Category: News

In the ever-evolving landscape of sustainable transportation, the United Kingdom is setting the stage for a cleaner future. Fast charging points for electric vehicles (EVs) stand out as massively important for efficiency and lowering your carbon footprint, helping to reduce pollution, particularly in cities.

Unleash the Power

Fast charging points are essential for the UK’s commitment to sustainable transportation. Fast charging points are a top choice for commuters because of their convenience; reduced charging times and the widespread availability of charging points makes them more appealing.

As of February 2024, the UK has installed 10,967 rapid and ultra rapid charging. If you own your property, you could also install a charging point at home, making this sustainable choice a lot more convenient than petrol or diesel cars. (Zap-Map, 2024)

There are over 57,290 electric charging points in the United Kingdom. Since February 2023 there has been a 47% increase in electric car charging points. Find your local charging points at Zap-Map.

Steering Towards Sustainability

The advantage of fast charging points lies in their ability to recharge electric vehicles extremely quickly. Charging times reduced to minutes, electric cars become a practical and time-efficient option for our busy lifestyles. This increased accessibility and efficiency makes them a convenient choice for consumers.

Charging an electric car at home currently cost around 10p per KWh off-peak, the standard from April 2024 is expected to cost around 24.5p per KWh, whilst charging at home during peak times costs around 44p per Kwh. (Which, 2024)

If you’re using public AC charging points, it costs around 50p per KWh, Public DC charging costs around 65p to 80p per KWh. For comparison, you’d start paying more per mile for an equivalent diesel engine at around 61p per kWh. (Which, 2024)

There are free electric car charging points at some supermarkets, including Sainsbury’s, Lidl and Aldi. You can find these by using Zap-Map’s website.

The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions makes EVs an important mode of transport to help combat climate change. Emissions of electric vehicles compared to petrol vehicles are 17 to 30% lower than petrol and diesel cars. (European Environment Agency, 2024) and according to a study by the Technical University Eindhoven (2020), electric cars have a 50 to 80% better carbon footprint than comparable cars powered by petrol or diesel engines, making EVs a much more sustainable choice.

To Efficiency and Beyond

The increasing network of charging stations is helping drivers have easy access to power sources, making EVs a practical option for longer journeys.

In an exciting collaboration, Vauxhall and Tesco have joined forces to offer one year of complimentary electric vehicle charging to new Vauxhall customers who purchase a brand-new electric car. This offer is valid until 16^th September 2024.

Tesco, boasting an extensive network of more than 2,700 EV charging points spanning 619 of its retail locations, is making it convenient for customers to either partially recharge or fully replenish their car batteries at their discretion. This strategic partnership not only emphasizes the commitment to sustainable transportation but also enhances the accessibility and ease of EV ownership.

Embracing a Sustainable Tomorrow

The UK Government has set out that by 2035, all new cars produced will have to be hybrid or electric.

To help achieve this target, the government has implemented various initiatives aimed at reducing the initial and ongoing expenses associated with owning an EV. Among these initiatives is a grant program for plug-in vans, offering up to £2,500 for small vans and £5,000 for large vans, extending until 2025. Additionally, residents living in flats can benefit from a £350 reduction on the cost of installing home charge points. These electric vehicles are approximately £150 more economical to maintain annually compared to their fossil fuel counterparts. (UK Government, 2023)

As the UK continues to pave the way for sustainable transportation, the benefits of fast charging points stand out as a testament to progress. If you decide to purchase an electric vehicle, visit Zap Map’s live map to find your nearest charging point.

Electrify your journeys to drive towards a sustainable future.

Sustrans Brief History

Sustrans are known for their active travel promotion and charity work, but arguably most famous for their contributions to the national cycling network.

Initially formed in Bristol in July 1977, ‘Sustrans’ started with a group of cyclists and environmentalists under the name ‘Cycle Bag’. The founders were motivated by emerging doubts about the desirability of over-dependence on the private car.

