13 October 2008:
TRAVELLING IN HARMONY: L-R Translink Health, Safety and Environmental Manager William Patton, Travelwise NI Bike 2 Work Co-ordinator Andy Bready, Tri Cycle Advisor Karen Mawhinney and Sustrans Development Officer Jill McDonald join forces to launch Translink’s new advice guidelines for buses and bikes. Travelling in Harmony’ will be distributed to more than 2000 Metro and Ulsterbus drivers, 300 Translink Cycle to Work Scheme participants and is also available to cyclists in buscentres and online at www.translink.co.uk.
Bus drivers and cyclists across Northern Ireland will be ‘Travelling in Harmony’ following the launch of new advice guidelines developed by Translink.
‘Travelling in Harmony’ aims to provide bus drivers, passengers and cyclists with an understanding of each others needs on the road and offers guidance on how to travel safely together.
Translink Health, Safety and Environmental Manager William Patton said:
“All road users have a responsibility to travel safely together and respect one another. With congestion on our roads becoming an increasing problem, more people are turning to sustainable modes of transport including bus and bike. Covering issues such as safety measures, the highway-code and cycle training, ‘Travelling in Harmony’ will be distributed to more than 2000 Metro and Ulsterbus drivers, 300 Translink Cycle to Work Scheme participants and is also available to cyclists in our buscentres and online at www.translink.co.uk.”
The Translink ‘Travelling in Harmony’ leaflet was developed in conjunction with sustainable transport charity Sustrans and Tri Cycle.
Sustrans Development Officer, Jill McDonald said:
“This leaflet is a vital resource for the increasing number of people choosing to cycle and for those considering more active everyday journeys. We congratulate Translink’s commitment to all forms of sustainable transport and the importance they have placed on bus drivers and cyclists gaining insight into each other’s travelling experience. This initiative will lead to better harmony on our roads, where road users can share road space safely and appropriately with each other.”
A recent Travelwise Northern Ireland commuter survey of 500 people also revealed that although 63% of those surveyed owned a bike only 20% made use of it and with 700 miles of cycle lanes now available across Northern Ireland and weekly car fuel costs increasing by Ł10-20, the time has never been more appropriate to try cycling or public transport.
For further information on the Translink ‘Travelling in Harmony’ bus and cycling guidelines click www.translink.co.uk or call 028 9066 6630.
Notes to Editors
The Travelwise NI survey was conducted with 500 commuters in Belfast on Wed 3 Sept 2008.
· Sustrans is the UK’s leading sustainable transport charity. Its vision is a world in which people choose to travel in ways that benefit their health and the environment. It is achieving this through innovative but practical solutions to the UK’s transport challenges.
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