. Of those who signed up to the project, 28 per cent said they had now changed the way they travel.

The personalised travel initiative is part of the wider Pershore Road Travel Choices project led by transport authority Centro in partnership with Birmingham City Council.

The £500,000, year-long project aims to cut traffic congestion and carbon emissions along the Pershore Road, making the area a cleaner and greener place to live, work and study.

Cllr Tim Huxtable, who is lead member for Birmingham on Centro and lives along the Pershore Road corridor in Stirchley, said:

“We are delighted that the project was so well received in the area and that more than half of all homes visited took up some form of personalised travel advice.

“With the rising cost of petrol at the moment, this extra guidance can help people make the switch from the car to cheaper alternative modes of transport, as well as being healthier and more environmentally friendly.”

The Pershore Road Travel Choices project has seen experts working with local schools to help pupils, parents and staff walk, cycle, catch the bus or car share to reduce congestion caused by the school run.

Local companies have also been supported in encouraging their staff to travel more sustainably and a series of walks, cycle rides and cycle training for the surrounding community have been organised.

2 COMMENTS

  1. A few years ago the residents in the Longbridge/Rednal area were asked how they would like the park and ride park in Longbridge Lane to be finish,wood,glass,brick,never been built,why???

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