Smart travel choices rewarded

Recognition for eco-friendly transport initiatives.

Centro’s sustainable travel team has handed out awards to West Midlands organisations supporting greener travel.

The Smart Network, Smarter Choices programme has worked since 2012 to promote active travel habits and encourage people to cut down on car use. They shared success stories yesterday and marked progress to date, with presentations to individuals, education sites and employers making positive changes.

The awards were to recognise organisations which have engaged with and contributed to the SNSC programme’s work and to thank and encourage ambassadors for sustainable travel. More than a hundred people attended the event, at Maple House, in Birmingham. The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Cllr Raymond Hassall, joined them to hear about the programme and present awards to schools and colleges. He congratulated all involved and said he had learned a lot.

Cllr Councillor Judith Rowley, lead for fair and safe transport on the West Midlands Transport Delivery Committee is Chair of the Smart Networks, Smarter Choices Board. She said: “This is a chance to showcase the excellent value for money our work represents and to see how it is a springboard for future developments. I urge everyone to keep up the commitment to greener, more active travel and continue to set an example and spread the word.”

Professor David Cox, chairman of the national cycling organisation, the Cyclists’ Touring Club, congratulated 25 organisations on becoming Top Cycling Locations. Each had demonstrated a strong commitment to providing high quality facilities as well as promotional activities to support staff, students and visitors in cycling to their location. Over the last three years, around 70 organisations have taken part in the Top Cycling Location initiative through Smart Network Smarter Choices and Birmingham Cycle Revolution, including some of the West Midlands largest businesses and universities.