Great Western Coffee Shop

All across the Great Western territory => Active travel: Cyclists and walkers, including how the railways deal with them => Topic started by: Red Squirrel on October 09, 2020, 10:27:05



Title: Clean Air Day - 8th October 2020
Post by: Red Squirrel on October 09, 2020, 10:27:05
Yesterday was Clean Air Day. This rather crept up on me, but I did notice headlines in the local press in Bristol about a new initiative 'Our Air Our City' (https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/bristol-clean-air-campaign-launched-by-30-activist-groups-1/) and a new consultation on clean air zones (https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/latest-on-plans-to-reduce-air-pollution-in-bristol/).

WECA, meanwhile, posted this:

Quote
Mayor encourages residents to walk or cycle on Clean Air Day

There's even more reason this year to walk or cycle on Clean Air Day (8 October). With social distancing in place and capacity on public transport reduced, walking and cycling offers a great way to get around the region while improving your health and helping to reduce congestion and improve air quality.

There's plenty of help to get started on the West of England Combined Authority's  'joy in the journey' page on the Travelwest website.  There's advice on how to find 1-1 cycle training or loan bikes to get you back on the bike and tips to help plan your walking or cycling route.

West of England Mayor Tim Bowles said: 'Many people during lockdown took advantage of quieter roads to walk or cycle more regularly. I'd really encourage residents on Clean Air Day to find joy in the journey by swapping a short car journey for walking or cycling whether commuting to work, taking the kids to school or popping to the shops. It can not only improve mental and physical health but help reduce congestion and improve air quality'.

...continues (http://)

These days I cycle to school with my daughter every morning. It's about 3.5 km each way, and she comes back on her own. The time it takes (about 15 minutes) is about the same as we used to spend standing on the platform at Montpelier wondering how late the train was going to be, or indeed whether it would come at all. Mornings are much, much less stressful.

Clean Air Day, as it turned out, was the second day this term that it has seriously pelted down with rain on the way to school. We were both soaked. She didn't mind at all. However, motor traffic was much heavier than usual. Maybe they hadn't read Mayor Tim's post?



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