News | Boyton Place

Posted on 6th June 20255th August 2025 by Lucas Liorancas

The Future of Transport. Could devolution be a game changer?

According to the UK Government’s English Devolution White Paper (2024), the aim of devolution is to ensure that “decisions are made closer to the people they affect” and transport is a key focus area for this strategy.

Centralised vs Decentralised power

Devolution shifts transport decision-making from a national level to a more local level. This gives local authorities more power in decision-making relating to transport planning and implementation. This could mean the needs of local people are met with better local spending on transport where it matters most. The English Devolution White Paper (2024) suggests bringing stronger powers to mayors with integrated funding opportunities to deliver better transport services. Greater transport planning focusing on a smaller-scale transport network rather than a top-down government approach may make changes which serve a greater number of local people.

Increased Local Power

Local authorities will gain greater flexibility in the management of transport budgets and in making decisions about funding services like concessionary travel and bus operations, according to the English Devolution White Paper (2024). Your local authority may choose to move funding for transport services and prioritise discounted travel where it is needed the most through identifying cost efficiencies (Carrington West, 2025).

Better Coordination

A devolution approach can lead to better coordinated transport across different travel modes within local regions. Improvements to local transport services have already been seen through devolution deals (UTG Report, 2025). There is an opportunity for a more integrated method of transport, where train, bus, micro mobility, and active travel services can become more efficient for local people’s use.

Accountability and Local Needs

Local Decision-makers can be held more accountable to their constituents, leading to greater local involvement. This in turn could provide opportunities for local users of the transport network to have greater input in decision-making (UTG Report, 2025).

Modal Shift and Sustainability

WSP prepared a report in 2023 highlighting the research already done on the interventions to shift people out of private car use. It discusses the opportunities that arise from a devolved authority and how they are better positioned to encourage shifts away from car use through regional policies on clean air zones, low-emission buses, and urban design. Local control allows experimentation with fare caps, ticketing innovations, and service improvements that can increase ridership.

Devolution In Practice

Since the initial devolution agreement in November 2015, the Liverpool City Region has secured significant investments and implemented various initiatives:
Train Travel: A £500 million investment in a new fleet of publicly owned trains on the Merseyrail network, along with the construction of new stations and a 600km cycling and walking network.

Bus Travel: In October 2023, the region took the landmark decision to bring the bus network back into public control after nearly 40 years of a deregulated system. The residents of the Liverpool City Region have begun to see an improved bus system with a more reliable service.

Active Travel: There are additional plans for a 600km cycling and walking network to be established across the region, making Active Travel for commuting more efficient as a transport method.

The region has greater cooperation between the six local councils, making collaborative transport much more efficient.

The Manchester City Centre Transport Strategy for 2040, developed by Manchester City Council, Salford City Council, and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), aims to transform how people travel into and around Manchester’s city centre. The strategy is designed to support the region’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2038.

Modal Shift: The strategy sets an ambitious target for 90% of peak morning trips into the city centre to be made on foot, by cycle, or using public transport by 2040.

Reduced Car Usage: A significant reduction in car use is planned, particularly for short journeys under 2 km. This includes discouraging petrol-driven vehicles and removing car parks to promote cleaner alternatives.

Enhanced Public Transport: Improvements to bus, tram, and rail services are central to the strategy, aiming for better integration and efficiency across modes.

West Yorkshire’s Mayor Tracy Brabin has committed to introducing capped fares and improving bus reliability to tackle transport poverty and achieve environmental goals (West Yorkshire Combined Authority, 2025).

Devolution presents a valuable opportunity to improve public transport, making it more attractive to users, better aligned with local needs, and more integrated for smoother, more efficient journeys.

If you have questions about how your local devolution plans might affect transport in your area, please contact your local authority.

Posted on 24th February 202526th February 2025 by Lucas Liorancas

Mind the Gap, Watch Your Step…but what if you can’t?

Public transport plays a critical role in people’s movement and contributes to meeting the UK Government’s Net Zero target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to Net Zero by 2050. Accessibility of public transport for millions of disabled people in the UK is essential to achieving the UK Net Zero target. So how are things evolving to make a more inclusive public transport system?

The Equality Act 2010 is a key piece of legislation that continues to shape transport services, ensuring public transport remains accessible for people living with physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities.

Under the previous Conservative government, two initiatives were critical for enhancing the accessibility of public transport, including:

The Accessibility Action Plan (2018) which saw commitment to making rail services more accessible through station improvements, including step-free access and enhancing communication of important information, including delays and changes to transport routes.

The Disability Confident Scheme (2014) encouraged employers to rethink disability and improve how they recruit, retain and develop team members living with disabilities, including accommodating commuter needs.

More recently, on 19^th February 2025, the current Labour government’s Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood announced the appointment of 13
new members to the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC), which provides advice to the Department for Transport (DfT), particularly in relation to policy priorities and areas requiring immediate attention. In the past, DPTAC has helped DfT to make over 260 train stations accessible via the Access for All programme.

Accessibility of Rail

For many, rail is essential for travel across the UK, yet it can be challenging for people with disabilities where accessibility has not been thoroughly considered. As part of the previous Conservative government’s Inclusive Transport Strategy (2018), £350m was put into projects to improve accessibility, such as step-free access improvement works.

Transreport, in partnership with National Rail, offer their Passenger Assistance service which enables people to request assistance with train travel and book in advance across any train company in the UK. Passenger Assist helps people navigate stations, get on and off trains, arrange ramp and lift access, carry baggage and assist with getting an Assistance Dog Under Seat card.

The current Labour government are planning to reform the UK rail network by establishing Great British Rail (GBR), which will eventually run both Britain’s rail infrastructure and passenger services, but concerns were raised by The Association of British Commuters (ABC) when the recent consultation on the Railway Bill failed to include any mention of a statutory accessibility duty. The DPTAC will likely be working closely with the DfT to ensure accessibility to rail services remains a priority as plans develop. The Railway Bill consultation closes on 15^th April 2025, so there is still time to have your say on policy changes and the proposed passenger watchdog, which is expected to have a specific role for accessibility. Click here to read ‘A Railway Fit for Britain’s Future’ published by the DfT to find out more.

