People in Sutton will be the first in the Capital to experience an innovative way to help them use environmentally friendly and healthy ways to travel.
As Londoners become ever more aware of their health and their impact on the environment, Transport for London (TfL) will be working with the London Borough of Sutton on a three-year 'Sustainable Town Centre' pilot scheme.
Starting in September, the exciting initiative will bring together existing work on school, workplace and personal travel planning in one borough.
The scheme will see Sutton working in partnership with TfL to encourage people living, working and studying in the borough to walk, cycle and use public transport in line with the Mayor of London's Transport Strategy.
Sutton residents, schools and workplaces will be given the chance to take part in various travel planning initiatives.
This will include businesses, schools and homes being contacted to be provided with advice, information, encouragement and opportunities to choose more environmentally friendly journeys.
For example, advice on local public transport services, help with installing cycling facilities in schools or the workplace, or new walking buses for schools.
Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, said: "As climate change becomes an ever bigger problem for humanity, innovative and local schemes like this have to be the future.
"We can all do our bit to reduce carbon emissions, and travelling in a more sustainable way is a good place to start."
Air quality
Jenny Jones, the Mayor's Green Transport Advisor, said: "If lots of people make small changes to the way they live and travel, then we can make a big difference to our local environment.
"We know that many Londoners have already made the switch from cars to buses and others have taken up cycling, but outside of central London, any improvements to air quality, congestion and noise are spread out across a big city.
"The aim of this project is to generate a critical mass of people in one area who will decide to walk more, cycle more and to switch to more sustainable forms of transport.
"If large numbers of people in one area make the switch, then others are more likely to follow their example."
Improving health
Ben Plowden, Managing Director of Group Communications, TfL,
said: "Many people are keen to choose healthier and more environmentally friendly ways to travel, but are unsure what options are open to them.
"As public transport services improve and facilities for walking and cycling improve we can help people in Sutton choose the best journey options for their needs.
"Small changes like cycling to the local shops or walking children to school a couple of times a week can help reduce congestion, improve health and save money."
Colin Hall, Deputy Leader of Sutton Council and lead councillor for the environment, said: "Sutton Council is totally committed to sustainable travel and is continually seeking new ways which will really help make a difference to how people travel.
Sustainable travel
"Our success in travel planning at schools, and the workplace travel plan we have implemented for council staff, demonstrates how effective initiatives like this can be.
"We are very excited about the opportunities that the Sustainable Town Centre pilot offers and look forward to working with TfL to create a world leading programme."
The pilot will also explore other opportunities to reduce congestion, such as the expansion of Sutton car clubs, a cycle hire scheme and plans to help people to use forms of travel other than car.
The programme will also look at the role of freight vehicles in the borough.
If the Sutton pilot is a success, future programmes will be rolled out in other major town centres in London.
