Brighton & Hove wins top national transport award

Brighton & Hove has been voted Transport Local Authority of the Year in the National Transport Awards.

The award reflects the achievement of sustainable transport services and initiatives which has led to the highest rates of cycling and walking in the south east, and successful partnership working with local transport operators, passengers and user groups, as well as with neighbouring councils.

It is the third time since 2005 that Brighton & Hove has won this accolade. Cllr Gill Mitchell, chair of the city’s environment, transport and sustainability committee, said: “We’re thrilled to be recognised nationally for the work we are doing to put people and places at the heart of our local transport plan.

“Local partnerships have enabled us to successfully secure funding – such as the Shelter Hall and seafront road scheme – and our policies promote the health and wellbeing of residents, businesses and visitors whilst keeping the city moving and maintaining high levels of satisfaction with its transport services.”

Partnerships have also led to a multi-operator ticketing ‘smart card’ which makes it possible for passengers to get on, get off and get about with one card on a variety of bus services and a successful scheme to reduce the fraudulent use of blue badges for disabled users in the city.

Brighton & Hove bucks national trends with the lowest levels of car ownership in the south east – with more than a third of households not owning a car. Alongside this, the city has the highest growth rate for cycling to work, the highest percentage of people walking to work in the south east and the highest number of bus journeys made per head of the population – 158 – which is three times the national average.

Since 2012 the council’s transport team has trained more than 6,000 children in cycling safely and the council also provides safer routes to schools. A joint campaign with Public Health called SMILE has also been taken to school assemblies and features a video showing how active and sustainable travel to school could help boost children’s and parents/carers’ health.

Two new cycling schemes have recently been introduced to offer cycle confidence and maintenance training for adults, thanks to a successful funding bid.

Every year the council takes part in the annual National Highways and Transport survey which indicates levels of public satisfaction. Brighton & Hove consistently shows a high level of satisfaction, ranking 5^th overall in 2015.