Youngsters put their foot down on congestion

Youngsters at a south Birmingham school stepped out of the classroom and into the great outdoors when they were given a fun lesson in how to care for the environment.

The Year 3 pupils at Albert Bradbeer Primary School in Turves Green were treated to a guided walk around Cofton Common as part of a £500,000 project to cut traffic congestion and pollution along the city's Pershore Road.

Transport authority Centro, together with Birmingham City Council, have teamed up with the Ramblers to stage a series of walks for schools, firms and local residents as part of the wider Pershore Road Travel Choices Project.

The project, which runs until next March, involves travel advisers working with people who live, work and study in the area to help them make the switch away from the car to cheaper, cleaner and healthier ways of travelling like public transport, walking and cycling.

Helen Osborn, Centro's project manager for the Pershore Road Travel Choices project, said; "The kids really enjoy these walks but they are also a great way of teaching them about the health and environmental benefits of walking.

"Ideally, it will help them develop a lifelong habit of walking for short journeys rather than using the car."

Meanwhile more than 3,000 homes along the Pershore Road have signed up for free customised travel advice to help beat soaring petrol prices and get healthy in the process.

Expert travel advisers have spent the last eight weeks visiting more than 9,000 homes to tell families how they can take advantage of the full range of travel options on their doorstep.

One in three of all homes visited have snapped up the opportunity to sit down with project staff and receive free personalised travel advice showing exactly how residents can get from their own front door to their destination without having to jump in the car.

The team of Travel Advisers are set to visit a further 7,000 homes in the between now and the end of the month (July) to discuss the travel options that may be available.

Families snap up chance to beat soaring petrol prices

More than 3,000 homes along one of South Birmingham's busiest roads have signed up for free customised travel advice to get leaner and greener and beat soaring petrol prices in the process.

Expert travel advisers have spent the last seven weeks visiting more than 9,000 homes near the Pershore Road to tell families how they can take advantage of the full range of travel options on their doorstep.

The house calls are part of the £500,000 Pershore Road Travel Choices project aimed at cutting congestion along the route which passes through key suburbs such as Kings Norton, Cotteridge, Stirchley, and Edgbaston.

Of those visited, no less than one in three have snapped up the opportunity to sit down with project staff and receive free personalised travel advice showing exactly how residents can get from their own front door to their destination without having to jump in the car.

Dozens more have taken advantage of the scheme's free bicycle maintenance offer where trained mechanics visit homes to give residents' bikes a full check over.

The project, led by transport authority Centro in partnership with Birmingham City Council, has involved 14 travel advisers providing a wealth of information and advice about greener, healthier travel options.

Helen Osborn, Centro's project manager for the Pershore Road Travel Choices project, said the individual travel plans, designed to encourage residents to switch to local bus and rail services and to make more local trips on foot or bike, had been well received by residents.

"We've had a fantastic response from people who have been quick to recognise the benefits of getting expert help in making the switch to cheaper, healthier and more environmentally friendly ways of travelling," she said.

"I think the cost of petrol and the frustration of getting caught in traffic jams may be part of the reason why people have been so enthusiastic. A lot of other people also want to do their part for the environment or simply lose a bit of weight and get fit."

The team of Travel Advisers are set to visit a further 7,000 homes in the between now and the end of the month (July) to discuss the travel options that may be available.

The wider Pershore Road Travel Choices Project is set to run until March next year and will involve working with families, schools, businesses and community groups to help them make the switch away from the car.

By reducing the number of cars on the Pershore Road, the project aims to cut congestion and pollution while improving the health and finances of local residents.

Similar projects elsewhere in the UK have proved effective, with typical reductions in car travel of between five and 15 per cent.

Centro and the city council will closely monitor the Pershore Road Travel Choices project to see how travel behaviour changes over the coming months. If successful, similar projects could be launched in other parts of the West Midlands.

It's Bike Week this week! Get Inspired with our bike training and local rides.

Congestion busting project gets off to a flying start

A £500,000 project to cut congestion on one of Birmingham's busiest roads has been officially launched, raising hundreds of pounds for charity in the process.

A ten-strong team from transport authority Centro and Birmingham City Council marked the start of the Pershore Road Travel Choices project by joining hundreds of other runners at Cannon Hill Park for this week's Race for Life event - a five kilometre run in aid of Cancer Research UK.

