Just over a year ago, the Travel Well programme set out to inspire communities in Nottingham to embrace walking and cycling as part of healthier, more active lifestyles. Supported by funding from the Department for Transport, Nottingham was chosen as one of 11 areas across the country to pioneer this initiative, focussing on communities around Aspley, Beechdale, Bilborough, Bulwell, St Ann’s and Sneinton.

Nottingham City Council are working in partnership with the Nottingham Community & Voluntary Service, Nottingham Place-based Partnership and Nottingham City GP Alliance. As part of a national trial, the programme has given healthcare professionals and social prescribers the ability to refer patients to services that promote walking and cycling. Working with Sustrans, Ridewise, Nottingham Bikeworks, Women in Tandem and Runspire Nottingham, Travel Well has already referred over 160 patients and connected over 1330 participants to a variety of free activities, from bike maintenance workshops to led walks and cycle training.

Alongside these free walking and cycling activities, Nottingham City Council has partnered with the Go Jauntly app to highlight twenty short walks across Nottingham such as a gentle 30-minute walk around Broxtowe Country Park to a Canalside walk to Stonebridge City Farm. Go Jauntly is a free walking app designed to help people wander outside their normal surroundings and reconnect with nature. The Nottingham routes have been planned with accessibility in mind with easy-to-follow directions that avoid steps and steep inclines, in addition to being buggy accessible. Go Jauntly runs regular challenges on the app, and recently ran a STEPtember campaign challenging people to walk 4,000 steps a day.  A new challenge for March will be announced soon.

In the future, the Travel Well programme will be launching a community e-bike library, where 46 accessible e-bikes/e-trikes will be available to loan for free for 4-12 weeks alongside a range of  activities to inspire more walking and cycling.

Nottingham City Council Leader and Executive Member for Strategic Regeneration, Transport and Communications, Councillor Neghat Khan said:  “This programme is all about helping Nottingham residents discover how small changes, like walking or cycling, can have a big impact on their health and wellbeing. By making these activities more accessible and offering tailored support through local partnerships, we’re enabling people to build confidence, connect with their communities, and lead healthier, more active lives. It’s wonderful to see the positive impact this is already having, and we look forward to expanding the programme with exciting initiatives like the community e-bike library.”

Kate Lisle, Active Travel Social Prescribing Community Development Coordinator at Nottingham Community and Voluntary Service (NCVS), said: “Training opportunities offered through the project are helping local people to develop skills and confidence in cycling, bike maintenance, Nordic Walking and much more. The Travel Well Walk Leader Training programme, provided by Ridewise, has enabled some communities to set up new walking groups which are supporting residents to be more active, to connect with other people and to feel more confident walking around their local area. As the project enters 2025 and residents continue to take part in the opportunities offered through Travel Well, we hope that more people will be inspired to make walking or cycling their go-to travel choice for local journeys.”

Feedback from residents who have taken part in Travel Well activities has shown their enormous impact and it has often been stated how active travel becomes embedded into routines.

A participant from a walking group with Ridewise said “I really enjoyed my fortnightly walks with our group ….  When I first started attending…I was quite reserved about the group and how this can benefit me in regards to improving my lifestyle, I struggled with exercise due to health issues and lack of motivation. I took a positive approach and started attending my first walk and to be honest, I’ve never looked back as it was the best thing. We shared health issues, advised each other, supported each other and became a very close group of friends that met every 2 weeks for walks, laughter and fun. Through this group, I learnt that exercise isn’t about going to the gym, or vigorous physical activities.  A stroll in the park, a bike ride or a swim at your own pace and time is all that is needed.”

A participant who attended a bike maintenance class “[they were] really knowledgeable, helpful, supportive and fully equipped me with the knowledge (and some new pads) to maintain my own bike going forward”.

To find out more about Travel Well and how you can get involved in 2025 visit this webpage.