Sustainable Travel Action Plans
As part of our big plans to make Hounslow healthier, greener, and safer, we want to make walking, wheeling, and cycling easier and better for everyone who lives here or visits.
To help with this, we’ve created two actions plans:
These plans explain how we’ll support these ways of getting around, following the goals set out in our latest Transport Strategy, which aims to build a more sustainable and connected community.
Why active travel is important
We walk or wheel to catch the bus, to get to school or work, to meet with friends, or for exercise. It is the simplest and most accessible form of movement and requires no cost, equipment, or training. While cycling involves some level of training and investment in a bike, it facilitates active journeys over longer distances.
We want people to feel safe and comfortable walking, wheeling, and cycling around the borough. We are also encouraging these modes to create healthier communities as active travel improves both physical and mental health and personal wellbeing.
We prioritise movement in the borough in this order:
- Walking and wheeling
- Cycling
- Public transport
- Taxi and shared transport
- Private vehicles
Walking and Wheeling Action Plan
Based on data from Transport for London (TfL), walking and wheeling account for 37% of all daily trips within the borough. The action plan sets out how we propose to support and increase levels of walking and wheeling.
It establishes six crosscutting themes:
- Changing travel behaviour
- Enhancing the walking and wheeling network
- Maps and wayfinding
- Pavement maintenance and coordination
- Sustainability
- Local centres and new development
The plan sets out five key objectives:
- Increase walking and wheeling trips
- Create a safe and attractive environment
- Make a coherent and intuitive network
- Enhance biodiversity and climate resilience
- Promote good wellbeing
The plan includes 17 actions which are to be delivered in the short term (one year), medium term (up to 2030) and long term (up to 2041). Short term actions include:
- Development of a behaviour change campaign.
- Continual promotion of TfL’s Travel for Life programme and engagement with schools in the borough.
- Implement improvements to walking and wheeling network including wayfinding.
- Continual investment through the Local Implementation Plan to improve crossings, install dropped kerbs and remove barriers to walking and wheeling.
Full document:
Cycling Action Plan
This plan builds on our strong record of delivering cycling infrastructure, cycle parking and cycle training, setting out a vision for the cycle network in the borough and actions to increase participation. The plan focuses on three key areas:
- Priority cycle network - establishing our ambition for the cycle network in the borough
- Cycle parking - development of the visitor and residential parking programme including a feasibility study into secure cycle parking hubs
- Behavioural change - setting out how we will continue to support and enable new and existing cyclists in the borough through training, cycle repair and enforcement action against illegal e-bikes
The plan identifies 31 actions which are to be delivered in the short term (one year), medium term (up to 2030) and long term (up to 2041). Priority short term actions include:
- Continual delivery of Cycleway 9 in partnership with TfL
- Delivery of Priority cycle network - routes 5, 6 and 7
- Development of a programme to remove access barriers
- Prioritisation of cycle parking locations (both residential and on-street)
- Continual engagement with cycle hire operators to ensure good compliance
- Explore further initiatives such as expansion of try before you bike, dedicated events and working with employers
- Expansion of cycle training programme
Full document:
- Cycling Action Plan (PDF) (includes a map of the priority cycle network)
