Sustainable transport
Share
Most holidays start and end in car journeys and many of us wouldn’t know how to plan it any other way. But if you are fed up with sitting in traffic jams or fighting for a parking place there are other options. England has an extensive network of cycle routes and walking trails and many local areas are working to provide good, flexible public transport to help anyone who wants to take a gentle stroll in the countryside or reach a major tourist site without sitting in a jam. Even better, you can even save money by taking public transport.
Sustainable transport: Cornwall
From Falmouth you can use a network of ferries, buses and trains to visit all around the peninsula including the famous gardens at Trellissick and the cathedral at Truro. There is even a ‘Park and Float’ site so that you can leave your car outside the small town and glide straight into the harbour by boat.
Sustainable transport: North Yorkshire
If you are planning to tour around North Yorkshire then look at the extensive Moorsbus Network that links towns and villages with beautiful scenery and major tourist destinations such as Rievaulx Abbey and Castle Howard. The website not only gives the times of buses but also plans whole days out from different starting points that you can print out and follow.
Sustainable transport: Lancashire
The beautiful Bowland Forest in Lancashire hasn’t always been easy to get to without a car but now you can book a ride on the Bowland Transit to help you tour the area. The scheme is looking to provide flexible bus services that link with train timetables.
Sustainable transport: National Parks
The National Park website tells you everything you need to know about getting around England’s national parks without a car.
Sustainable transport: Hadrian’s Wall
If you’d like to follow Hadrian’s Wall from one side of England to the other but are put off by the thought of walking or cycling all the way, don’t worry, help is at hand! There is a bus service along the whole length of the wall that even has places for bicycles and wheelchairs. It’s best to book your bike’s place in advance.
Sustainable transport: Yorkshire Dales
The tumbling Yorkshire Dales is an inviting and unique landscape. The problem has been ensuring everyone can take up that invitation without relying on a car. The Dales Integrated Transport Alliance (DITA) is a new consortium comprised of members from local communities, businesses, commercial public transport, community transport organisations and the Yorkshire Dales National Park come together to create a more integrated, responsive transport network, opening up the glorious Dales to everyone without costing the environment.
Sustainable transport: South Devon
The Dartmouth Steam Railway's Round Robin Pass allows you to leave your car at home and take the river, rail or bus to your desired destinations throughout the stunning River Dart, the English Riviera and Salcombe. Working very much like London’s Oyster card, the pass gives you unlimited ‘hop on, hop off’ travel on the Steam Railway and River Boats for a period of up to 5 days.
Sustainable transport: The New Forest
The New Forest National Park stretches for 571 enchanting kilometres and the New Forest Bus Service offers a cleaner way to explore all that it has to offer. The rail and bus links are integrated meaning that your train arrives five minutes before your bus – not the other way around. Also at the station you will find cycle hire and discounts with many local accommodation providers for using public transport.
Sustainable transport: London
Transport for London’s contactless and Oyster card payments offers you a universal means of travelling around the capital at a discounted cost. No tickets, just a bank card or Oyster with enough credit will allow you to jump on and off the tube, bus, river bus, tram, DLR, London Overground and National Rail (excluding Heathrow Connect services between Haynes & Harlington and Heathrow, on Heathrow Express and on Southeastern High Speed Services between St Pancras International and Stratford International).