Our Town | Our Future
Sustainable Wymondham

Transport

We all need to be able to travel around: how we do this can have significant impacts on our environment.

In 2023, the UK greenhouse gas emissions from transport (83 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) were the second largest contributor after consumer expenditure. This doesn’t include emissions from importing goods.

In South Norfolk, travel habits produce about 24% of carbon emissions per household each year. This includes driving, flying and using public transport. According to one study, 53% of residents aged 16+ in Wymondham and Hethersett drove by car or van to work in 2021. Whereas only 5.6% travelled by foot, 2.4% by bus or train and 2.6% cycled. (See page 99 of Norfolk County Council’s Countywide Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan – downloadable pdf – 6Mb.)

The best forms of transport with little or no greenhouse gas emissions are walking, wheeling and cycling. These are sometimes referred to as “active travel”.

Norfolk County Council have an ambition that by 2030 half of all journeys in towns and cities are completed by walking, wheeling and cycling. They are investing in many initiatives, such as a helpful journey planner, Travel Norfolk. It shows the carbon emissions from different modes of transport, routes, time to travel and cost. There is also useful information, such as travelling to school sustainably, and bike and scooter hire schemes.

Choosing to walk, wheel or cycle offers many health benefits. For example, doing them regularly reduces the risk of:

  • type 2 diabetes by up to 40%;
  • hip fractures by up to 68%;
  • fatal cardiovascular disease by up to 35%;
  • dementia by up to 30%;
  • depression by up to 30%;
  • colon cancer by up to 30%;
  • breast cancer by up to 20%.

There are also benefits to local communities. With fewer vehicles on the road, air quality improves. This can help address social inequalities as areas of high air pollution often have a high proportion of deprived communities, hospitals and schools.

Car sharing is another good way to reduce planet degradation and congestion. It saves you money and gives you some company on your journey. LiftShare (founded in Norfolk) is a useful website with a Mobilityways App. There’s even a Liftshare For Work to reduce commuting emissions.

Once 25% of a group changes, the rest of them mimic the behaviour. This is known as the 25 Percent Rule. So, it’s helpful to talk to your friends, family and/ or colleagues about travelling more sustainably.

Let’s see what happens when we “put our best foot (or wheel) forward”!

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