Supporting active travel and improving air quality

Transport is the biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in Colchester. We are very focused on trying to support more people to travel actively, particularly for short journeys which provide a greater opportunity not to use your car.

Active travel refers to modes of travel which involve a level of activity and includes walking, wheeling, cycling, scooting and using public transport.

Active travel improves physical and mental health, produces lower emissions and has a lower environmental impact than using a car.

When you need to use a car, consider sharing a car journey with others or using a car club.

Electric vehicles are also a more environmental option for driving, but still contribute to congestion.

We work closely with Essex County Council (ECC) on many of our active travel projects. ECC are the organisation responsible for managing transport and highways (roads, paths and others).

Some of the projects we are working on to support active and sustainable travel around Colchester:

• Secure Bike Hub to enable residents to lock their bike in a secure, pin coded facility in the city centre. Electric bikes and electric cargo bikes can also be hired from the facility. Bike maintenance and repair support are provided by volunteer run Colchester Bike Kitchen to help you fix your own bike.
• Cycle Colchester website which is the go-to resource for all your cycling needs. The website will include information such as:
  • an updated cycling map showing cycle routes around Colchester 
  • cycle maintenance and repair support
  • information on electric bikes and bike hire 
  • bike parking locations and tips on bike security 
  • information on available cycle training 
  • information about various cycling related organisations and lots of other general cycling advice. 
• Electric car club in collaboration with Enterprise Car Club.
• Bikewise campaign in collaboration with the Police and other community partners to promote the use of secure bike locks as well as the Secure Bike Park in the city centre.
• eCargo Bike Library including pay as you go and short term hire schemes for residents and businesses.
• Colchester Travel Plan Club offers advice to businesses in Colchester to help them to encourage their staff to travel to work sustainably. This includes providing access to incentives such as public transport discounts, helping with travel surveys and advising on other staff-related transport plans.
• Support on the delivery of projects that will improve signage and quality of walking and cycling routes around Colchester. One of the recent projects is the ‘Walk with Words’ project. Signposts are going to be installed along walking routes between Greenstead, University of Essex, Hythe and the City Centre. The signposts will have links to stories and experiences people have had in various locations along the route.
• Support the externally funded ‘Essex Pedal Power’ project in Greenstead which is providing residents with 800 free bikes, alongside relevant equipment and cycle training. The project will enable more people to cycle for work and leisure.
• Promotion of Colchester eCargo who provide an eCargo bike delivery service for local businesses and organisations. 
• Continue to improve awareness of air quality and actions we can all take to improve it, building on the success of reductions already achieved. This includes promoting our ‘CAReless Pollution’ campaign, bringing resources to schools and businesses to help them become more engaged with the topic and promote actions they can take (such as supporting active travel, encouraging ‘no idling’).

Find more information on walking routes and walking groups in Colchester.

Find more information on various cycling projects we are working on.