Will it ever stop raining? This weather has ruined my good intentions to do things more sustainably, like cycling to work! It has meant more time spent in the office though to work on the Go Lakes Travel programme.
As a project lead, my job is to look after Project 2 which is concerned with traffic and parking. When visitors do travel to the Lake District by car, we want to do things like make it easier to find the less obvious car parks without having to drive round and round the towns and villages of the Lake District, therefore reducing congestion. Some significant car parks are under-utilised, and many are linked to excellent walking and cycling opportunities.
Ideally we would also like visitors to park in one place, stay for longer, and then explore the area car-free by one of the many options now available; such as electric bike, bus, boat, electric car, or simply by walking or cycling. Improvements to information and signage are in the pipeline. We have also been looking at smart technology and the feasibility of creating smart phone apps and mobile websites.
Working on the Go Lakes Travel programme has opened my eyes up to the opportunities in the Lakes to ‘Drive Less – See More’. I just wish the weather would improve to allow visitors and residents a more enjoyable experience of making the most of what is out there!
To get in the spirit of the project, I recently took the opportunity to test drive an electric car, or in technical terms, a quadricycle (not quite a car!) which the Lake District National Park Authority were trialling for the Go Lakes Travel programme. The first thing I noticed – no side windows, in the Lake District! And the doors apparently are an optional extra! Great fun though, and very peaceful, ideal for the area. I could just see myself, and my wife in the twin seat, driving out in to the hills, or whizzing between villages. We would just have to remember to take waterproofs and a towel to dry the seats, but that’s all part of the fun!
Image may be NSFW.
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Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
