Sustainable transport in the South Downs

The South Downs National Park is calling on local communities to apply for funding to develop projects to inspire and promote the use of buses, trains, walking and cycling by both visitors and the people who live in the Park.

Tell us about the scheme

The Park has had £3.81 million funding from the Department for Transport’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund to help promote sustainable transport in the South Downs.

Local community groups are being encouraged to develop their own schemes which they can apply for funding for to get off the ground. The idea is to encourage more people to travel on foot, by bike and by using public transport - both on their way to the Park and when they get there.

Examples of the kinds of projects the fund can support include:

• cycle parking and cycle-friendly street furniture;
• small scale improvements to access for cyclists and walkers of all abilities;
• guided walking and cycling experiences, self guided walks and cycle routes maps;
• initiatives that provide access to a bicycle;
• update of leaflets/maps for visitor attractions;
• charging points for electric vehicles;
• small grants of up to £500 to promote sustainable transport.

Why is being introduced?

The South Downs is the closest National Park to London and the majority of visitors travel by car, generating at least 66 million trips per year.

This can cause congestion, disrupt tranquility and, through carbon emissions, have a detrimental impact on wildlife and habitats.