Accessibility of Buses

Buses in the UK have generally seen more consistent improvements, from low-floor model buses helping those with physical disabilities to audio-visual-enabled announcements assisting those with hearing or sight impairments. These changes are being made through legislation and should improve the accessibility, reliability, and comfort experienced by disabled users, as evidenced by research. In 2023, the Public Service Vehicle Regulations were brought out, meaning service providers are required to make “reasonable adjustments”, including access to passenger assistance and access to alternative transport options to ensure that disabled people are not put at a disadvantage. These regulations mean that all public services vehicles such as buses and coaches must comply with certain accessibility standards by 2031, improving accessibility for disabled travellers.

The switch to accessible vehicles tends to be slower on rural networks than in cities, but community transport options have filled the space for accessible transport where it is limited; they can take you to medical appointments and social occasions in your local area. If you require accessible transport, check who your local community transport provider is; they may be able to help.

What Can You Do to Help?

If you come across someone who may need help while travelling, consider offering your assistance if you feel comfortable doing so. They may not require any help, which is perfectly fine, but they may appreciate the offer. Try to understand the kind of assistance they might need, and when offering your help, ensure you clearly explain how you plan to assist them. Once you’ve helped, provide them with a brief overview of their new surroundings if their disability is related to sight before continuing on your way. People may or may not appreciate the offer of help, but whether they accept it or not, kindness is free.

If you think you could volunteer some of your time to support people with disabilities more regularly, take a look at BeMyEyes an app where individuals with sight-related disabilities can request assistance with everyday tasks, including travel.

Could you spare some of your time to assist with community transport in your local area? Community transport provides access for those who need additional assistance when travelling. This can include driving minibuses or offering one-to-one trips in a car to appointments or social activities. Visit our website at smartertravel.uk.com to find out more about the community transport providers operating in your area.

Posted on 23rd December 202423rd December 2024 by Lucas Liorancas

Smarter Travel Ltd Yearly Roundup

As 2024 comes to a close, the Smarter Travel Ltd team would like to wish all of our clients and their residents a very happy festive period and a happy new year. The Smarter Travel Ltd team would like to share some of the achievements they have made over the last year.

In 2024, Smarter Travel Ltd has grown to work with developers and councils across The East of England, South-East and in the Midlands to deliver our services across the country. Suffolk holds over half of our travel plans, followed by Norfolk, which holds just under a quarter.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our clients for choosing Smarter Travel Ltd in their provision of travel planning services.

We are happy to help residents with any travel-related queries and we offer a Personal Travel Planning (PTP) service to residents/employees upon request, that provides all the information a person might need to help them transition to more sustainable alternatives to the private vehicle. For more information about how to claim yours, please visit your Travel Plan website.

When creating PTP’s we include a range of travel methods, information on costs and savings and the carbon footprint on the range of options. This year, we have created 142 bespoke PTPs to help residents learn more about their sustainable travel choices. If you have been the recipient of a PTP and have any feedback, then please let us know by sending an email to info@SmarterTravel.uk.com.

As part of our commitment to the Travel Plan for your development, we send yearly Travel Surveys to residents to understand how their travel behaviour is changing and what might be hindering them from using more sustainable methods of travel.

This year, we had over 700 responses to Travel Surveys from residents, who provided invaluable opinions and experience of traveling in their area. The Smarter Travel Team would like to thank everyone who provided feedback.

In 2024, more than 85% of the developments we manage have either met or are on track to meet the targets outlined in their Travel Plans, thanks to residents’ ongoing efforts to adopt sustainable travel methods.

Finally, we thank our clients for continuing to support us as their Travel Plan Coordinator to deliver Travel Plan measures that help to create sustainable developments. It is a pleasure working with you to help people make Smarter Travel choices.

Posted on 4th November 202418th November 2024 by Lucas Liorancas

Less Stress, More Savings: The Electric Bus Revolution

Traveling by public transport can be a far less stressful experience than driving yourself. Reducing stress is crucial, as stress can lead to various health complications, including headaches, fluctuating blood pressure, disrupted sleep patterns, and even a weakened immune system, making you more vulnerable to getting sick. Opting for buses instead of personal vehicles could reduce your overall stress.

Switching to public transport can also save you thousands of pounds each year. Modern electric buses offer a more comfortable ride and are cheaper to use than maintaining a personal vehicle. Insurance, fuel costs, and vehicle maintenance contribute to an expensive commitment and often create financial stress. Did you know that until December 31st, 2024, bus fares for major bus routes are capped at just £2, and, with the recent announcement from the budget, £3 until the end of 2025? This makes it an even more affordable option for your daily commute.

Increased bus usage also contributes to cleaner air, particularly in our cities. By reducing reliance on single occupancy vehicles, we can significantly reduce transport emissions and the number of harmful particulates entering the atmosphere. Air pollution poses serious health risks, including a higher likelihood of stroke, dementia, cancer, and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

What’s Being Done to Boost Bus Use in the UK?

The benefits of public transport are clear, and the UK government is taking steps to encourage more people to use buses. One major initiative is the electrification of the bus network, which will upgrade the network and deliver more comfort.

Electrifying the Network

You might be surprised to learn that the bus you regularly ride could already be electric! Electric buses are becoming increasingly common, especially in the UK’s largest urban areas Such as London. On October 8^th 2024, the government announced a £500 million investment to expand the electric bus fleet, with plans to roll out an additional 1,200 zero-emission buses over the next three years. This initiative, called the Zero Emissions Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) program, aims to bring electric buses to cities, towns, and even some rural areas.

The Advantages of Electric Buses

Switching to electric buses offers numerous benefits:

Reduced Emissions: Electric buses generate significantly lower emissions, reducing the contribution to climate change. According to the UK government, zero-emission buses must achieve at least a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional diesel buses to be eligible for funding grants through accreditation standards.
Less Noise Pollution: Research from the University of Hong Kong suggests that an electric bus network can lead to more peaceful living due to reduced noise levels. The United Nations has evidence that noise pollution has similar long-term health impacts to air pollution.
Enhanced Comfort and Accessibility: The ZEBRA scheme prioritises passenger comfort, incorporating features like USB charging sockets and Wi-Fi, along with improved accessibility standards through live audio and visual updates on routes.
Cost Savings: While the initial investment in electric bus infrastructure may be high, studies show that electric buses can save up to 70% in operational costs over traditional buses due to lower energy consumption, fewer mechanical components, and reduced maintenance needs.

