Walking and Cycling
Reducing the need to travel by car is vital to
the success of the development and transport plans, but there are
also considerable health benefits to a strategy that encourages
walking and cycling.
The aim is to provide a high quality network
of routes that encourage use particularly for journeys to the town
centre, to work, to school and college, to the stations and for a
healthy outdoor leisure activity.
Cycling
Good progress has been made towards providing
a comprehensive network of cycle routes in Ashford in recent
years. As the town grows there is the opportunity to create
better and more attractive cycle routes, with greater access
to green spaces and the countryside.
With many new housing and
businesses developments within about 2 miles of the town
centre, this is an ideal time to promote cycling as a genuine
travel choice.
An important new Cycle Route Link
opened opened at the end of January 2008, joining the
Little Burton Farm area of Ashford to the town centre.
Ashford has already played host to the Tour de
France in July 2007, and a new Cycling Strategy, setting out
proposals for new cycle routes to connect up the network and extend
it into the development areas.
Click here fore details of the BIKE
IT scheme to encourage school children to cycle
>>>
Walking
Reducing the need to travel by car is key to
ensure the sustainable growth of Ashford. Alternative means of
travel such as walking offer a pleasant recreational activity and
considerable health benefits.
For more information on local walking routes visit our
Recreation and Leisure section.
Ashford plans to:
- Encourage walking and use of local facilities for residential
schemes in the town centre.
- Ensure new developments have well connected
walking routes to local facilities.
- Provide new Park and Ride sites when the population
grows.
- Further introduction of ‘safer routes to school’ and
‘walking buses’.
- Improve conditions for walking and cycling in the town centre
by creating a series of streets and squares.
For more information on travelling round the borough
by bike or on foot visit Getting Around
Details on Ashford's cycling and public transport
plans are available in the Ashford Transport Strategy.