TravelWise and try the bike

Try cycling to work this week 

This week, we are taking part in TravelWise Week, a week-long campaign promoting active and sustainable travel across Hampshire.  

We are going to tell you about the various travel options you can take when working, studying, and playing in Hampshire.  If you can swap your car for a different mode of transport one or more days this week, that would be great, and it would be brilliant if you could also tweet a picture.  So, join in, leave your car at home, and discover alternative ways to travel.  #BeHantsTravelWise 

Today we are going to talk about cycling around Hampshire.  Cycling is a great way to get around – it’s fun, keeps you fit, and you can save money on fuel and parking. It is also often a quicker way to get around the city and town centres than going by car. 

Improving cycle infrastructure around Hampshire 

Hampshire County Council recently secured over £3m of funding from the Government’s Active Travel Fund, which aims to provide better spaces for walking and cycling in local communities.  One of these improvements is Brighton Way in Basingstoke.  This new cycle route has now been completed, and takes you along Brighton Way, between Brighton Way roundabout and Sullivan Road.  This will link directly into other cycle routes that will be provided through the Brighton Hill Roundabout improvement scheme. 

Test Lane cycle link improvement for Nursling Industrial Estate is now complete.  This provides a continuous shared use pedestrian and cycle way from Andes Road, linking Southampton’s cycle network to the Estate. 

The Green Loop at Whitehill and Bordon is now complete.  This is part of a package to deliver high quality walking and cycling routes around the town.  It provides a new pedestrian and cycle path through the area of woodland between the residential areas on the east side of the Camp Road and Oakmoor Secondary School to the west. 

If you live near to Alton, then there is lots of information through the Active Alton campaign about where to cycle and walk in Alton and the surrounding area, cycling groups and clubs and some handy maps with new cycle routes to enjoy. 

Learning new routes 

There are plenty of opportunities to learn new routes, or find other people to cycle with through all the cycling clubs across Hampshire.  They cater for all abilities, just give them a ring, and find the right one for you.  

Remember it would be brilliant if you could tweet your pictures switching the car for alternative modes of travel. #BeHantsTravelWise #TravelWiseWeek