Environmental Sustainability

Greening your travel

'Going green' with travel has many benefits and makes sense. Car use is responsible for nearly a quarter of climate change emissions and general air pollution around where we live and work!.

Using public transport is easier than you think and often more convenient than driving - imagine not having the hassle of finding a parking space! Walking and cycling have real benefits for our health as well as reducing our negative impact on the planet. So what can we do?

Walk more

Incorporating some walking into your daily commute is a great way of keeping active and staying healthy. Transport for London has a web page dedicated to walking to work, with information on the benefits of walking and tips on how to make the most of your walk.

Our Sports Development Unit has created 8 health walks in partnership with the local Primary Care Trust. These health walks, called 'Just Walk' routes, use footpaths in the borough's parks and provide opportunities for the community to improve their health and fitness.

Most of the walks are accessible to buggies and wheelchairs. Self-help packs with advice and route maps for the 8 health walks are available from the Sports Development Unit. A map of footpaths and bridal paths in the borough will also be available shortly.

We also have a Walking Bus initiative to encourage more children, accompanied by adults, to walk to school and by doing so reduce traffic and congestion outside schools.

You can also check out the Ramblers website for more walking tips and ideas. They are Britain's biggest walking charity. The Ramblers Association has been working for over 70 years to promote walking and to improve conditions for everyone who walks in England, Scotland and Wales.

Cycling

Cycling is a great way of getting around London. The London Cycling Campaign exists to promote cycling in London and provide cycling related support to individuals, community groups and businesses. You can find out how to get cycle training, where to buy a new or second hand bike, how to get London route maps and much more from their website.

The London Cycling Campaign has a local representative in Barking and Dagenham. With the help of Transport for London, we are extending the cycle network in the borough and offers cyclist training to school children.

Transport for London has a number of sites dedicated to cycling, including a route finder programme and information on everything bike related, from free cycle training to cycling safety and bicycle maintenance.

Using public transport

Transport for London's website is the main point of information on all aspects of travel on public transport, including underground and overland trains, buses and river transport. The Transport for London website offers a Journey Planner. Our website also provides links to other journey planners, including Traveline.

Using green vehicles

Examples of cleaner fuelled vehicles include electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles and vehicles running on Liquid Petroleum Gas, also known as Autogas. Electric vehicles are ideal for short urban trips. With a top speed of 35-45mph they are also well suited to the 30mph speed limit on most of London's roads.

Electric and dual-fuel or hybrid vehicles are exempt from the central London Congestion Charge.

Car sharing and car clubs

If everyone who drives to work were to car share with someone just once a week, the number of commuter car journeys would be reduced by 20%, as well as saving drivers money.

Schemes such as London Lift Share give you online access to your local lift sharing area. You can select the region in which you live or work and, once registered, you can access a database of lift sharers in your area.

Car clubs offer a viable alternative to car ownership that frees you from the worries and expenses involved in owning a car. As a member of a car club the only thing you need to think about is when you want to use a car. Car Club operators suggest that one car club replaces 6 privately owned cars.

Although there is not currently a car club in Barking and Dagenham, residents can register their interest with a car club operator. We are looking to establish a car club in Barking and Dagenham in the near future.

London travel information and maps|

National Rail Enquiries|

Sustainable Transport in Barking and Surrounding Areas|

Cyclists Touring Club|

London Cycling Campaign|

Cycle Campaign Network - The Federation of Cycle Campaign Groups|

Cycling information for Barking and Dagenham|

Train travel information world-wide - Seat 61|