Millions of car journeys abandoned as children jump on their bikes

Children across the UK are jumping on their bikes and scooters over the next two weeks in an attempt to reduce 70 million balloons worth of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere.

Parents and teachers will leave their cars at home for their normal trips to and from school, preventing over 2 million car journeys from taking place. Instead they will be cycling and scooting over 3 million miles during the Big Pedal, a two week cycling and scooting competition run by charity Sustrans.

The competition could save over three tonnes of Nitrogen Oxides and over 1,000 tonnes of CO2 from being emitted into the environment as part of the school run.

Nitrogen Oxides can cause breathing difficulties in vulnerable people, such as asthmatics and older adults.

As well as reducing pollution which affects us all the Big Pedal can also help reduce individuals’ exposure to pollutants. Reports have shown that children who travel actively could reduce their exposure to Nitrogen Oxides by up to 60% as concentrations are higher inside the vehicle than outside.

Jason Torrance, Policy Director at Sustrans, said: “Over 40,000 people die each year in the UK directly because of air pollution and it is simply unacceptable.

“The Big Pedal demonstrates the difference that can be made if people are encouraged to leave their cars at home. Not only will they get fitter and healthier by cycling and scooting, dangerous emissions are reduced, which benefits everyone.

“To make this happen on a large scale the government must transform our towns and cities into places where cycling and walking is the natural choice for journeys to school and work. Only by doing this can we hope to prevent the thousands of deaths caused by air pollution and at the same time make the nation healthier.”

As well as providing environmental and health benefits, the Big Pedal also enables parents and teachers to save money, last year collectively over £475,000 was saved in fuel costs by people cycling and scooting, instead of driving during the competition.

Over 1500 schools, containing over half a million children, are taking part in the Big Pedal which is running between 18th and 29th April. For more information on the event or for tips on cycling and scooting to school, visit www.sustrans.org.uk/bigpedal. 

Gold medal winning cyclist Joanna Rowsell Shand backs Sustrans’ Big Pedal

London 2012 gold medallist, Joanna Rowsell Shand, is calling on schools up and down the country to encourage children to get on their bikes and scooters this Spring by signing up to the Big Pedal.

Over 1,280 schools, with more than 400,000 pupils, across the UK have so far signed up to the annual inter-school competition which will take place between 18th and 29th April. Run by charity Sustrans and funded by the BikeHub, the Big Pedal sees schools compete to see who can record the greatest number of pupils, staff and parents cycling and scooting to school.

Now Joanna Rowsell Shand is urging more schools to sign up to the competition. Taking time out of her training schedule ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympics, she said:

“Cycling is a great way to keep fit and healthy and the Big Pedal is a fantastic way to start commuting by bike.

“It’s brilliant that so many schools have signed up to the Big Pedal. With over a month to go I’m calling on schools around the country to sign up and be part of the UK’s biggest school cycling and scooting event.”

Schools from up and down the UK have signed up, from as far south as Penzance and as far north as the Shetland Islands.

Ben Merry, Senior Project Officer, Primary Education at Sustrans, said: “Joanna was part of those magical few weeks during London 2012 that inspired millions of people to become active. We’re honoured she’s backing the Big Pedal and hope it encourages even more schools to take on the challenge.”

It’s not too late to get involved, for more information about the Big Pedal visit the Sustrans website www.sustrans.org.uk/bigpedal

370 Skyscrapers of CO2 saved by Londoners on bikes every year

Cycle journeys in London save the equivalent annual carbon emissions of 82,000 cars; that much CO2 would fill London’s Gherkin building 370 times.

As the historic UN international climate talks drew to a close in Paris, Sustrans reveal the massive greenhouse gas savings made by people cycling here in the capital.

New evidence from Sustrans London shows that over 260,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases were saved from cycling journeys made in London in 2014.

Figures shared by the charity who created the National Cycling Network 20 years ago, show the estimated number of cycling trips in London increased to over 222 million in 2014.

