Safer, Greener, Healthier

Welcome to the Safer Greener Healthier web pages. Our aim is to make it as easy, safe and fun as possible for people in Essex to travel more sustainably - walking, cycling, e-scooting or taking the bus or train – especially for shorter journeys.

Our vision is to deliver safer, greener and healthier travel for current and future users of the transport network in Essex.

Did you know…..?

Up to 43% of car trips in Essex are under three miles, a journey which could, for many people be made on foot (which would take around 30 minutes) or on a bike (a 15-minute ride). 

Our ambition is to:

Create a road environment that is SAFER, encouraging more residents to cycle or walk, especially for shorter journeys.

Work up sustainable transport solutions to ensure that Essex reduces carbon emissions and delivers long-term GREENER benefits.

Deliver long-term public health benefits so that our residents become HEALTHIER.

How are we doing this?

By introducing, supporting and funding various projects across Essex which will encourage and make it easier for people to walk, cycle or scoot more, especially for shorter journeys. These include the introduction of new walking and cycle routes, part of the Active Travel Fund 2 and 4 schemes as well as trialling e-scooters.

Join us to make Essex one of the safest, greenest and healthiest places to live.

What we've achieved so far......

In 2023, we made Essex safer, greener and healthier by...
Giving away 1709 bikes as part of the Clacton-Jaywick, Colchester, Basildon and Harwich Pedal Power projects
Growing the number of businesses in our Smarter Travel for Essex Network to 24
Booking over 5k children onto Bikeability training courses including 40 courses run over the summer holidays
Running early engagement projects in Chelmsford, Colchester, Basildon and Harlow and receiving feedback from over 1k local residents
Launching a new website called Essex Air to raise awareness of air pollution
Being awarded over £5 million in funding from Active Travel England which will be used to improve walking and cycling infrastructure across the county
Organising 16 event trains attended by 1228 passengers including the now famous bucket and spade train!
Awarding over £65k to 13 cycling groups and charities to support cycling in Essex
Winning the Community Engagement of the Year category at the annual Team Modeshift Sustainable Travel Awards for a new door-to-door digital, journey-planning tool
Extending the e-scooter trial to Braintree and clocking up 2 million rides
Opening a new cycle path between Jaywick and Clacton and installling new solar and wind-powered lighting along the route
Are you tired of waiting in traffic? Tara was. So she swapped using her car and now enkoys hassle free bus rides.
Our Saving the Day campaign webpage. The aim of the superhero-themed campaign is to raise awareness of the benefits of walking, cycling and travelling by bus.

Want to get involved?

Follow us on Twitter for latest news and updates.

New cycling and walking routes delivered across five towns throughout 2022/23 as part of ATF2 with more to follow as part of ATF4.
Find out about the Smarter Travel for Essex Network (STEN) and how it can help businesses and their employees travel more sustainably.
We are working on various projects to encourage people to get on their bikes.
Our e-scooter trial across Essex is going from strength to strength.
We want to increase walking across the county, particularly for shorter journeys.