Luck came their way when the Midland Railway line between central Bristol and Bath closed, in favour of the more direct, former Great Western Railway between the cities. The group leased part of the old route and together with many volunteers, as well as the help of the Avon County Council, it was turned it into route number one, the Bristol & Bath Railway Path.

In 1983 the charity Sustrans was officially founded, and during 1995, it was granted a generous £43.5 million from the Millennium Lottery Fund to extend the National Cycle Network, connecting smaller towns and rural areas. Since the birth of Sustrans, they continue to benefit health and wellbeing, the UK’s economy and play a crucial role in connecting the UK by means of sustainable travel.

National Cycle Routes

Fast forward 20 years from the lottery fund, and we are well connected through the gradual implementation and expansion of cycle infrastructure throughout the UK; and it continues to improve. The National Cycle Network is Sustrans biggest project, owning around 2% (271 miles) of the total Network in the UK. The rest belongs to various landowners, who are partly responsible for their own area. However, Sustran are custodians to the National Cycle Route which commits them to maintaining most stretches of the national routes.

In 2020, around a quarter of the National Cycle Network was scrapped on safety grounds, leaving behind 12,739 miles of signed routes. This includes 5,220 miles of traffic-free paths with the remaining 7,519 miles on-road, 163 miles of those are in London.  The routes that have been scrapped will be improved and reopened as part of a plan to enhance safety standards to make cycling more enjoyable and accessible for less experienced cyclists.

Sustrans works incredibly hard to maintain these routes, making them safe and usable for cyclists to commute on and enjoy leisurely rides. The network has millions of trips annually, including cycling and walking. The aim is to remove hinderances and implement new infrastructure so that the cycle routes can be safe and quick to use, in the hope that cycling could one day become the primary mode of transport.

Areas in the UK have different goals for the development of the National Cycle Network. In London, the National Cycle Network aims to take car trips off the road, relieving congestion because of the growing population.  Elsewhere in the UK a lot of revenue is generated through the National Cycle Network, particularly where there are tourist trips. In Scotland, small businesses are growing up along the network, but it’s also about providing the means to travel your regular journey more sustainably.

Community

Other than the infrastructure work, Sustrans have behaviour changes they have to focus on, working with people to encourage them to cycle and walk. They have a policy piece where efforts are made to influence the decision makers in London to do a better job in making cities more liveable.

As a charity, volunteers are the backbone to Sustrans continued growth and success, and there are several easy ways you can get involved and help your community.

Look after the National Cycle Network

By picking up litter, cutting back vegetation, if you use a regular route, you can carry out route checks and report anything that is or starting to become a hindrance to users. The cycle route is yours, Sustran designs and maintains routes to the best of their ability, but this is a community asset that if looked after can be useful to all to enjoy all year round.

Protect local wildlife

By becoming a Sustrans wildlife volunteer.Sustrans wildlife volunteers help by keeping records of nature on your local routes, monitoring wildlife, plant and flower growth and creating spaces where people can come and learn about nature and conservation. Making these spaces more than roads and cycle paths, but spaces for people, not machines.

Promote active travel

In your community by supporting people in your local area to be more active. You can run local events, help teach young people in schools to cycle or scoot, lead rides or walks and host information stalls to promote Sustrans.

Have Your Say

Feedback from Smarter Travel surveys indicate that most residents do not cycle/walk because of unsuitable roads/pathways. As previously mentioned, The National Cycling Network brings huge benefits to the UK’s economy and peoples health and wellbeing (see figure 1) So local authorities need to recognise the benefits and support the network. We have built around the motorised vehicle for many years, and now is the time to reverse our actions to benefit our environment, economy, and ourselves for the future.

To find out more on cycling as a primary use of transport and discover how we can return the streets back to the people, please read our ‘Streets for The People’ blog.

Is getting active part of your new year’s resolution?

One of the biggest misconceptions is that getting active means hitting the gym, paying an excessive amount of money for a personal trainer, or running miles to get fit. But in truth, being active does not mean you have to make big lifestyle changes.

