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A Better Charnwood
Posted on 23/09/2007
Loughborough Newsdesk
It has been identified that traffic congestion in Loughborough is increasing and that in the peak hours of the morning about 1,800 journeys are made. Unlike the 1930s when Loughborough undertook widening of some streets by knocking down buildings (e.g. along Swan Street), this option is not practicable.
The Borough and County Council have looked at the various options that are available. Many of these involve strategies of ensuring streets are kept free from illegally parked cars which cause congestion to other road users (and increased road safety hazards) and plans on what land should be used for. However an important part of it is encourage people in Loughborough and the surrounding area of Charnwood to make smarter choices about how they move around the town.
These smarter choices involve travel plans for school children and those getting to work, travel planning and promotion, travel marketing and promotion, public transport and promotion as well as promoting active travel. As part of this, Saturday (22nd September 2007) saw a promotion of bus services around Loughborough and the rest of the surrounding area of Leicestershire at stalls in Market Place and also in Market Street. People were on hand to provide advice to shoppers in the town centre on the bus services that could be used together with alternative forms of transport. The County has found that advertising the availability of bus services increases the uptake of those and the more people who swap their car for a bus means less traffic congestion, less pollution and a nicer environment in which to live.
One of the alternatives to bus travel, should you wish to leave your car at home, would be to make your journey to work by bike. Not only does this save you parking and fuel costs, it can be substantially quicker and more importantly it is better for you. A cycle to a from work 5 days a week would has major health benefits. Visiting the information point in Market Street in Loughborough on Saturday was Mayor of Charnwood, Councillor Joe Tormey who visited the Arriva bus information area and met a bike mechanic. Joe is pictured here on a recumbent cycle talking to Simon Holyoak of Fix My Bike who offers mobile bike repair. It is unclear at the moment if the Mayors official car is to be swapped for one of these distinctive road vehicles.
If you are thinking of getting a bike to make that commute into town to avoid traffic congestion and to make a contribution towards a better environment then check out the Loughborough Bike Shops section of our website for a complete list of cycle dealers.