Commenting on the findings, Matt Winfield, Acting Sustrans London Director, said:

“When it comes to tackling transport emissions here in London, it’s clear that cycling is one of the best investments the new Mayor can make.’

“Cycling numbers are growing rapidly but still account for only a fraction of all journeys taken in London, yet the greenhouse gas savings for these journeys are estimated at over two hundred and sixty thousand tonnes. The benefits for our environment of enabling more people to get on their bikes for everyday journeys are enormous.”

If Londoners can hit the target in the Mayor’s cycling vision of 1.5m cycling trip per day by 2026 we’d save over 641,000 tonnes of carbon a year, equivalent to the emissions of over 200,000 cars.  That’s why continued investment under the Mayor’s Cycling Vision is essential for London.

Gunjan Parik, Head of Transportation Initiative at C40 CITIES, climate leadership group said:

“Cities are responsible for creating over 70% of global CO2 emissions and transport emissions account for a major part of those; which is why cities and transport policies have such a major role to play in tackling climate change.’

“The Sustrans London research released today shows the impact cycling can have on emissions, in London and beyond. Since the last major COP in Copenhagen, C40 cities have taken 10,000 climate actions and committed to reducing their CO2 emissions by 3 Gt by 2030 – encouraging more cycling in cities will be a key part of these efforts. C40 hails the progress made to date in London and looks forward to supporting ambitious cycling programmes in cities around the world”. 

Transport emissions account for more than 20% of total London emissions. It’s clear that enabling people to get around under their own steam will be crucial to achieving London’s climate change ambitions.

For more information contact the Sustrans’ Press Office on 0207 7807 231 / press@sustrans.org.uk

Vote for the UK’s favourite National Cycle Network route

Sustrans is calling on budding cyclists to choose their favourite route on the National Cycle Network, as part of celebrations to mark 20 years since the Network was developed by the charity.

The charity has shortlisted ten popular long distance and ten shorter sections and is asking bike riders, walkers and everyone who uses the Network to vote for their favourite in both categories. The long distance routes range from the Cornish Way between Land's End and Bude in the South, to the Oban to Campbeltown route in Scotland. Shorter routes include the Bath two tunnels circuit and the Monsal Trail in the Peak District.

To vote for their favourite, people just need to visit www.sustrans.org.uk/vote and then make their choice. The vote will run until the end of August with the winners announced in September.

Malcolm Shepherd, Sustrans Chief Executive, said: “The National Cycle Network is 20 years old in 2015 and we know many people have their favourite sections. We want to give people the chance to vote for the route they love the most, whether they use it every day for their commute or have just used it on holiday. The shortlist covers the length and breadth of the UK showing how the Network has grown over the years.”

Routes under 30 miles:

• Camel Trail, Cornwall.  This beautiful route passes through the wooded countryside of the upper Camel Valley and alongside the picturesque Camel Estuary – an absolute paradise for birdwatchers.
• Bath Two Tunnels Circuit, Somerset.  From the centre of picturesque Bath, this route takes you on a circular tour through the Somerset countryside.  Along the way you pass the spectacular Dundas Aqueduct and travel through the now famous Bath Two Tunnels, Combe Down Tunnel being the UK’s longest cycling tunnel.
• Cuckoo Trail, East Sussex.  This peaceful tour through broadleaf woodland, open grassland and arable farmland is a must for families.  It gained its name from an old Sussex tradition of releasing a cuckoo at the Heathfield Fair.
• Mawddach Trail, Gwynedd..  Taking you along the old Ruabon to Barmouth railway line from the historic town of Dolgellau to the popular seaside town of Barmouth, you see stunning views of the Mawddach estuary and Cadair Idris.
• Lodes Way, Cambridgeshire.  The quiet, uncluttered landscape of the fens is showcased in all its glory on this route from Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve to Bottisham. Passing Anglesey Abbey, Gardens and Lode Mill, the surrounding waterways are a haven for wildlife.
• Monsal Trail, Peak District.  One of the jewels in the crown of the Peak District National Park, this route travels from the historic market town of Bakewell through the stunning limestone dales.
• Peregrine Path, Wye Valley.  Straddling the Wales/England border and following the River Wye, the route travels from pretty Monmouth to Goodrich in Herefordshire.
• Newry Canal, County Armagh, Northern Ireland.  A canal side route rich in wildlife that takes you away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.  At Moneypenny's Lock you can explore the history of the canal at the restored lightermen's bothy and stables.
• Aire Valley Towpath, West Yorkshire.  This perfect route takes in beautiful countryside, rich industrial history, stunning scenery, galleries, shops, museums and Saltaire, a world heritage site.
• Union Canal, Edinburgh.  Taking you from historic Edinburgh the trail quickly opens out into beautiful countryside, passing over spectacular aqueducts and under pretty bridges, through the towns of Broxburn and Linlithgow with its palace, and onto Falkirk.