The Future Looks Bright

As the bus network evolves with improved technology, we can expect substantial benefits for people and the environment. The transition to electric buses will present challenges, particularly in establishing the necessary charging infrastructure. However, once these hurdles are overcome, towns, cities, and villages will enjoy economic advantages and immediate environmental benefits, including reduced air and noise pollution.

In conclusion, switching to public transport, especially electric buses, is a step towards a healthier, more sustainable future. So next time you consider how to get around, think about the many benefits of hopping on a bus!

Posted on 27th September 202416th December 2024 by Lucas Liorancas

How are we getting to work in 2024?

Is The Tide Really Changing?

Transport is the biggest emitting sector of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the UK, producing 26% of the country’s total emissions in 2021 reported by the Department for Transport (DfT), within that, 25% of transport emissions come from commuting. The choices we make for getting to and from work significantly impact our wider carbon footprint. While some factors may limit or even remove our choices, it’s crucial to highlight and act where possible to make sustainable travel both desirable and widely adopted.

Mobilityways is a UK-based, climate-focused tech company supporting employers to measure, report and reduce commuter emissions in line with their net zero goals. They have brought together a Commuter Census report detailing the methods used to travel to work and the rational behind the choices people make regarding transport.

Commuter Travel Habits 2024

Data from 10,325 commuters in the UK fed into a 2024 census report from Mobilityways to reveal key insights into commuting habits. Overall, there is a rising trend in sustainable commuting options, though the number of people driving alone remains the single most popular, with 45% still opting for this mode of transport. Sustainable methods have collectively become the most popular; walking has seen a slight increase from 4% in 2023 to 5% in 2024, but overall, active travel methods such as cycling have seen a 21% decrease. This will make it more challenging to achieve the target set out by the National Audit Office (2023), which aims to increase cycling use to 50% by 2030. Data like this is critical for achieving our zero emission future; Sustrans compared case studies and found that with high quality data, early interventions can increase levels of active travel by two-thirds.

Active Travel

Those who actively commute to work by cycling or walking cover average distances of 8 km and 2.3 km, respectively (Mobilityways, 2024). This aligns with the typical 27-minute commute time reported by the Department for Transport, indicating that people are willing to actively commute when feasible. Notably, 23% of commuters who participated in the Commuter Census would consider cycling if safer cycle lanes were available. Interestingly, according to the DfT, cycling trips have sharply increased from 2019 to 2022 by 46%, demonstrating a willingness to use active travel more. For those interested in finding a cycling route for their commute, Cycle Streets offers various route options, including the fastest and quietest routes, along with helpful cycling advice.

Car Sharing

Car sharing has become the most popular alternative transport method, with increased uptake over the past three years. Despite a decline during the Covid-19 pandemic, carpooling rates have rebounded according to the Commuter Census 2024, with 6 out of 10 people now considering it, provided a carpooling service is available, such as Liftshare. Additionally, 24% of people would consider car sharing in an electric vehicle, further enhancing its sustainability benefits. In 2023, The Chartered Institution for Highways and Transportation (CIHT) found an 11% growth of car sharing memberships within the UK. The growth in car sharing is similar worldwide. For more information on how carpooling works and to take advantage of some of the benefits, including saving 50% on fuel costs when sharing with just one other person and average savings over £1000 per year by sharing regularly, check out the Liftshare public network and sign up for free.

Commuter Preference and Reasoning

So why do people choose their current mode of transport? “Convenience” and “availability” are the two main reasons according the Commuter Census 2024. “Cost” has now become the third biggest factor, with train fares already deemed unaffordable and a nearly 5% fare increase since early 2024, However, Rail users can still benefit from 1/3^rd off travel with a National Railcard – there are 9 to choose from. Have a look on the National Rail website to find the right one for you for just £30 a year.

What about bus? Currently, 10% of people use the bus for commuting, while 71% would consider it as an alternative mode of transport (Commuter Census, 2024). That is a small increase from 8% in 2022 reported by the DfT. The recent increase in bus usage can be attributed partly by the UK government’s scheme to cap most bus fare routes at £2. If you’d like to learn more about the £2 bus cap, visit Gov.uk. The National Bus Fare Scheme has been extended until the end of December 2024, don’t miss out on cheap bus travel!

Regional Insights

According to the Commuter Census (2024), the East of England has the second highest number of commuting days per year at 155 days, with Northern Ireland leading at 159 day. Changing your transport method from driving to cycling could save 43 kg of CO2 emissions per year (based on a 2km commute by car alone)—that’s equivalent to planting 2 trees. Encouraging your work colleagues, friends, and neighbours to make similar changes could lead to even greater CO2 savings (and more trees). For more details, read the full Commuter Census 2024 and explore tools such as Liftshare to integrate sustainable travel into your personal commute or introduce it to your workplace.

Posted on 6th June 202418th November 2024 by Elizabeth Evans

Celebrating National Cycling Month

Sustrans (2020) have reported that walking and cycling reduces air pollution as it means less people using their cars. We know that the CO₂ emitted to the atmosphere from vehicles is contributing to warming the planet, but if more people opt to walk and cycle there will be less cars on the road and a need for more footpaths and cycle paths built to meet demand, generating cleaner air and reducing the risk of animals being killed by vehicles. It is estimated that every day in the UK, 630 cats will be hit by cars according to the RSPCA (2021). 200,000 cats and 80,0000 dogs are hit every year in the UK according to Visionzer Partnership (2024), not to mention the estimated 100,000 fox deaths, 50,000 badgers, 50,000 deer and 30 million birds that perish every year, but we can reduce this by simply opting for 2 wheels instead of 4.

The World Health Organization (2022) also reported that cycling and walking can significantly mitigate air pollution, which is responsible for over half a million deaths annually in Europe alone. Cycling and walking can help to lower obesity, which is responsible for over one million European deaths annually.

Biking is a workout on wheels, it is a brilliant cardiovascular exercise that strengthens the heart and improves joint mobility and reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes and strokes (NHS, 2022). The NHS (2021) have said adults should aim to do at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity exercise a week.

According to the World Heath Organization (2021) cycling has been identified as a means to prevent heart disease and strokes. Additionally, commuting to work by cycling can lower mortality rates by approximately 10%. Exercise prevents diseases such as hypertension and obesity. Your daily commute can help improve environmental health and your own health, all whilst saving you money.

