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, and work to create an extensive network of cycle paths through the planned Willesborogh Dykes development will be completed in 2010.

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, is currently under preparation by Kent County Council and is expected early 2010.

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 good connections to SmartLink routes and Park and Ride sites.
• 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.