Long distance routes:

• Sea 2 Sea (C2C). Commonly regarded at the most popular long distance ride in the UK, can it still maintain its crown? The C2C takes you all the way from Irish Sea to the North Sea. You can start at either Whitehaven or Workington and then travel to Newcastle or Sunderland.
• Way of the Roses.  A spectacular coast to coast cycle route which was created to celebrate 15 years of the National Cycle Network passes through both the red rose county of Lancashire and the white rose county of Yorkshire.
• Devon Coast to Coast.  This route combines the beaches and estuaries of North Devon with the lush green valleys of evocative West Country rivers. It also skirts round the western flank of Dartmoor, offering superb views of Cornwall
• Cornish Way.  A glorious route that travels between Land's End and Bude.  It takes you past stunning coastline and through the history and heritage of pretty towns and fishing villages and over wild and captivating moors. 
• Hadrian’s Cycleway.  A ride through some of England’s most dramatic and wild countryside, taking in magnificent coastal views, and Roman forts. Starting at Glannaventa Roman Bath House, Ravenglass and ending at Arbeia Roman Fort and Museum at South Shields this route is perfect for history buffs.
• Lon Las Cymru. Taking in three mountain ranges, this route is tough but worth all the effort.  From the rural lanes of Anglesey and the woodlands of Coed-y-Brenin Forest, to the valley of the River Wye and the panoramic views through the Black Mountains, this route really has it all.
• Celtic Trail. Stretching from the Irish Sea to the English Border, this epic route takes in the stunning Pembrokeshire coast, the rural countryside of Carmarthenshire, and the picturesque Valleys, that powered the industrial revolution. The route shows the diversity of Welsh culture and history as well as some of Wales’ finest tourist attractions.
• Oban to Campbeltown. This route offers adventurous cyclists the chance to explore the spectacular peninsula of Kintyre, Knapdale and Lorn.  Truly challenging, but wow, the rewards are magnificent! 
• Trans Pennine Trail. This exciting route links the North and Irish seas, passing through the Pennines, alongside rivers and canals and through some of the most historic towns and cities in the North of England. It’s also largely traffic free so perfect for first time tourers.
• Coast and Castles South. This cycle route links the Forth and Tyne estuaries, joining Newcastle and Edinburgh via miles of unspoiled coastline and some of Britain's best built and natural heritage.

Click here to vote: www.sustrans.org.uk/vote

Stop, Collaborate and listen to MediaCityUK’s latest addition

Retro bicycle themed café Love Conquers All has launched its summer pop-up ‘Behind the Bike Sheds’ next door to the soon to open Cycle Hub.

Dedicated to all things 90s, it will serve a range of themed refreshments to take you down memory lane including retro pop, frozen jubblies and mix ups  from a kiosk in the heart of MediaCityUK.