Cycling Vs Car

The upfront cost of a car is significantly higher than purchasing a bicycle. According to Cycling UK (2022) the average price paid for a bicycle was £332 in 2020 and an E-cycle was £1,854. In comparison to the average car cost being £17,641 Auto Trader (2023) and factoring in that cars depreciate by an average annual cost of approximately £1,104 according to Marsh Finance (2024).

Top Gear (2023) revealed that maintaining a car costs an average of £2,835 per year. They also noted that over a span of 60 years, British drivers typically spend around £438,000 on their cars.

Cycling Benefits Your Well-Being

Cycling can be a very sociable activity and there are lots of events you can get involved with, catering for all different skill levels. Why not find your local cycling group here and meet likeminded people, or visit The British Cycling website here to check out upcoming cycling events.

Here are some upcoming cycling events you might be interested in:

Cycle Swarm Cycling Event starts on the 30^th June 2024, 8:00am Carrow Road. Visit there website here.

The Edge Cycle Ride Event starts on 7^th July 2024 9am – 5pm, at Maglia Rosso, Lawshall Road, Hawstead, Bury St Edmunds. Visit their website here.

London to Southend bike ride starts on the 21^st July 2024 at 7:00am at West Ham Park, East London. Visit their website here.

The Tour Of Suffolk starts on the 12^th – 14^th July 2024 at Bury St Edmunds. Visit their website here.

Tour De Fox Cycling Event starts on 4^th August 2024, 8:30 at Hethersett Village Hall, Back Ln, Hethersett Norwich. Visit their website here.

Ride Essex starts on the 1^st September 2024 at Writtle University College, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 3RR. Visit their website here.

Save on expensive gym memberships, the average gym membership costs £40.01 (for an independent gym), Multi-site health and fitness club being £49.62 and a low cost gym being £23.07 according to Xplor Gym (2024) so why not save money and cycle, boost your well-being by being outdoors instead. Cycling is the new cost-effective way to work out.

Not only is cycling brilliant for your health, it’s also massively important in improving your mental health, according British Cycling (2024) getting out into nature helps your energy levels and increases your wellbeing. The multitude of benefits that cycling offers outweighs the costs associated with purchasing the bicycle, but we understand that there is a cost attached and thankfully, there are lots of initiatives to help you get started, check out offers are currently available:

Making Cycling Affordable

Pedal your way to savings! Purchasing a new bicycle can be expensive, but there’s cost effective alternatives, such as buying second hand bikes. Halfords offer a great range of second hand bicycles, visit their website here. Alternatively, check out eBay, Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace for secondhand bikes. We recommend researching the specifications that you’re looking for on retail websites first, then once you have whittled down your selection use secondhand marketplaces to find what you’re looking for as there are often 100’s if not 1,000s to choose from depending on your search criteria.

Decathlon offer a huge variety of affordable cycling gear ranging from helmets, cycling clothing, bicycle lights and many more products perfect help you cycle with confidence.

Explore their comprehensive range now decathlon.co.uk

Planet X bike gear company offers a wide range of affordable essentials for your bike.

Find more information about the under £10 essential bike gear here.

Planet X also offers up to 40% off with the cycle to work scheme. Find out more information and their T&Cs at planetx.co.uk

Berly Bikes are an affordable way to travel without footing the upfront cost to purchase a bike, available throughout Norwich and currently on trial in London and other cities in the UK.

It’s really simple to use:

Download the Beryl app
Find your nearest Beryl on their map
Ride your bicycle
Park your Beryl at a Beryl Bay and lock it

Visit beryl.cc/where-you-can-hire to find your closest Beryl Bay.

Voi. is also an affordable way to hire a bike or scooter to commute, particularly in Cambridge and London.

It’s very easy to use:

Download the free app and create your account.
Find your nearest bicycle or scooter on their map.
Easily unlock by scanning its QR code.
Ride to your destination

Visit voi.com/locations to find your nearest bicycle or scooter.

Suffolk Cycle Hire is a brilliant way to rent a bicycle when you need, it gets delivered to your door and picked up when you’re done! Available in the Coastal Suffolk region.

Cycle to Work Scheme is a government scheme and is a fantastic way of making cycling affordable, you can save up to 42% on a new bike for work. Speak to your employer to see if this is something they currently offer or highlight it as a work perk you would hope to benefit from in the near future!

Learning How To Cycle

Learning to ride a bicycle has never been easier, Little Riders offers a range of Free cycling lessons for a range of ages starting at 2.5 years old to 9 years +. For more information about available free courses visit Little Riders.

Transport for London offers free cycle training, ranging from basic cycle skills course, Urban cycle skills course, advanced cycle skills course and family cycle skills. Visit for more information Free cycle training course Transport For London.

Suffolk County Council offers free cycling training for families. The sessions last just 3 hours long and are free. You learn how to cycle with your children and learn cycling safety skills.

Norfolk County Council offer cycling training with Bikeability. They offer a Level 1 & 2 combined and level 3 family course.

Most of the courses are free of charge as funded by The Bikeability Trust.

Not every family’s course is free of charge, enquire to learn more about your eligibility for a free cycling course and to find the nearest course to you here.

Beryl have partnered with Bikeabilty learners to offer 300 free minutes to use on a Beryl bike, visit the website here.

Essex Highways are offering residents of Essex Free cycle training for adults.

The training is brilliant for new and experienced cyclists. The free adult Beginner Learn to Ride cycling course includes a 45-minute session.

The confidence building session lasts for 2 hours. The advanced session lasts for 2 hours. All courses are 1 to 1 with a qualified instructor.

Learn New Cycling Skills With These Brilliant Tutorials

The Global Cycling Network is a brilliant YouTube channel and website to learn cycling tips and bike maintenance skills for new and experienced cyclists.

Check out this helpful tutorial on essential cycling skills – it covers 5 key abilities every cyclist should master. Watch it here.

Discover essential safety tips for cycling amongst traffic in this highly informative tutorial. Watch the video to learn techniques for navigating roads safely on your bike in traffic here.

Learn how to remove and replace your real wheel with this informative video here.

Discover how to change your bicycle pedals here.

Plan your route

Cycle Streets is also a brilliant website to use to plan your route. They even have a quietest route plan, which potentially helps you to plan a safer route to your destination visit their website here.

Boyton Place

Halfords store in Haverhill is your nearest repair and bicycle servicing shop

Your nearest store is Cambridge Road Retail Park Road Haverhill , CB9 7GS

Visit Halfords website.

Download the latest Cycle Route map here.

