Free travel prize for green journey maker

A Cotteridge resident is celebrating winning a year's free bus, train and tram travel after taking part in a green travel challenge at Kings Norton rail station over the summer.

Rakesh Bargota has won an nnetwork all zones travel pass, giving free travel on all public transport in the West Midlands, after he was chosen from over 50 Kings Norton rail users who vowed to use environmentally friendly travel on the way to catch the train.

The 'bus it, bike it, walk it, share it' pledge competition was launched in June by transport authority Centro to encourage rail passengers to think twice about driving to the station, and to bus, cycle, walk or car share instead.

The competition is part of the Kings Norton Station Travel Plan initiative - part of a national scheme to encourage people to make green, healthy, congestion busting travel choices on their journey to the station.

Rakesh, along with over 50 other local residents, promised to catch the bus, walk, cycle or car share over the summer, to help ease local traffic congestion, reduce car park overcrowding and cut carbon emissions.

The pledge acted as an incentive for people to do their bit for the environment by reducing their carbon footprint while also benefiting their own health and fitness.

Rakesh walked just under a mile a day from his home in Cotteridge to the station throughout the summer.

He said: "Walking to the station just makes sense. By the time I've driven to the station and parked up I could be halfway there on foot. It's a good chance to get some exercise and think about the day ahead before I start work."

Helen Osborn, Centro's Sustainable Travel Officer said: "We are delighted so many Kings Norton passengers have joined us in supporting the new Station Travel Plan initiative by catching the bus, walking, cycling or car sharing to the station over the summer.

"As part of the project we will continue to run local events and competitions to encourage sustainable travel in the area."

The Station Travel Plan at Kings Norton is a pilot scheme being run over three years to put better facilities and information in place at the station to enable customers to access rail travel more easily and be less reliant on driving.

Proposed initiatives at the station include real-time bus information inside the station, walking and cycling routes with enhanced lighting and CCTV, new cycle storage and improved signage for pedestrians and cyclists.

For more information about the Station Travel Plan visit www.networkwestmidlands.com/stationtravelplan