Hull City Council could secure back-to-back national awards for promoting active and sustainable travel to residents, businesses and communities, after being shortlisted for the 2024 TravelWise Week Awards.
Modeshift, the not-for-profit sustainable travel organisation that organises TravelWise Week, has confirmed that Hull City Council has been shortlisted in the TravelWise Week Campaign – Local Authority Category alongside fellow finalists Leeds City Council and Derbyshire County Council.
Hull previously won the award for this category in 2023 and decided to apply for the 2024 awards following another successful campaign last year.
The aim of TravelWise Week, which coincides with European Mobility Week, is to promote active travel, public transport and other cleaner and healthier transport choices, where everyone is encouraged to walk, wheel or ride.
The council, working with several partners; including Humberside Police, British Cycling, R-evolution and local bus and rail operators; hosted a series of events and activities during TravelWise Week in September last year.
These included a cycle event in Queen Victoria Square, which saw a number of cycles checked and repaired by trained mechanics and also provided an opportunity for members of the public to try out electric bikes for free. Fifteen cycles were also securely marked by the police and a led ride for women cyclists took place from Cottingham to Hull city centre.
There was also a public transport event, where staff from the council’s public transport, major projects and climate change teams, alongside representatives from Stagecoach East Midlands, East Yorkshire Buses, Northern and the Yorkshire Coast Community Rail Partnership, engaged with residents.
Together, the five organisations spoke with over 200 people and ran a survey to give away free Hull Card Day or Hull Card Week tickets to encourage more bus travel in the city.
A marketing campaign was also delivered to 12 of the city’s largest employers, businesses and organisations, with a combined workforce of over 13,000 people, to encourage participation in TravelWise Week.
Councillor Mark Ieronimo, cabinet portfolio holder for transportation, roads and highways, said: “It is fantastic to hear that the efforts of the council, and our partners, to support residents, businesses and communities to choose more sustainable and active travel options is again being recognised.
“Encouraging people to consider walking, wheeling and using public transport is a priority for the council and will help us deliver on several ambitions set out in our community plan, including creating safe and welcoming neighbourhoods, a healthier and fairer Hull and tackling the climate emergency.”
Winners of the awards will be announced on Thursday 27 March at the National STARS Summit being held at The Royal Society, London.