Carla Tomlinson, owner of Love Conquers All said; “Many of our cycling community rave about this era and in a nod to  our regular cycling crowd and the fact it’s based right next door to the Cycle Hub it made sense to call it ‘Behind the Bike Sheds’. For people on the move, it’s the perfect place to grab a quick drink and chill out.”

Behind the Bike Sheds is open from 12 noon until late and will be open throughout the Summer until October this year.   

Manchester and Salford grow major free wifi network, bringing superfast surfing to millions

Greater Manchester’s ambition to become a top 20 worldwide digital city region has taken a major step forward with the rollout from today of free, superfast wifi to Metrolink trams, more than 200 public buildings and greatly improved on-street coverage.

The innovative £7.25m scheme is being run by Manchester City Council, Salford City Council and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) – with funding from Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK), part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Thanks to the scheme, Manchester and Salford are providing superfast free wifi in public buildings right across the cities, while free wifi will also be available on Metrolink trams.

Free superfast wifi is to be made available in more than 120 prominent Manchester City Council buildings including all libraries, the Town Hall as well as other civic buildings from community centres, sports centres and park buildings to galleries and museums.

In Salford, unlimited free wifi will be extended to 91 buildings under the banner of _FreebeeSalford, including libraries, leisure centres, The Lowry and Salford Museum and Art Gallery – giving instant access for residents and visitors.

Free wifi has already been switched on at Central Library and at the Town Hall Extension, with a further 119 sites set to be up and running by the end of March. The wifi is under the name _BusyBeeMcr and users can surf with no time limit throughout the week, when these venues are open. Capital funding for the _BusybeeMcr network has been provided by BDUK. 

As part of the scheme, £1.7 million has also been invested so that Metrolink customers can surf the web for free, with the roll out of free wifi on every tram.  All 96 trams have been kitted out with the new technology, joining the 20 buses running the free city centre Metroshuttle service.

Manchester’s popular free on-street wifi service _FreeBeeMcr, has also been extended to many more city centre streets and locations, creating the biggest on-street network in the UK. Visitors, residents and commuters will be able to log on across more of the city centre, plus selected district centres and the Oxford Road area around the main universities.  Selected websites, such as www.manchester.gov.uk and www.visitmanchester.com, are available for free on an unlimited basis via _FreeBeeMcr.

Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of the TfGM Committee, said: “Metrolink is not only the largest light rail network in the UK, but now also the first light railway in England to become fully wifi capable, symbolising the region’s digital ambitions.  

“With over 30 million passenger trips made on Metrolink every year, this will help hundreds of thousands of people make the best use of their travel time with quick and simple access to free wifi.”

Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Creating a powerful, nationally significant network of free, high quality wifi services across Manchester is another step towards achieving our goal for Manchester to be a world-leading digital city by 2020.

“We can now offer superfast, free internet connectivity close to people’s homes all over Manchester and have also greatly enhanced our city centre coverage, creating the largest on-street network in the country for our residents, visitors and businesses.

“This scheme will bring huge social benefits and help to support the continued growth of the city’s economy.”

Ian Stewart, City Mayor of Salford, said: “As home to MediaCityUK, Europe’s biggest purpose built community of digital businesses, this is another step in making Salford a truly digital city within a vibrant city region. So much more is being done online, from shopping to applying for benefits, that we want to include as many residents and visitors as possible.”

Culture Secretary, Sajid Javid MP, said: “I’m delighted that Manchester has taken up the challenge to become one of the UK’s Superconnected Cities as part of the Government programme. It’s vital that our cities have the digital infrastructure – like superfast broadband and wifi – in place to deal with the demands of the digital age. Our investment in Manchester and Salford has delivered a welcome boost to the local economy, and is all part of our long term economic plan.”

A detailed map is available showing locations of the various buildings and all of the on-street locations where people can take advantage of free wifi in Manchester city centre. Find out more at www.manchester.gov.uk/freebee.