Better Transport Heroes

As part of Better Transport Week 2024, we invited people to nominate Better Transport Heroes in their communities. You can find out about the four inspiring heroes we selected from the entries we received below!

By choosing public transport, walking, wheeling or cycling, or sharing the car, YOU can be a Better Transport Hero all year round! Join the thousands of people on our email list and we’ll send you transport inspiration, as well as campaigning actions you can take to help make transport better.

Tony from Cumbria

Why Tony was nominated:

“Tony has worked incredibly hard to ensure that disabled people have better access to the countryside and the ability to use public transport.”

Tony’s journey into sustainable transport began after moving from London to Ulverston in the South Lakes, and experiencing the stark differences in public transport accessibility. Tony has tirelessly worked to improve transport inclusivity. He joined the Northern Accessibility User Group and co-produced their mobility scooter permit scheme, which has enabled over 2,000 scooter users to travel on Northern trains for the first time, with necessary permits. He advocates for level train access between the platform and train enabling wheelchair and mobility scooter users to travel independently. Locally, Tony conducts walkabouts with local authorities to improve accessibility and access on key routes.

“As a mobility scooter user, to be able to get off the train at Windermere station, cross the road and reach the summit of Orrest Head is incredible. Immersing yourself in nature has profound benefits for mental health. It’s empowering and makes you feel fantastic – you’re doing things you didn’t think you’d ever be able to do. It’s healthy to challenge the barriers and discrimination disabled people encounter, through collaboration, we must keep challenging the status quo and raising the accessibility bar” – Tony.

Simon from Devon

Why Simon was nominated:

“On Friday mornings Simon gets up at 05:30 to bake sourdough bread then he packs it all into panniers and cycles it round to his customers…”

Pedalling through the streets of Torbay, Simon not only embraced cycling as a means of commuting but also discovered a newfound purpose in delivering his homemade sourdough bread to the community, sparking the birth of his sourdough microbakery, BreadBeard.

Simon cycles up to 100 miles a week around hilly Devon, and encourages friends and colleagues to try cycling too.

“Choosing to cycle has revitalised my lifestyle, making me fitter and more connected with my community. The fact that it’s sustainable is an added advantage” – Simon.

Sally from Dorset

Why Sally was nominated:

“She is a tenacious campaigner for public transport in her village and nearby town, Dorchester.”

Sally’s journey towards sustainable transport began with a fundamental step: walking.

From a very young age, walking has always been a pivotal part of Sally’s everyday transport experience. During her childhood, she routinely walked to school and this habit continued into adulthood, where she became an avid rambler, exploring the countryside on foot well into her 50s.

Now, living just a 10-minute walk from her local station and the stop for community buses in the opposite direction, Sally has continued to embrace walking as her primary mode of travel, integrating it into her daily routine. Despite facing challenges like arthritis, she found support from staff who assist her in boarding trains and buses with her walker, showcasing the importance of inclusive infrastructure in enabling individuals to embrace walking as a sustainable transport option.

Her commitment to walking serves as a powerful example of the first step in sustainable travel. Sally’s advocacy extends beyond walking, as she actively promotes community buses and train services, emphasising the importance of more sustainable modes of travel. With her contributions to the Maiden Newton monthly transport leaflet, Sally highlights how individual actions, starting with walking, can pave the way for broader sustainable transport choices. Through her efforts, she demonstrates that embracing walking is not just a personal choice but the foundational step toward building a more sustainable, accessible, and inclusive community.

“Making the decision to walk was the first step in my journey towards sustainable travel. And it’s a step that almost anyone can take, regardless of their physical abilities. Despite challenges like arthritis, walking has become my preferred mode of travel, and with the support of inclusive infrastructure, it’s a choice that empowers me to lead a more sustainable lifestyle” – Sally.

Alan from Lincolnshire

Why Alan was nominated:

“Alan goes out of his way to champion public transport and to help and inform the public to make the best transport and ticket choices.”

Since the early 2000s, Alan has been utilising buses and trains, abandoning his car to reduce his environmental impact.

Alan actively encourages others to embrace sustainable transport by running a Facebook group dedicated to public transport, answering queries and disseminating information. His efforts have earned recognition from local councils, including an invitation to join the Quality Bus Council. By sharing accurate timetables and travel tips, Alan has empowered his community to make informed choices about sustainable travel, enhancing accessibility and inclusivity.

“Bus travel has opened up new possibilities for me, making it easier to navigate my daily routine sustainably. And the sustainability aspect is a fantastic bonus” – Alan.

You can be a Better Transport Hero all year round! Campaign for Better Transport is the national charity working to make transport better, greener and fairer in England and Wales. Fill in the ‘GET ON BOARD’ form below, and we’ll send you campaign actions and updates by email.