Increasing Smarter Travel's fanbase
29th August 2008
The borough’s top football teams have kicked off the new season by signing up to the Smarter Travel Sutton revolution. In a promotion bid for sustainable travel, advisors will be handing out pocket-sized fixture lists to fans at Sutton United and Carshalton Athletic home games with maps and information on public transport and walking routes.
New cycle parking racks have also been installed at the Borough Sports Ground and the War Memorial Ground in Colston Avenue, to encourage supporters to leave their cars at home on match days. The aim is for more fans to walk, cycle or use public transport to go and see their teams in action.
Deputy Leader Cllr Ruth Dombey said “Through Smarter Travel Sutton more people are getting out of their cars and switching to greener transport.
“We want people to think about how they travel before every single journey, whether they are popping to the shops, going to the cinema or heading to a football match on Saturday afternoon. “More cycle parking and maps with information on walking and public transport will make it easier than ever before for football fans to find alternatives to the car, improving our environment and reducing congestion on our roads.”
Gareth Miller of the Sutton United Supporters’ Trust said “The integrated map and fixture card is a great way of encouraging supporters to travel to matches sustainably.“It really shows how easy it is to walk and cycle to the club, as well as the numerous bus routes close to the ground. The club is proud to be promoting sustainable travel and hope to see an increase in the number of fans walking and cycling during the new season.”
Ben Plowden, Director of Smarter Travel at Transport for London said "If you drive regularly, it can be easy to forget that there are other travel options open to you. Cars can be vital for some journeys, but driving often works out to be more expensive, time consuming and stressful than jumping on the bus, cycling or walking.
"Smarter Travel Sutton is designed to help people think about how to get from A to B - and to realise that often the best travel choice they can make is to leave their car at home."