You can do so simply by travelling actively from one point to another.

What does that mean?

Travelling actively, i.e. Active Travel is one of the most effective and easy ways to fit in more physical activity into your daily life as well as contributing to helping the environment, such as improving air quality for everyone.

Active Travel England describes it as travelling from one place to another through physically active means. So whenever you swap out your car journey for scooting, walking, or cycling, they all contribute to Active Travel!

So how can you do that? How could you be active and travel at the same time?

Here are some ways you can be active and travel at the same time!

1. Walk, cycle, scoot or wheel to your local supermarket. Fun fact, an average person can burn 150 calories per hour by simply strolling through the supermarket. So, imagine if you also walked to your local shop too, you would double the gains.
2. Walk, cycle, scoot or wheel to work. Did you know 2/3 of car journeys are under 2 miles, which is equivalent to 15-30 minutes of walking time? An estimate of 3000-3500 steps is a good proxy for 30 minutes of walking. So, if you are able to walk within 30 minutes to your workplace, why not do so? Read more about how walking every day benefits your overall health!
3. If you can’t do your whole journey actively, can you walk, cycle or scoot to your local train station to catch a train to work? Or can you try to park a bit further away from your destination and walk/cycle the rest of your way?
4. Meeting some friends for dinner in the city? If you live or work close by or are under 3 miles away, why not scoot, cycle or walk over instead of driving and worrying about finding a car park?

Overall thoughts

Swapping car journeys and changing up your routine journeys might feel daunting. After all, it is sometimes more convenient to drive. However, active travel is much quicker than you think! Most people overestimate how long it will take them to walk, and underestimate how long it takes to drive.

With better maintained roads and the help of our digital gadgets, active travel has never been easier. As we walk into the year of 2023, why not try to get out in nature more by travelling more actively?

As of 2022, the highway code has been updated. The updates have been put into place to favour the more vulnerable road users and keep them safe.

See Active Travel Hierarchy.

This short video by Brake provides a great explanation.

15-minute cities (20-minute neighbourhoods) have been a hot top topic as of late, causing split opinions. Some people are for the idea, and some people are strongly against it.

The idea is to make amenities more accessible. By improving walking and cycling routes whilst increasing the number of amenities available within a 15 minute walking/cycling distance. This distance is roughly a 1-mile radius on foot, and a 3-mile radius on a bicycle.

Making cities more accessible means providing more essential amenities such as GP surgeries, banks, and schools. This will reduce the need for harmful motorised vehicles and therefore make for a healthier environment.

What the people want

‘YouGov’ survey results have shown that most brits would support their local authority of making any changes necessary to implement 15-minute cities. However, it is accepted that in rural area this will be a much harder task.

“Around nine in ten believe that people should have a bus stop (90%), and a post box (87%) within a 15-minute walk of their home. Having medical facilities such as a pharmacy (85%) and a GP surgery (83%) should also be included in the target according to most Britons. However, less than half see the need for a shopping centre (28%), restaurant (38%) or hairdressers (46%) to be close by. “

Banks, Pharmacies, and surgeries are among the most desired and important amenities but are currently going unfulfilled. The unbalance in amenities it seems, is the main reason the public have to use their cars.

Why there is such uproar

The 15-minute city message has perhaps been misinterpreted, as it has sparked wild socialist theories that suggest the government want to isolate people to restricted areas, stripping them of their freedom…

Whereas others struggle to see where this has come from, how could having everything you need within 15 minutes be considered isolated? The idea does not intend to restrict people from leaving their ‘areas’, the idea aims to put everything within walking and cycling distance.

There is nothing worse than having to drive 20 minutes to another town for a simple prescription, or to post a parcel!

Where 15 minute cities are in use

The concept is currently being used large cities such as Melbourne and Paris, and all the results are positive.

Paris adopted this idea in 2020; where they added more local amenities and increased cycle lanes which resulted in a rise in local businesses due to the increased foot traffic, specifically bakeries!

