Smarter Travel Coventry

The Smarter Travel Coventry Personal Travel Planning project officially ended on 3 September 2010.  The project aimed to target 10,500 households within approximately 400m of the Bus Showcase Route 13 in parts of Radford, Holbrooks and St Michael's wards and encourage 3,000 households to participate in the project.  In total 5,365 households were spoken with and 3,268 households agreed to participate, exceeding the target.

Residents spoke to Travel Advisors and requested information on healthier, greener, and in many cases, cheaper, travel options.  Travel Advisors provided information on the improvements associated with the Bus Showcase Route 13 and the range of walking and cycling routes in the city. They also gave encouragement to make use of these travel options.

Two events were held as part of the project.  The official launch event for Smarter Travel Coventry took place on Jubilee Crescent Green on the 26 June. Cllr Linda Bigham undertook a prize draw for one year's free travel on public transport across the West Midlands during the event which attracted over 140 residents throughout the day.

To mark the final week of the project, an event was held on Saturday 28 August at Jubilee Crescent Green.  Free bike maintenance was offered and a new healthy walk, led by a walk leader and taking in Whitmore Park and the Jubilee Crescent area, departed from the event site.  Those using the car, but willing to try public transport, were also able to take advantage of a free Network West Midlands one day taster ticket. Cllr Bigham also attended alongside Cllr David Welsh, the council's Integrated Transport Authority representative.