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Travel project aims to get people active

PA Media A woman wearing grey open toed sandals, black leggings with a red line on them, a pink t-shirt with a yellow and grey pattern on it and a high-vis jacket cycles on a purple bike in a red cycle lane while a white van drives past her. She has a black bag attached to the rear of her bicycle.PA Media
The Big Plymouth Travel Challenge is being staged during March

People in part of Devon are being encouraged to leave their cars at home and use other modes of transport throughout March.

Plymouth City Council and cycling and walking charity Sustrans launched the Big Plymouth Travel Challenge on Saturday which asks people to log their journeys in the city using an online tool.

The scheme runs for the whole of the month and urges people to walk, cycle, skateboard or scooter to carry out their journeys.

The council and charity said the project aimed to boost people's health and wellbeing by getting them to be more active while also helping the environment.

Councillor John Stephens stands in front of a bicycle rack on a sunny day in a car park which is full of vehicles. He is wearing a blue Adidas hooded jumper and white jeans.
Councillor John Stephens said the council wants to improve the city's transport infrastructure

Councillor John Stephens, the council's cycling and walking champion, said the authority was committed to improving the city's infrastructure to help people travel in different ways.

He added the challenge was a great chance for people to learn about how others use transport links in the city.

"I get it that some people might feel nervous riding a bike on a road, which is fair enough," Mr Stephens said.

"But there's an opportunity for people to understand each other's travelling needs and sometimes there's a little bit of human support that's needed."

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