Isn’t this what we love about going on holiday? Walking around, stopping at a local café or bar, visiting the bakery in the morning… This is what 15-minute cities could bring.

Electric scooter hire has also had huge success in Paris, with 20% of scooter journeys replacing car journeys. This suggests that where people are leaving their cars, they’re happily substituting with a great sustainable alternative; and usage is increasing each year!

How we can benefit

The concept has been proposed to provide benefits to communities, with health and accessibility at the forefront. Once we stop relying on our cars, we will see great improvements on all other aspects in our society.

The main goal of 15 minute cities is to make it easier to use active travel to get from A to B, but why not get a head start! Here’s how you can start to incorporate active travel into your daily life.

See YouGov article here.

We wanted to highlight 5 important reasons why YOU should incorporate sustainable travel into your everyday life. What we find is; it’s good for you and good for your community. Here are the 5 reasons:

1. Environmental impact
2. Health benefits
3. Financial savings
4. Community engagement
5. Future impact

Environmental impact

Reducing single occupancy car use helps to lower greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, contributing to a more sustainable environment.

The transportation sector is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, and single occupancy vehicles are a major contributor to this problem, producing approximately 180g of CO2 per kilometre. These pollutants released into the atmosphere are largely contributing to climate change and air pollution.

By reducing single occupancy vehicle use and incorporating sustainable travel options, individuals can help to lower their personal carbon footprint and contribute to a cleaner environment. In addition, relying less on cars and more on sustainable modes of transportation can help to reduce the demand for fossil fuels, which are finite resources that contribute to global warming when burned. Making the switch to sustainable travel options can help to create a more environmentally friendly future for all.

Health benefits

Incorporating sustainable travel such as walking, cycling, or using public transportation into daily life can lead to improved physical and mental health. Walking and cycling can help to improve cardiovascular health, strengthen muscles and bones, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease; whilst also leading to improved mental health, reducing stress, anxiety, and depression.

Although not as ‘physical’ as active travel, using public transportation, can also provide health benefits. Firstly, public transport often can’t take you door to do, therefore having to include walking into your journey.

Not having to worry about driving and parking, (which can be stressful and time-consuming) is better for both our mental and physical health; repeated stress can lead to high blood pressure, which may lead to heart disease or strokes.

Financial savings

Reliance on single occupancy vehicles often leads to high running costs, including fuel, maintenance, and insurance. Owning and operating a car requires a significant investment of money and ongoing expenses such as fuel, oil changes, tyre changes, and insurance. In contrast, using sustainable travel options such as public transportation, walking, or cycling can be a much more cost-effective way to get around.

There are also small indirect costs that can start to add up such as parking fees, tolls, and the cost of congestion. By reducing the use of single occupancy vehicles, individuals can avoid these additional costs and reduce their overall transportation expenses.

Investing in sustainable travel options such as a bicycle or a bus/train pass may be an intimidating upfront cost but is likely to be a smart financial decision in the long-term. Not only can it lead to lower daily expenses, but it can also help individuals save money on health care costs by promoting a healthier lifestyle.

Community engagement

Using sustainable travel options, such as public transportation, can create opportunities for social interaction and community engagement, which is great, especially when you’re new to the area. Public transportation provides a shared space for individuals to come together and interact with one another, promoting a sense of community. It also provides opportunities to connect with people from different walks of life, promoting cultural understanding and diversity.

Whereas driving a single occupancy vehicle can be quite lonely, often involving long periods of time alone in a vehicle. By incorporating sustainable travel options into daily life, individuals have the opportunity to break out of their isolated routines and connect with others in their communities.

Using sustainable travel options can also support local businesses and promote walkable, liveable communities. Walking and cycling can help to create a more pedestrian-friendly environment, encouraging the development of local shops, restaurants, and other amenities that support community engagement and interaction. The idea of liveable communities has already began to come to fruition, in forms of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs), which are gaining popularity and providing positive results.