Suffolk have two upcoming cycling events you could take part in, one being the Suffolk Cycle Speedway Association Individual Championships for Under 8, Under 10, Under 13, Under 16, Under 19, Over 40, Senior Open & Women’s (with sub classes for under 10 Girls, under 13 Girls,& under 16 Girls) The event is on the 15^th June 2024 at 15:00, at Great Blakenham Recreation Ground, Mill Lane, Great Blakenham. Visit their Facebook events page.

The second event is Suffolk GP for Under 11, under 15 and women and senior pairs. The event takes place on the 19^th June 2023 19:00 at Somersham Cycle Speedway Track. Visit their Facebook event page.

Posted on 21st May 202418th November 2024 by Elizabeth Evans

Public Transport’s Convenience Cost-Saving Power

Owning your own car or van often comes with a significant financial burden, which is only increasing as time goes on. In comparison, the bus offers an unparalleled combination of affordability and convenience that simply cannot be ignored.

Many bus operators are participating in the Get Around For £2 scheme, valid until December 2024, where you can get a single trip for £2 or less. Comparatively, the average parking cost in England for only two hours is £3.54, and having the inconvenience of parking queues, plus the cost of fuel, the inconvenience of maintenance and MOT of a vehicle, makes bus travel a lot more affordable in comparison. Varsity (2024).

For more information on the UK Government’s Get Around for £2 Scheme and to see participating bus operators, visit gov.uk

INRIX (2017) have reported that approximately 44 hours a year is used just to search for a car park space – that’s almost 2 days! This not only costs us precious time but contributes to unnecessary fuel consumption and increased emissions emitted to the atmosphere. This furthers the importance of using public transport, where possible, to help save you time, money and your lower emissions.

A full double decker bus can take up to 75 cars off the road (Confederation of Passenger Transport, 2024) This significant reduction not only aids in alleviating traffic congestion but also helps enhance air quality, great news for children and parents walking to school!

Bus lanes make bus travel a fast, easy way of travel by avoiding grid lock roads and alleviating stress and have the added bonus of gliding past all the cars in ease to your destination.

If you are aged 65 or over or have a disability, you may be eligible for free bus travel during off peak periods. See more information here.

With its unbeatable combination of affordability and convenience, it’s a choice that not only saves you money but enriches your travel experience by the possible social side and by enjoying your surroundings. Instead of tiresomely sitting in traffic, why not hop on a bus and use the time to do everything you can’t do whilst driving, such as reading a chapter of that book you can’t find time to finish, or calling that restaurant you’ve been meaning to go to for your next date night.

Choo-Choose the Train

Our World in Data (2023) have reported that travelling by train has one of the lowest environmental footprints in public transportation. Their 2022 data showed that the carbon footprint of travel per kilometre, per passenger came in highest for a diesel car, being a massive 171 g, petrol car at 170 g, bus travel was 97 g, followed by National rail at 35 g. The only mode to have a smaller footprint that the train was coach travel, coming in at just 27 g. This is due to coaches being more efficient on fuel, Centaur (2023) have reported that a coach can travel 100 miles on just 1 gallon of fuel, whereas trains require1.5 gallons for the same distance. As a result, coaches produce lower emissions per passenger.

According to International Energy Agency (2023) urban rail train networks have lower emissions than other urban motorised transportation modes because they are powered by electricity. By taking the train compared to bus and car you are significantly lowering your carbon footprint. Opting for train travel over driving reduces CO₂ emissions by a staggering 67%. (Trainline, 2024).

It’s Getting Hot in Here

Park and Ride is another great mode of travel that offers a convenient, fast mode of travel to your desired location. Simply drive and park your car for free or cycle to your local Park and Ride – most offer cycle parking. This is a great way of minimising emissions in cities, which can be subject to higher temperatures and lower air quality due to concentrated pollution. Over time, high emissions in built-up areas can contribute to an “urban heat island” forming, as buildings, roads and infrastructure absorb and re-emit the sun’s heat more than natural landscapes and higher levels of Carbon Dioxide and other gases trap the heat in, like a greenhouse, making it dangerous for city dwellers, particularly during the summer months. In summer 2023, 664 people sadly died during the heat wave in London. Experts state that Londoner’s are 3 times more likely to die during a heatwave of 29 degrees or higher, so we need to take action to minimise this risk not only in London, but for all urban areas across the UK. Learn more about heat islands here.

Bus Vs Train Vs Car

Using public transport such as buses or trains helps reduce CO₂ emissions being emitted, helps improve air quality and also help reduce you monthly travel costs in comparison to driving a car.

According to University of California, Los Angeles (2021) the average emission of CO₂ per mile driven by each vehicle on the road is one pound. Using public transportation results in a commendable reduction of CO₂ emissions by 45%. These statistics underscore the substantial environmental advantages associated with embracing public transport alternatives like buses and trains.

According to the Rail Delivery Group by National Rail (2023), rail transportation generates 10 times less carbon emissions compared to travelling by car.

Train travel emits the least amount of emissions among these 3 transportation options. Opting for trains isn’t just about reaching your destination—it’s about making a conscious choice for a sustainable future. By embracing train travel you can take a proactive step towards reducing your carbon footprint. Although trains tend to be a higher priced mode of travel in comparison to bus travel, opting for a railcard can help reduce costs.

Getting stuck in traffic also increases short-term stress level according to Womens Health (2021) By opting for a sustainable mode of travel you helping to improve health in comparison to driving.

Opting for train or bus travel offers an added benefit: if you need to walk to either of these modes of transportation, it contributes to your daily recommended 30 minutes of exercise. This is also excellent for enhancing your mood and to give you a good start to your working day.

Railcards

For just £30 a year, enjoy a 1/3 discount on train tickets with a National Railcard. It’s a smart investment – use the discount a few times, and you’ve easily covered the cost. National Railcards available:

16 – 17 saver railcard

16-25 railcard

26 – 30 railcard

Two Together railcard

Senior railcard

Family & Friend railcard

Veterans railcard

Network railcard

The above railcards are £30 for 1-year.

Disabled Person railcard is £20 for 1-year.

Flexi season ticket – If you are a hybrid worker, a Flexi season ticket may be your best option. The ticket gives you 8 days of travel in 28 days. Find more information here.

Club 50 Greater Anglia Railcard – The railcard for over 50s Find more information here.

Travel more, spend less. Get your Railcard today!

