Online travel pages encourage active travel in Cheltenham

New online travel pages launched to encourage active travel in Cheltenham

A new online resource designed to make active travel easier for people in Cheltenham has been launched.

Sustrans, the charity making it easier for people to walk and cycle, in collaboration with the Cheltenham Business Improvement District (BID) have created new online travel pages to help locals travel more actively and sustainably to and from work.

Sustrans developed the series of travel pages on the Visit Cheltenham website under the ‘Your Visit’ section to help support employees in the Cheltenham BID, as well as residents and visitors to the town.

The pages are full of useful information and suggestions for more sustainable and enjoyable ways to travel to and around the town, including bicycle, on foot, public transport and the park and ride scheme.

Kevan Blackadder, BID Director, Cheltenham BID said: “It is important that detailed information is readily available about how to get to and around Cheltenham. This applies as much to locals as it does to visitors to the town.

“In the past, the information has been both confusing and lacking in detail. I’m delighted that by working with Sustrans, we now have easy-to-understand travel information available online which will help you plan your journey to and around Cheltenham.”

A Sustrans Active Travel officer ran a number of travel information sessions for employees working at House of Fraser, Marks and Spencer’s and the Regent Arcade in the centre of town.

The sessions helped to identify individual barriers to active travel and provided bespoke advice and solutions to help overcome these. The sessions were very well received by staff and the businesses.

Sustrans have also worked with Cheltenham BID to make recommendations around car sharing schemes that can be used by employees in the town.

James Cleeton, Sustrans England South Director, said: ‘‘At Sustrans we recognise that the daily commute can have a significant influence on staff’s mental and physical wellbeing, as well as their finances and time.

“We welcome the opportunity to work with the Cheltenham BID and commend their efforts in actively supporting their members to have a healthier and happier workforce.

“The more we can choose to walk and cycle the healthier we and our neighbourhoods become, which ultimately benefits everyone.”

Employees who encourage staff to actively travel to work create many benefits, including:

• Staff having fewer sick days – which can cost UK business £32 billon each year¹
• Reduces rush hour congestion. It has been estimated that congestion on England’s roads could cost the economy over £22 billion by 2025²
• Healthier people: Using the World Health Organisation’s tool, developed with Sustrans, for measuring the health benefits of walking and cycling, the estimated annual health benefit to all those using the National Cycle Network in 2012 was worth over £290 million.

Visit www.visitcheltenham.com/your-visit/travel to find out more about walking, cycling and other sustainable modes of travel around Cheltenham, funded by Cheltenham BID.