Surrey County Council has announced the launch of a new campaign on World Car Free Day on 22 September to incentivise active travel journeys to help local residents stay healthy, save money and protect the environment.
In Surrey, 41% of carbon emissions come from transport, with around half of that coming from private vehicles. For shorter journeys like the school run or trips to the shop, residents are being asked to leave their cars at home.
The County Council has teamed up with BetterPoints to reward Surrey residents who choose to travel by foot, bike or public transport, with each car-free journey earning points to be redeemed for high street vouchers or charitable donations.
Surrey County Council is developing Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) across the county to identify the best locations for upgrades that will encourage active travel. An interactive map has been built, on which residents can drop location pins and comment on how active travel could be made easier there.
Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council’s cabinet member for transport, infrastructure and growth, said: “We know it’s not always possible for everyone to walk or cycle everywhere, but for shorter journeys we could all think about making a small change which on mass would make a big difference.
“We’re continuously looking at ways to improve our infrastructure to make walking and cycling easier for the people of Surrey and would really encourage feedback on our interactive map.”
The council aims to be a net zero carbon local authority by 2030 and a net zero county by 2050, in line with central government targets.