Get more information about railcards here.

The main benefits of using public transport are:

Money saving
Notable health improvements such as stress reduction
Possibility of contributing to your daily recommendation of exercise
Lowering your carbon footprint
Help to reduce the number of cars on the road, and in turn reducing the amount of emissions being emitted to the atmosphere, creating cleaner healthier air.

Try swapping your car journeys for public transport and experience the benefits.

Posted on 12th April 202416th December 2024 by Elizabeth Evans

Championing Car Clubs

Are you tired of the expense of owning a car? A car club could be the answer for a more convenient and affordable way to travel.

According to Top Gear (2023), over the course of an average 60-years of driving, the typical British driver spends a staggering sum nearing £438,000 on vehicles. This statistic underscores the inefficiency of pouring resources into maintaining and repairing underutilized vehicles. In this context, car clubs emerge as a compelling solution, offering a pathway to maximise the value of car ownership by providing access to a diverse fleet of vehicles without the burden of sole ownership. By embracing car clubs, you save time and money and lose the hassle that comes from owning your own vehicle.

Unlocking the power of car clubs

Car clubs offers a brilliant approach to transportation, providing 767,899 car club members with access to shared vehicles for short-term rentals in 2023, a 38% increase since 2020, resulting in more available car club vehicles, totalling 5,167 as of 2023. UK Government, 2023).

Based on insights from CoMoUK’s 2021 summary report, its revealed that car club vehicles produce 27% less emissions compared to privately owned vehicles, because car club vehicles are less than 5 years old and most car club vehicles are also either hybrid or electric vehicle which produce significantly less emissions than regular petrol and diesel vehicles.”

Car clubs not only offer unparalleled convenience but also serve as champions of environmental stewardship, driving positive change, one mile at a time.

The benefits of car clubs:

Access to on-demand, new, eco-friendly hybrid and electric vehicles. Helping to minimise pollution and reduce your carbon footprint.

Financial benefits of not having to tax, MOT, service or repair the car, which costs the average person £2,835 every year! (Top Gear, 2023).

Not incurring depreciation costs of the car.

Reduces the number of cars on the road which not only decreases congestion and pollution and the risk of hazards and therefore accidents, but also saves you time by not having to sit in traffic, it’s a no-brainer.

Convenience of car clubs

You can have on-demand access to vehicles for quick errands, weekend getaways, or daily commutes. No more worrying about maintenance, insurance, or parking – simply book a car when you need it and enjoy the ride. The convenience of car clubs is brilliant for people who live in the city who can normally walk to their desired destination, but on the off chance of needing a vehicle, car clubs come in useful.

According to CoMo UK’s Annual (2022) report, “in 2022 on average each car club vehicle in the UK replaced 22 private cars” and “73% of car club users who had decreased their car ownership thought that they had saved money compared to owning or leasing a car”.

Enterprise

Rent from Enterprise for £30 a day offer on 75% of their vehicles, valid until the 30^th April 2024. Excludes mileage charges, T&Cs apply. See their website for their latest offers.

Hiring a car is made easy, simply unlock a car with just your phone. Enterprise car club membership includes breakdown cover and damage protection and cleaning, making their car club very convenient for trips you need to make.

The regional rates for Norwich & Norfolk is hourly from £7.43 and daily rates from £61.79. The regional rates for London is £9.53 and daily rates from £78.59, you can see more regional rates on the Enterprise website.

Another benefit of using Enterprise is if you have to fill up during your journey, they will cover the cost of your fuel. See more information here.

Hiyacar

You can rent a car from local people at Hiyacar, available in London and lots more cities in the United Kingdom, find your local hire location on Hiyacar’s website. There is no deposit required and pricing starts from £28 a day. Hiyacar provides roadside assistance as part of hiring a car. Hiyacar offers a subscription plan that costs £6.99 a month, which gives you a 500 miles per day mileage allowance, pick up/drop off times are 24/7 compared to a regular member that has allocated hours for this and the minimum duration of hiring a car is 1 hour.

Review’s on Hiyacar’s website “Great hire! Very easy to deal with and excellent service”

“Simple efficient system with no hidden fees or later rip offs. How car hire should be.”

Zipcar

Zipcar is a car club available in lots of locations in the United Kingdom more find your nearest car club on their website Zipcar’s map. Zipcar is a more affordable way of travel.

Zipcar provides fuel for 60 miles each day and they pay for Congestion Charges.

They have three plans available; the Basic plan costs between £9/hr and £90/day and a £15 driving credit is approved, the Smart plan costs £6 a month with driving rates from £7hr and £70 a day and a best value Plus plan that costs £15 a month with driving rates from £6hr and £60 a day. Zipcar (2024)

Browse CoMoUK’s map to see your local car club.

Posted on 25th March 202418th November 2024 by Elizabeth Evans

The Benefits of Electrifying Journeys

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.

Posted on 19th February 202418th November 2024 by Elizabeth Evans

Are Two Modes Better Than One?

Walk to the bus stop, cycle to the train station or drive to the park and ride. Whatever multi-modal trip you decide to make, it’s better than driving alone, for both you and your environment. Below are some of the key health and wellbeing benefits of active travel, which you can combine with other modes to make your journeys more sustainable:

Benefits of cycling and walking

Wellbeing: 20 minutes of exercise per day helps to improve brain function by increasing the flow of oxygen to the brain, helping to reduce the risk of depression by 31% and decreasing anxiety levels, which can make you more productive. Walking all of part of your daily commute can help you get into a positive mindset for the day.

Health: Walking and cycling helps improve your cardiovascular health and helps to burn calories to maintain a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI). Obesity causes 1 million deaths every year worldwide! Not only that, but physical inactivity costs the NHS up to £1 billion per annum. Half a million people worldwide die of air pollution every year and that number is increasing rapidly, but walking and cycling journeys helps to improve air quality by reducing congestion and pollution, particularly in urban areas.”

Sources:

Department for Transport (2021)

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/610d63ffe90e0706d92fa282/decarbonising-transport-a-better-greener-britain.pdf

World Health Organization (2022)

https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/07-06-2022-cycling-and-walking-can-help-reduce-physical-inactivity-and-air-pollution–save-lives-and-mitigate-climate-change

Did you know you can take your bike on the bus? Check your local bus provider to make sure they have room for your bike!

The park and ride is a good alternative to driving in and paying for parking.