Future impact

Making a personal commitment to reducing single occupancy car use and incorporating sustainable travel sets a positive example for future generations and helps to create a more sustainable future for all. The choices that individuals make today can have a significant impact on the future and reducing single occupancy car use is a key step towards creating a more sustainable future.

Incorporating sustainable travel into daily life can also help to create demand for more sustainable transportation infrastructure, such as cycle lanes, pedestrian walkways, and public transportation systems. This can lead to the development of more sustainable communities, where walking, cycling, and public transportation are safe and accessible modes of transportation for everyone.

Overall,

making a personal commitment to reducing single occupancy car use and incorporating sustainable travel is an important step towards creating a more sustainable future for all. It sets a positive example for future generations and helps to create a more liveable, healthy, and environmentally friendly world.

Where to start?

To help you get started, here are some great apps and websites to download:

• UK Bus Checker
• Railcard
• Liftshare

Public transport is a great step towards becoming more sustainable; active travel is even better! See how you can use Active Travel in your everyday travels.

 Who is Cambridge Connect?

Cambridge Connect is an independent initiative aimed at creating a sustainable and rapid transit system to address the transport challenges that Cambridge faces. The initiative is not aligned with any political party, organisation, or group and aims to contribute to discussions about medium to long-term solutions based on research and data.

Cambridge Connect is committed to investigating underground Light Rail as the most practical long-term transit solution without impacting the historic city core.

What is Light Rail?

Light Rail is a system of railways usually powered by overhead electrical wires and used for medium-capacity local transportation in metropolitan areas. Light rail vehicles (LRVs) are a technological outgrowth of trams and metros. Light rail transit lines are more segregated from street traffic than tramways, and the several lines of rail will be a combination of both underground and overground. The purpose is to provide a sustainable mode of transport to accommodate the steep incline in population.

Proposal:

The Isaac Newton Line

The Isaac Newton Line will be the main and longest line in this proposal, running for 47km from Cambourne in the west to Haverhill in the southeast. It will be delivered in three phases:

• Phase One

o 20km

o Set to cost £632 million

o From the Girton Interchange to Granta Park via Eddington, the University West Campus, Grange Road, City Centre, Cambridge Central Rail Station, Addenbrookes, Shelford and Sawston.

• Phase Two

o 12km

o Extend from the Girton Interchange to Cambourne.

• Phase Three

o 15km

o Extend from Granta Park to Haverhill.

The Darwin Line:

The Darwin Line would include stops at Clay Farm, Trumpington and Trumpington Meadows (near M11).

• Phase One

o 2 km

o Would include the southern spur of the converted guided busway to Trumpington, linking key residential, commercial, educational, health and employment centres in Cambridge and the nearby area.

• Phase Two

o 6.5 km

o Would extend from the University of Cambridge West Campus to the Science Park and Cambridge North Station. This line would also include stops at Darwin Green residential development, linking the West Campus to Cambourne (Isaac Newton Line) and to the Science Park (Darwin Line).

There will be 2.6km of tunnel built with one full underground station in Cambridge city centre, costing £100m. One cut and cover station are also proposed for Parkside, costing £50m.

How it could benefit

We are facing economic issues that need action, particularly in the post-pandemic period when the public transport sector has taken a hit, especially bus travel. This is not good in the current state of the climate emergency. The cost-of-living crisis is also affecting the way people travel. Moreover, we’re seeing a rapid increase in population which, if the right infrastructure is not in place, will cause stress on the environment and cities’ capabilities.

Cambridge Connect states that their city will need better public transport infrastructure in 10-15 years due to the forecasted population growth. “It’s projected that ~120,000 more people will be residents in Cambridge City and the surrounding South Cambs District by 2031 than in 2011: the equivalent of the population of Cambridge City again.”

A light rail system of this size is likely to take 10–15 years. Therefore, Cambridge Connect is extremely keen to turn this proposal into a reality.

What do you think? Are you for, or against the Light Rail concept?

Link to case studies: https://www.cambridge-connect.uk/resources/case-studies/