Safer Greener Healthier

The Government has announced that the £2 single bus fare cap will be in place from January 2027, helping to make public transport more affordable for millions of passengers.

This measure could save people up to a third off the cost of a single journey, making everyday travel more accessible and supporting access to work, education, healthcare and leisure activities.

For Essex residents, this is a fantastic opportunity to encourage more people to choose the bus instead of the car. Not only can it help reduce travel costs, but it also supports more sustainable travel choices, helping to cut congestion and lower emissions.

Active travel is one of the simplest ways to improve your wellbeing while helping the environment.

By choosing to walk, wheel, cycle or use an e-bike, you can:

💚 Boost your physical and mental wellbeing
💷 Reduce travel costs
🌍 Lower your carbon footprint
🚗 Help ease congestion and improve air quality

Active travel doesn't have to mean a complete lifestyle change. Even swapping one short car journey each week can make a positive difference for you and the environment.

Have a look at this article for more tips:

Active travel Active travel is about getting you moving from A to B in ways that don’t use fossil fuels. Find out more about walking, cycling and ebikes.

Looking to get active, meet new people, and enjoy the outdoors?

Why not join a FREE Walk & Talk Club near you?

Walking is a fantastic way to boost your physical and mental wellbeing while connecting with others in your local community. Whether you're new to walking groups or a regular walker, there's something for everyone.

📍 Find free walking activities and many more health and wellbeing opportunities using the Active Essex Activity Finder, making it easy to discover local activities that suit your interests, fitness level, and schedule.

Have a look below:

findyouractive.activityfinder.net

Now that the weather is a little cooler, why not get outside and explore a new part of Essex on foot? 🚶‍♀️🌳

Walking is a great way to stay active, boost your wellbeing, and discover some of the fantastic green spaces, countryside, and hidden gems right on your doorstep.

Go Jauntly offers a range of walking routes across Essex, with something for everyone to enjoy – whether you're looking for a short lunchtime stroll or a longer weekend adventure.

Take a look at the routes available and get inspired for your next walk:

Walking app - Essex Main Page — Go Jauntly Essex County Council have teamed up with Go Jauntly to showcase the landscapes, green space, coastal paths, heritage and architecture that Essex has to offer. There are over 60 free new walks to explore created in partnership with the borough and district councils of Basildon, Braintree, Castle Poi

🌡️ Stay safe travelling during the heatwave

With the current heatwave, it’s important to take extra care when travelling around Essex.

Travel Essex has shared helpful guidance on how to stay safe and look after yourself when using bus and train services in hot weather, from staying hydrated to planning your journey ahead.

Whether you’re commuting or heading out for the day, a few simple steps can make your journey more comfortable and safer.

Have a read below:

Travelling in the heat? Stay safe and look after yourself Travelling in the heat? Stay safe and look after yourself 22 Jun 26 High temperatures can make travelling more challenging, whether you’re walking, cycling, driving or using public transport. With a little planning, you can still enjoy your journey across Essex safely and comfortably. If you’re ...

To demonstrate how we’re leading by example, we’ve recently updated our website with more information about our Employee Travel Plan.

You can now explore our full staff travel survey report, an infographic highlighting the key findings and case studies from our Travel Champions

These updates showcase the work underway to make commuting to Essex County Council safer, greener, and healthier for our employees.

We hope this also helps to inspire other organisations to take steps towards more sustainable travel choices. 🌱

Essex County Council's Employee Travel Plan We are leading by example by sharing our Travel Plan, showing how Essex County Council supports employees at County Hall and hub offices to choose active and sustainable travel, helping create safer, greener and healthier journeys across the county.

Department for Transport has released its new Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, setting out an ambitious vision for active travel across England

The government is committing over £4.5 billion in investment over the next five years, working alongside Active Travel England and local authorities to deliver 5,000 new walking, wheeling, and cycling routes and 10,000 safer crossings linking homes with schools, high streets, and local services

This investment will also make it easier for people to combine active travel with public transport, helping improve access to hubs like train stations and supporting more sustainable everyday journeys.

Read the entire article below:

Cycling and walking boom with £4.5 billion for thousands of new routes and safer crossings Strategy aims to deliver 5,000 new walking, wheeling and cycling routes and 10,000 safer crossings over the next 5 years.

With thousands of new public EV charging points on their way across Essex, we’re making it easier than ever to consider going electric with your next car 🔋🚗

Find out how we are Electrifying Essex ⚡at:

Electrifying Essex campaign Our Electrifying Essex campaign highlights the benefits of electric vehicles (EVs) and the growing support available to help you make the switch. The campaign comes as we begin an ambitious £8.3 million programme to install thousands of new public EV charging points

Have you considered switching to an electric vehicle with your next car?

Why not join us at Colchester Park and Ride on Saturday 18 July for our first ever Electrifying Essex event?

• Test drive and compare a wide range of EVs ⚡🚘
• Get expert advice on costs, charging and making the switch 🔋
• Chat with local EV owners about their experiences 💬

Get your free ticket today at: www.eventbrite.com/e/electrifying-essex-event-tickets-1981432108776?aff=oddtdtcreator

Electrifying Essex Event Come and try out the latest EVs all in one place!

🚴‍♀️ It’s Bike Week!

There’s no better time to hop on your bike and enjoy getting active, whether it’s a short ride or part of your daily routine.
There are also great opportunities for younger riders. Active Essex has created a free cycling toolkit packed with fun and engaging activities for young people, including:

🎨 Design your own helmet
🚲 Wheelie Wednesday challenges
📓 An interactive cycling journal

It’s a fantastic way to keep children inspired, active and building confidence on their bikes.

To access the toolkit and make the most of Bike Week, follow the link below:

www.activeessex.org