Simply park your car for free and hop onto the bus, sit back and enjoy your commute, rather than contributing to the stressful grid lock twice a day. Using the park and ride decreases the amount of cars entering the city, helping to speed up your daily commute.

Using the park and ride is normally a lot quicker than driving into the city, plus the benefit of not having to pay expensive city parking prices.

A great multi modal commute that’s easy to try is getting off the bus a stop early and walking the rest of your commute, this will help you achieve your recommended daily exercise and enhance your wellbeing before work.

By combining and incorporating one sustainable method in your daily commute, you’re helping the environment and making roads less congested, which saves everyone time.

For more information visit:

www.firstbus.co.uk/bus-accessibility

Posted on 15th January 202418th November 2024 by Elizabeth Evans

Driving the change with car sharing, including money saving and social connection of car sharing

Liftshare network is FREE and easy to sign up to their website to find locals to car share with.

Liftshare members save over £1,000 on average every year.

You will save money on fuel, maintenance, and parking, helping you to navigate through the current cost of living challenges.

Eco-Friendly Travel: By sharing car rides, we reduce the number of cars on the road, cutting down carbon emissions and contributing to a greener earth.

Community Connection: Socialise your commute and join a community of like-minded individuals who believe in sustainable living. Make new friends and create a positive impact on your community. Car sharing is more than just splitting the cost of travel with each other, it is a social commute, rather than a solo commute.

Hear from one of Lifshares members John. “I’ve saved around £1500 in 6 months, and often four of us use one car for the usual daily 50-mile trip. Definite friendship has occurred which wouldn’t have happened without Liftshare”.

Read more of Liftshares success stories www.liftshare.com/uk/member-stories and sign up today and start your money saving success story like John.

We practice what we preach at Smarter Travel. Hear from our Smarter Travel employees who successfully lift share together.

Hear from our Travel Plan Coordinator Elizabeth Evans MA who talks about her experience with car sharing.

“I enjoy car sharing to work. I am not a morning person and thought I would find socialising before 08:00am tiresome, but actually it sets me up for the day, good music puts me in a positive mood and the journey allows me to catch up with colleagues outside of work. Not only do we all save money by splitting the cost of fuel each month, but it guarantees a parking space at the office and is much more reliable than rural buses. I feel comfortable car sharing with colleagues because we are familiar, I know where we are travelling to/from and I feel safe in their company. We make it clear to the wider team what days we are car sharing on and if one of us needs to be flexible with our working pattern due to an appointment or event outside of work, we just let management know and agree to make up the time.”

Hear from Oliver Shaw engineering apprentice at Richard Jackson. Oliver currently car shares with Elizabeth at Richard Jackson Smarter Travel.

“I would say car sharing is my most favourable way of traveling to work in comparison to other sustainable modes of travel and including driving alone.

My commute from North Walsham to Norwich typically takes about 45 minutes and I make this journey 5 days a week. I car share at least twice a week, once as a passenger and once as a driver, which allows me to save the cost of one of my journeys to work a week, at about £5, resulting in a total saving of about £230 a year.

I mainly share the journey with one of my friends from North Walsham, who is located along the route. Although I have to divert my usual route to work (making it 10 minutes longer) for my friend’s place of work, it allows extra time in the morning for a catch-up chat and relaxes me for the day.

On some days I also share my commute with a colleague, who is located on the way to work, and this means that we can discuss ideas about work on the way which gets us in the mindset for a productive day.”

In Conclusion: Car sharing is an efficient, easy way to save money, and enjoy your commute.

Together, we can make a difference! Let’s drive change.

Find more information and Sign up now at www.liftshare.com/uk

Posted on 7th December 202318th November 2024 by Elizabeth Evans

‘Tis the Season to be Sustainable

For many, this holiday season is a time for celebrations, good food and get togethers, but it doesn’t have to cost the earth! (pun intended)

Sustainability isn’t just about smarter travel, it’s embedded in everything we do. That’s why this month, we wanted to share some top tips for reducing your carbon footprint and making seasonal savings!

Gifts

Before heading out to do your seasonal shopping, why not ask people if there is anything they need? This way, they will be sure to make the most of your gift, helping to reduce waste.

Wrapping presents brings us joy, but it’s important to be mindful of the materials we are using. Some paper wrapping paper has a plastic lining for strength, but that means it cannot be recycled, so always check before you buy. Avoid glitter, this is made of plastic too. Do the scrunch test: if it bounces back, it’s not recyclable.

Sellotape, the UKs most popular UK brand for tape, is made of polypropylene (PP – Plastic number 5) and cannot be recycled, making any wrapping paper it is attached to non-recyclable, unless you spend your morning separating it (a messy, time consuming job). Instead, why not try paper-based alternatives, such as solvent-free glue, made from natural ingredients, or why not try wrapping with fabric that can be reused! Watch this simple fabric wrapping tutorial.

Plastic ribbons and bows might be beautiful, but landfill isn’t. Why not try paper alternatives or better yet, try twine that can be reused year after year.

Crackers

40 million dad jokes are thrown away every year! Look out for plastic-free crackers, available in most UK supermarkets, or better yet, try fabric crackers that can be reused and refilled with your own small gifts and inside jokes.

Food

The holiday season tends to be a time for indulgence, but it’s important not to waste food and only buy what you need. There is more than enough food to feed the world, but 783 million people still go hungry, so think before you buy – will you use it? Do you need it? Here are some tips to make tasty dishes with your leftovers.

Travel

If you’re travelling home to get together with your loved ones over the holidays, could you cut your costs and carbon by car sharing?

Daily exercise is important for overall health and wellbeing, so why not try getting out for a winter walk. The Ramblers organise walks all year round, check out their website to find your local group.

From all of us at Smarter Travel, we’d like to wish you a sustainable holiday season!

Posted on 9th October 202318th November 2024 by Elizabeth Evans

Every Step You Take…

Here at Smarter Travel, we want to celebrate International Walk to School Month! It’s a time to unite families in hand and in heart, which is why we’re highlighting some of the amazing health benefits of walking (and cycling):

1. Healthy Heart

Walking for 2.5 hours per week can reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems by 31% (try walking for 30 minutes on your lunch break!)

2. Keep Fit

Walking and cycling helps you maintain a healthy body and mind, can be tailored to your level of fitness and intensity so you can go at your own pace.

