10,000 households on western edge of city urged to drive less
People living in some 10,000 households on western edge of Leicester are being urged to drive less in an attempt to cut chronic traffic congestion and air pollution.
Transport officials are hoping to persuade households in Glenfield and Anstey and the Westcotes area of the city to switch from car journeys to walking, cycling and taking the bus.
Residents will be asked to complete a travel survey then offered tailored on-line advice on car-free ways of getting about,.
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The survey will focus on walking, cycling and public transport, information on electric bikes and cars.
There will also be a package of incentives including activity trackers for up to 50 residents, 20 e-bikes and 10 pedal cycles available for loan, along with cycling equipment and entry to a prize draw for high street vouchers.
Personalised travel planning appointments with a trained advisor will be available as part of the offer.
Leicestershire County Council cabinet member for highways and transport councillor Ozzy O’Shea said: “We’re committed to supporting more people to make sustainable travel choices, and this personalised travel plan project is about us working with residents to give them the tools to make healthier choices.
“Reducing the number of car journeys and travelling more sustainably has huge benefits to physical and mental health, as well as helping the environment through the reduction of emissions from travel. It will also help us deliver on our pledge to be carbon neutral by 2030.
“The information we are providing residents will highlight the different methods of sustainable transport and offers available which will help us to tackle congestion, encourage active travel and help people save money.”
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The project is a partnership between Leicestershire County and Leicester City councils, through the Sustainable Transport Access Fund.
Leicester’s deputy city mayor responsible for environment and transportation councillor Adam Clarke said: “We know from our Connecting Leicester programme in the city that making improvements to our walking and cycling networks will encourage more people to use them.
“By working in partnership on schemes like this one, we can extend this work to further areas of the city and county, giving people more choice over how they get around – and making sustainable travel choices a viable option for people.”
