Transport
According to government statistics * transport became the largest carbon emitting sector in the UK in 2016. This was as a result of decreasing energy emissions following the UK’s shift from coal to gas, while transport emissions remained relatively stable.
Transport produced 27% of the UK’s total emissions in 2019. Of this, the majority (91%) came from road transport vehicles. Of these road transport vehicles, the biggest contributors to road transport emissions were cars and taxis, (61%), followed by Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) at 18% and vans (17%).
Here in Cornwall our carbon emissions from transport stand at 23%.
Changing some of the ways we travel can have a big impact on carbon emissions. We want to help residents make positive changes that will contribute to an overall reduction in emissions.
Falmouth Town Council does not directly handle transport infrastructure. Our role is to influence and promote alternative transportation options to reduce car usage among residents.
Cornwall Council has crafted reports, proposals, and plans detailing opportunities for changes in personal transport locally and beyond. Travel is the catchall term for transport alternatives.
Falmouth and Penryn Active Travel Map (cornwall.gov.uk)
Falmouth & Penryn Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan | Let’s Talk Cornwall
Falmouth Public Transport – Falmouth Bid
Car Sharing
Car sharing is a great way to reduce the cost of commuting. Liftshare is a portal where you can list your journey and see if there are others going the same way. Not only will you save costs but you will be reducing road and parking congestion.
Carshare Cornwall community – part of the Liftshare network
Cycling
Physical activity helps keep us fit and healthy. Regular physical activity reduces the risk of serious diseases like obesity, heart disease, cancer, mental illness, diabetes, and arthritis. Cycling regularly is a great way to lower health risks linked to a sedentary lifestyle.
Cycling is a healthy and low-impact exercise, enjoyed by people of all ages. It is also fun, cheap and good for the environment.
Riding to work or the shops is an efficient way of combining regular exercise with your daily routine.
For cycling tips and information on getting started visit: Go Cycling | Cycling UK
If you want to try an electric bike, Falmouth and Penryn have several Berylbike docking stations. Berylbikes are available to hire by the minute. To hire the bikes you will need to download the App from the website: Cornwall | Beryl
Walking
The UK Department of Health recommends that adults get active every day. You should aim to do at least two and a half hours (150 minutes) of moderate intensity activity a week. You can break this down into sessions of 10 minutes or more and spread this out across the week. Moderate intensity means:
- your breathing is faster
- your heart rate is faster
- you feel warmer
Walking can count towards moderate-intensity exercise – so long as it’s brisk.
For walking motivation, check out these fun tips from the BBC:
BBC Radio 4 – Don’t Tell Me The Score – 8 reasons why we should all walk more
Public Transport
Trains and buses regularly run to and from Falmouth. The town’s three train stations and numerous bus stops ensures you are never far from a greener form of transport.
For more information on your options, please visit Transport for Cornwall | Buses, trains, public transport information
Electric Vehicles
Falmouth Town Council actively considers purchasing electric vehicles when replacing petrol or diesel ones. As of 2023, the council has one fully electric van.
Falmouth continuously expands its network of EV charging points located throughout the area. To find out where your nearest charging point is please check by clicking on following link:
Map of electric charging points for electric cars UK: Zapmap (zap-map.com)