Over the next ten months the project team will work with families, schools, businesses and community groups along the Pershore Road helping them to make the switch from car to more sustainable forms of travel such as public transport, walking and cycling.

By reducing the number of cars on the Pershore Road the project, a joint initiative between Centro and the city council, aims to cut congestion and pollution while improving the health of local residents. The experts will also offer advice on how to beat soaring petrol prices and save money.

Centro's sustainable travel officer, Helen Osborn, who is heading up the project, said: "This campaign is all about making the area a cleaner and greener place to live, work and study. A big part of that involves travelling in a way that can improve health and fitness such as walking and cycling, which reflects many of the themes of Race for Life.

"We are hoping the local community will take advantage of this opportunity to try and change to their travel habits and help improve their environment, fitness and finances in the process."

Similar projects elsewhere in the UK have proved effective, with typical reductions in car travel of between five and 15 per cent. Centro and the city council will closely monitor the Pershore Road Travel Choices project to see how travel behaviour changes over the coming months. If successful, similar projects could be launched in other parts of the West Midlands.

Over the next three months a team of 14 Travel Advisers will call at more than 16,500 homes close to the Pershore Road offering families customised travel advice about the full range of transport options on their doorstep.

The advisers will draw up personalised travel advice for each home, laying out exactly how residents can get from their own front door to their destination without having to jump in the car. Advice will be offered on which local bus and rail services to use and on how to make their trip by foot or bike.

One priority will be to tackle congestion caused by the school run. Experts will work with nearby schools to help pupils, parents and staff walk, cycle, catch the bus or car share. Local companies will also be supported in encouraging their staff to travel more sustainably and there will be a series of organised walks, cycle rides and cycle training for the surrounding community.

The project aims to support the local economy by highlighting the wide range of local facilities available, many of which are quicker to reach on foot, bike or bus than by car.

Residents wanting further information about receiving personalised travel advice can contact the Travel Advisers on Tel: 0121 214 7184 or by e-mail: travelchoices@centro.org.uk

South Birmingham families urged to get green and lean

More than 16,500 homes in south Birmingham are to be offered customised travel advice on how to be lean and green this summer and beat soaring petrol prices at the same time.

Expert Travel Advisers representing Centro, the region's transport authority, are visiting homes close to the Pershore Road between now and July to speak to families about how they can take advantage of the full range of travel options on their doorstep.

The advisers will draw up personalised travel advice for each home, laying out exactly how residents can get from their own front door to their destination without having to jump in the car. Families will be offered all the help and information they need to switch to local bus and rail services and to also make more local trips on foot or bike.

This personalised travel advice is part of the bigger Pershore Road Travel Choices project which is taking place along the route over the next eleven months. The £505,000 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.

Local ward councillor Tim Huxtable, who is the city council's lead member at Centro, said: "This is a great opportunity for families to sit down with our advisers and get expert, tailored travel information that can help them make the switch to cheaper, healthier and more environmentally friendly forms of travel.

"But this is just a small part of the bigger Pershore Road Travel Choices project which aims to transform the way people make their journeys along the Pershore Road and with rising petrol prices there's never been a better time for people to leave the car at home and make the switch. They will also help cut pollution and carbon and improve their fitness."

A team of 14 Travel Advisers will visit homes in the area over the next 12 weeks to invite householders to discuss their travel options. They will also help support the local economy by highlighting the wide range of local facilities available, many of which are quicker to reach on foot, bike or bus than by car. Householders will be invited to feedback any comments about travelling around the area.

The wider Pershore Road Travel Choices project, which is being run by Centro, in partnership with Birmingham City Council, will be officially launched at the Race for Life event in Cannon Hill Park on May 18.

The project will see 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 will also be supported in encouraging their staff to travel more sustainably and there will be a series of organised walks, cycle rides and cycle training for the surrounding community.

Residents wanting further information about receiving personalised travel advice can contact the Travel Advisers on Tel: 0121 214 7184 or by e-mail: travelchoices@centro.org.uk

PICTURE CAPTION: Councillor Tim Huxtable, second right, with Travel Advisers Kerry Swingler, Mark Edwards, and Andy Watt.