3. Stress-Less

Moving around can make you feel less stressed, reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Just 20-minutes a day is proven to increase brain function, so make sure to take a break during the day to reset! It’s like a natural mood booster!

4. Strong Bones

Walking is gentle on your joints and can help if you ever have achy knees or hips. Maintaining an active routine helps to alleviate pain associated with osteoarthritis and other bone ailments. Biking can increase the bone density in your legs, hips and spine, therefore making them stronger, so it’s like giving your bones a workout!

5. Live Longer

A study by “The Lancet” found that people who walked or cycled for 2.5 hours per week reduced the risk of premature mortality by 22% – worth a shot right?! Regular physical activity helps to prevent chronic diseases like diabetes and types of cancer, such as breast and colon cancer.

Unlike the gym, walking is completely free and gets you from A to B! Check out the likes of Sustrans, Living Streets and Cycling UK to find local walking and cycling groups, log your physical activities on apps like Strava to monitor your progress and keep you accountable!

Walking and cycling are the smarter ways to travel and we encourage you to do so whenever possible. Click here to complete the Boyton Place Travel Survey and redeem either a £100 active travel voucher OR a £100 cycle voucher for Aero Cycles, based in Haverhill.

Posted on 8th September 202318th November 2024 by Elizabeth Evans

A Sneak Peek at Liftshare Week

Looking to save some cash while making a positive impact? Look no further!

Liftshare Week 2023, taking place from September 18th to 24th, is an opportunity you won’t want to miss!

Suffolk Car Share community is completely free and flexible, only share on the days that suit you with people you want to!

What’s in it for me?

When it comes to car sharing, the financial benefits are hard to ignore. With the ever-rising costs of fuel, maintenance, and parking, car sharing can significantly lighten the load on your wallet. Sharing with just 1 other person splits the cost of your journey in half! Can you think of a better way to get a 50% discount on fuel?

During Liftshare Week, an enticing incentive awaits – the chance for 5 lucky members to each win a £100 Love2Shop voucher or a Fitbit Charge 5! Join Suffolk Car Share today to be in with a chance to win! Find out more information via the Liftshare.com blog.

It’s about more than just cutting costs, it’s about cutting carbon too. Car sharing plays a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions. Fewer vehicles on the road means less pollution and cleaner air for all. By participating in Liftshare Week, you’re directly contributing to a healthier planet.

Sign Up and Start Saving!

By joining Suffolk Car Share during Liftshare Week, you’ll not only gain access to a community of like-minded individuals dedicated to creating a sustainable society, but also be eligible to win the prize draw! Be part of the movement that cuts costs and carbon!

Together, we’re driving change.

Posted on 4th July 202216th December 2024 by Elizabeth Evans

What is net zero and how can you help?

The term net zero is the world’s answer to stopping climate change. On the 29^thof June 2019, the UK became the first major economy to pass laws to end our contribution to climate change and pledged to become net zero by 2050.

The term net zero refers to reducing emissions to their lowest amount through energy efficient measures and then using offsetting as a last resort to balance remaining hard to remove emissions.

Energy efficiency measures include simple changes such as: double glazing, cavity wall insulation, and efficient light bulbs.

Net zero can also be understood as achieving a balance between carbon emitted into the atmosphere, and the carbon removed from it. By extension, net zero means driving down your personal emissions from your home and lifestyle to the lowest you can and then offset any remaining hard to remove emissions.

Net Zero Week 2^nd -8^th July 2022

Before you start reducing your personal emissions, why not check out the WWF Footprint calculator to check your environmental footprint?

The reason behind having net zero week is to introduce the concept worldwide and to encourage everyone to all make a change in their respective lifestyle. Achieving net zero can not be done by one person or one country, it must be done globally. o here are some starting points we’ve gathered for you.

What can you do for Net Zero week?

It may be overwhelming to think about what you can do to contribute to a net zero environment. In truth, it is simple! Here is a list of actions that you can challenge yourself to this week:

Switch your regular transport to another alternative to reduce emissions. Can you cycle to town to meet your friends? Can you cycle to your grocery shop?
Switch off your lights, electric, or gas appliances when not in use. Around one-fifth of the UK’s total carbon emissions come from our homes, with 40% coming from heating. Are you watching TV in your living room? Can you switch off the lights in your bedroom and your bathroom extractor fan?
Could you open your windows for fresh air and breeze, instead of using an electric fan?
Recycle humidifier water to water your plants.
Fill up your car only half the tank to be more economical.
Collect and recycle food waste. Have you got a food waste bin? The UK wastes £10bn a year on food waste. Food production is responsible for 25% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. If you don’t have one, have you thought about composting your household food waste?
Wash your clothes at 30 degrees and avoid using the tumble dryer.
Take a shorter shower and have fewer baths.

Simple lifestyle changes such as the above are doable without cost. However, if you would like to make your home net zero, you could:

Efficient water management. Reduce your water consumption by replacing the shower head with a water efficient single spray showerhead, and a water-saving tap.
Generate your own energy – such as having solar panels installed on your roofs, or wind turbines to be mounted on one of the poles standing around your house to generate electricity for your household use such as charging your electric vehicle.
Have an efficient heating system running on low carbon fuel – To reach net zero carbon emissions target, we will need to reduce the carbon emissions from heating homes by 95% over the next 30 years. Visit the Energy Saving Trust website for tips about what you can do to lower your carbon emissions and save money on heat pumps, boilers, electric heating, solar water heating, heating controls, and more.

There are many more things you can do about turning your home net zero. Click here to learn more about other measures.

Why should you get involved in Net Zero Week?

The world is battling to keep the global temperature within 1.5 degrees. If we pass the 1.5 degree limit, the impacts of global warming could be irreversible and catastrophic. By achieving net zero, we would be able to keep the global temperature within the 1.5 degree mark.

Other than significant environmental benefits, achieving net zero by making your home energy-efficient will also help you save a lot of money every month and reduce your personal carbon emissions. Simple lifestyle changes could also help you save a lot of money in the long run, and help with your physical health.

If you don’t know where to start, why not start by switching your regular transport to another alternative, and travel actively to reduce your personal emissions?

COP26 identified that transport accounts for 30% of global carbon emissions, with 72% of its emissions coming from road transportation, and 80% from private cars. Active Travel can bring huge benefits to our communities, health, and environment.

If you would like to know how to become net zero with your travel, please contact us and we will be more than happy to help.