Council encourages city to ‘walk, wheel and ride’ this TravelWise Week and beyond

Hull City Council and its partners will once again be supporting TravelWise Week and assisting residents, businesses and communities to consider making more sustainable and active travel choices.

Organised by Modeshift - the UK’s leading sustainable travel organisation - TravelWise Week is a yearly, global, week-long travel challenge that takes place from Monday 16 September until Sunday 22 September, which is also World Car Free Day.

The aim of TravelWise Week, which coincides with European Mobility Week, is to promote active travel, public transport, and other cleaner and healthier transport choices, where everyone is encouraged to walk, wheel or ride.

Last year, the council organised for the city to take part in the initiative and hosted a series of activities as well as supporting businesses and organisations to take part and encourage their workforces to participate.

The city was one of 17 locations in the UK to put on a programme of events in 2023 and was recognised by Modeshift at its annual TravelWise Week Awards – winning the Best Local Authority Campaign Award by beating strong competition from Darlington Borough Council and Islington Council.

Hull will again be taking part in 2024, with the council and its partners organising a promotional programme, including a cycle event on Thursday 19 September, from 11am-3pm, and a public transport event on Friday 20 September, from 11am-3pm, both taking place in Queen Victoria Square.

The cycle event will include free bike checks and e-bike try-outs by R-evolution, free secure cycle marking by Humberside Police, discounted D-locks for sale from Neighbourhood Network, a cargo bike display by Rooted in Hull and pre-booked, instructor-led cycle rides by British Cycling at 11am and 12.30pm.

Whether a frequent user of public transport or not, the event on Friday 20 September will provide an opportunity for people to meet public transport staff from the council and representatives of the local bus and train operators; Stagecoach, East Yorkshire, TransPennine Express and Northern; and the Yorkshire Community Rail Partnership to gain more information on fares and timetables and to look into any special offers available.

As well as the two public events, the council has also provided resources to businesses and organisations to encourage them to run activities with their workforces and is also promoting initiatives like the free Rusty Riders adult cycle training programme, guided walks by Hull Maritime on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays and a cycle marking event at The Bike Hub, at the University of Hull, in conjunction with the British Transport Police, on Tuesday 17 September – 10am-2pm.

“It’s fantastic to hear that Hull City Council have big plans for TravelWise Week again in 2024,” said Nick Butler, business director at Modeshift.

“The city really led the way last year and provided some excellent examples for other local authorities around the country to follow.”

Councillor Mark Ieronimo, cabinet portfolio holder for transportation, roads and highways, said: “Our award-winning TravelWise Week campaign, last year, helped bring to life the range of active and sustainable travel choices available across the city.

“This year, we are aiming to go a step further with our events, activities and promotions focussed on making choosing to walk, wheel or ride easy and with the ambition of demonstrating that a small change during TravelWise Week can be continued beyond and into the future.

“Making active and sustainable travel choices doesn’t mean changing everything you do. It can be as simple as walking to the shops, instead of using the car, cycling to work one day a week, or using the bus or train for leisure on a weekend.”

For more information about how to get about Hull on foot, on bike or by bus, visit the Travel Hull website.