We have been successful in attracting funding from the Department for Transport (DfT) to support sustainable travel initiatives and projects through the Local Sustainable Transport Fund in 2012 and 2015. This funding allowed us to deliver an integrated package of measures to support sustainable travel by public transport and active travel modes, including new bus services, ferry infrastructure and services, cycle routes, school and workplace travel planning.

In the 2015 Autumn Budget Statement the government announced a four year £580 million ‘Access Fund’ to support the its Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS) as a legacy to the LSTF programmes.

Most of this Access Fund won't start until 2017/18 as the Government need to publish the CWIS strategy before inviting bids.

So as to avoid a gap in funding the (DfT) has now launched a one year Sustainable Travel Transition Year revenue fund valued at £20 million to allow local transport authorities to bid for revenue funding for 2016/17 only.

The DfT will look favourably on bids that:

  • Support cycling and walking in the context of the manifesto commitments to double cycling and reduce the numbers of cyclists killed or seriously injured;
  • Support access to work, skills, education or training.

We have submitted a bid to the Sustainable Travel Transition Fund and our bid builds on the successes of previous LSTF work. The key projects are:

  • A mass community participation bid element which will turn Torbay into a ‘living game’ to encourage walking and cycling at a mass scale across Torbay and secure long-lasting change in travel behaviours.
  • Cycle routes across Torbay will be branded as part of a competition amongst schools and businesses - aim for at least four major routes. Publicity materials and maps will be produced to publicise the routes and there will be physical improvements to the routes supported by improved signage.
  • Working closely with businesses across the Bay to provide support to them to produce workplace travel plans, promote active travel and modal shift, facilitate cycle training and offering incentives such as small grants.
  • Working closely with primary and secondary schools across the Bay to offer support to them to design active travel initiatives such as walk to school buses and park & stride schemes.
  • Deliver free adult cycle training and cycle maintenance workshops at the Torbay Velopark facility and promote to businesses, community groups and also targeting areas of deprivation.
  • Deliver bike maintenance, adult cycle training and a refurbished bike to young people not in education employment or training (NEET) and help them access the jobs market, building and expanding on an existing scheme.