Air Pollution
‘Cleaner and healthier living one step at a time’
Air pollution affects us all, it significantly affects our health as well as being a huge contributor to climate change. Staying fit and healthy and cleaning our air go hand and hand and this guide is a list of local resources, businesses and schemes and projects in Colchester that can help us to all limit car use and make the air more liveable and cleaner in colchester.
The best way to achieve cleaner air is by following the travel hierarchy.
Clean air groups and visions
Clean Air Colchester is a voluntary group raising awareness, fostering collaboration and taking action on air pollution. Use this website to learn tips and see how you can help. Join their Facebook group to stay up to date with events and get involved in discussion
Check out the Clean air Colchester video a great video to share schools, employees and other individuals.
En-form transport page information and initiatives to help residents and business owners in Colchester cut their carbon footprint when it comes to travel.
Walking
Walk Colchester lobbies for improvements and accessibility for walkers, organises annual Jane’s Walk weekend, created the Colchester Orbital.
There are extensive walking networks across Colchester, that enables you to make cleaner journeys throughout the borough. The Colchester Orbital was developed by Walk Colchester
Essex County Council’s walking strategy for Colchester is a response to the challenges and opportunities of walking in Essex, it outlines in detail the steps being taken to encourage walking at present and the direction that will be taken in the future
Cycling
Colchester Cycling Campaign actively lobbying for improvements to Colchester’s cycling infrastructure and lots of useful advice on cycling, buying a bike etc
Essex County Council cycling action plan for Colchester. The purpose is to set out the key elements of a long term plan that will lead to a significant and sustained increase in cycling in Essex, establishing it in the public’s mind as a ‘normal or regular’ mode of travel, especially for short A-to-B trips, and as a major participation activity and sport for all ages.
Cycle Colchester for monthly newsletter re what is happening in Colchester and downloadable network maps.
Colchester E-cargo offers delivery of goods & foods from local businesses by electric bike. Get your shopping delivered by bike and reduce congestion and pollution in Colchester.
Colchester Bike Kitchen and Wivenhoe Bike Kitchen and New Town Bike Kitchen Community led, go and borrow tools and get friendly advice, guidance and support on how to repair your bike, also offer workshops on bike maintenance.
Re-Cycle Donate your old bikes to be sent to help communities that lack transport in Africa, buy good quality second hand bikes and help with Re-Cycle’s fundraising
Essex County Council offers adult confidence sessions, learn to ride and Bikeability, also Extra Eyes campaign to submit footage of near misses etc.
The Colchester & Abberton BOMAs opening up the outdoors to mobility-restricted walkers and chair users
Wheels for Wellbeing exists to enhance disabled people’s lives by ensuring that anyone can access the physical, emotional, practical and social benefits of cycling
Essex Pedal Power is a community cycling initiative, which operates in Greenstead, Clacton & Jaywick Sands, Harwich & Dovercourt and other areas of Essex, providing free bikes, support to cycle and volunteer and training opportunities.
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Hire Pay As You Go eBikes and eCargo Bikes by the day/half day at New Town Bike Hub and Colchester eCargo Bike Library
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Try Before You Buy – hire an eBike or eCargo bike for up to one month to see how it fits into your lifestyle and help you reduce your car usage
Buses
Colchester Bus Users Group C-BUS was formed to give a voice to bus users in the Colchester area. They aim to act as a link between passengers, the bus companies, and the local authorities.
Student Travel Club is a student benefits scheme, offering discounted bus travel to students of schools, colleges and universities who are First Bus travel partners in Essex.
There is a Park and Ride service that operates throughout Colchester with regular stops on its route, making it a convenient sustainable travel option.
Use the Travel Essex app to check bus routes and plan journeys.
Electric Vehicles
Join the Colchester Electric Vehicle Society a group for local owners, enthusiasts, and as a place for locals to get independent advice and guidance and ask questions about EVs.
Electric vehicles are one option for sustainable travel at this current time, the Council is trying to accommodate this growth by providing a number of electric charging points across the borough. There are also a variety of grant schemes that the Government offers to encourage the ownership of electric vehicles and for the installation of electric vehicle charging points.
Carwow is an interactive Electric Car charging point finder tool to help EV and hybrid car owners find the nearest electric vehicle charging stations.
GRIDSERVE offers EV charging infrastructure across the UK, as well as an EV charging points finder and other useful resources around electric cars.
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