Transport

• Private transport
  Advice on lowering the environmental impacts of transport activities. Read more...
• Alternative fuels
  Information on low impact fuels. Read more...
• Public transport in Manchester
  Information on accessing public transport. Read more...
• Bikes
  Information for cyclists. Read more...
• Centre for Alternative Technology transport-realted publications
  Read more...

Private transport
Advice on lowering the environmental impacts of transport activities

Tips on reducing air pollution

Before using your car ask...
- is this journey necessary?
- could I walk or cycle instead?
- could I take the bus, tram or train?

If you must drive
- drive smoothly to save fuel and pollute less
- don't rev unnecessary
- keep your car well maintained
- turn off the engine when stationary

Car sharing and travel plan alternatives
Greater Manchester Travel Co-ordinator
Ade Collins
Phone: 0161 242 6020
Fax: 0161 242 6082
ade.collins@gmltp.co.uk

Provide free support and advice to organisations that are implementing Travel Plans.
Help businesses and organisations implement Travel Plan initiatives which include measures such as providing cycle parking, offering discounted public transport tickets, starting up a car sharing scheme, or encouraging people to work at home.

Alternative fuels
Information on low impact fuels

Biodiesel
Biodiesel can be made from oilseed crops such as rape and from recycled oils, including vegetable, fish and animal oils.

In diesel engines you may be able to use either straight vegetable oils, in which case you will need to modify your engine to preheat the oil, or use biodiesel, which is formed by removing the glycerine from the raw product, known as 'esterification'. Biodiesel will work in most modern diesel engines - either on its own or blended with ordinary diesel, and although you won’t normally need to modify the engine though you may need to modify/check your fuel pipe. Using biodiesels or vegetable oils might make any warranty on your vehicle invalid, and of course should only be used with caution as if used incorrectly they may damage your engine. With a bit of technical knowledge it is possible to make your own biodiesel but you need to pay duty on it. For details of how to do this, see 'From the Fryer to the Fuel Tank by J & K Tickell, available from CAT by mail order Green Shop

Biodiesel can be bought in bulk - an option for local authorities, road hauliers etc. However, at the moment it isn't economic to make biodiesel from new vegetable oil (though it might be with further government support) and there are insufficient supplies of used oils reaching the manufacturers in order to be able to meet demand. If biodiesel were made from new vegetable oils, it would raise issues concerning land use and the energy required for production. It isn't really commercially available to individuals.

Bio-diesel Cooperative - join the cooperative and get "green" fuel for your car. Info: MERCi (0161 273 1736, merci@bridge-5.org)

Other contacts
(courtesy of CAT)

ELECTRIC CAR ASSOCIATION/ADVANCED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY
01823 480196 eca@avt.uk.com www.avt.uk.com
Information about electric cars. Conversions and conversion kits.

NORTHWALES BIO-POWER
www.northwales.org.uk/bio-power
Lots of information on how to make and use biodiesel.

LPGAS ASSOCIATION
www.lpga.co.uk
List of companies able to undertake conversion of petrol vehicles to LPG and also LPG refuelling stations.

POWERSHIFT
www.est-powershift.org.uk
Grants for clean fuel vehicles and conversions.
c/o ENERGY SAVING TRUST, 21 Dartmouth Street, London, SW1H 9BP.
Freephone 0800 512 012, Fax 020 7654 2444, Email info@est.co.uk Website www.est.org.uk

BRITISH BIOGEN
www.britishbiogen.co.uk
British Trade Association for biomass industry.

BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR BIOFUELS AND OILS
www.biodiesel.co.uk
Aims to research into and promote liquid transport fuels from renewable resources.

DRIVELECTRIC
4, Parliament Court, Parliament Hill, London NW3 2TS.;
Tel: 0870 7443006; Fax: 070 9211 6732; Email: info@drivelectric.com Website: www.drivelectric.com
Sources and supplies electric vehicles within London. Offers consultancy services to businesses looking at benefits and possible drawbacks of switching to electric vehicles

Public transport in Manchester
Information on accessing public transport
Greater Manchester's public transport network includes buses, trams and trains.

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTE)
GMPTE co-ordinates public transport policy and operations in Greater Manchester.
The Public Transport Information Line Travel is open between 8am and 8pm 7 days a week, except Christmas Day. Information is available on all bus, train and tram services running in the Greater Manchester area and on fares and pre-purchase tickets.
Tel. 0161 228 7811 (Textphone users may also use this number).
9 Portland Street, Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester M60 1HX
publicity@gmpte.gov.uk

GMPTE's website includes a search facility allowing you to plan journeys around Greater Manchester by public transport including bus, tram and train.
http://www.gmpte.gov.uk

GMPTE travel shops
Provide information about, and sell most bus and Metrolink season tickets. Up to the minute information about all local bus, local train and Metrolink services is also provided.
Altrincham, Ashton, Bolton, Bury, Hyde, Leigh, Middleton, Oldham, Piccadilly, Rochdale, Stockport, Wigan, Wythenshawe

Community Minibus Agency
Unit 4, Crossley Park, Crossley Road, Heaton Chapel, Stockport SK4 5BF
Tel: 0161 442 8686
Greater Manchester's leading provider of community–based transport used by hundreds of community and voluntary organisations. They hire minibuses, school minibuses and bus services.

Bikes
Information for cyclists

Greater Manchester Cycling Campaign
The Greater Manchester Cycling Campaign is a voluntary group working to make cycling in Greater Manchester quicker, safer, easier and more enjoyable. The group wants more people to use bicycles - or other kinds of human powered vehicle - for transport and leisure. And it represents and empowers people who do this.
c/o 68-70 Dickenson Road, Manchester, M14 5HF
http://www.gmcc.org.uk/

Touring clubs
Contact Bicycle Doctor for links to local touring clubs in Greater Manchester
http://www.bicycledoctor.co.uk/
Tel.0161 224 1303 Fax 257 3102

Bike shops in Manchester

Sustrans
The sustainable transport charity - works on practical projects to encourage people to walk, cycle and use public transport in order to reduce motor traffic and its adverse effects.
35 King Street, Bristol BS1 4DZ
Tel: 0117 926 8893 Fax: 0117 929 4173
info@sustrans.org.uk www.sustrans.org.uk

The National Cycle Network currently provides 7,000 miles of cycling and walking routes throughout the UK. By 2005 this will be extended to 10,000 miles. The Network is coordinated by Sustrans.

Sustrans online book shop
Guides and maps to the National Cycle Network include information on the Trans Pennine Trial.
Tel: 0117 929 0888
http://www.sustransshop.co.uk/

The Official Guide to the National Cycle Network
Published by: Sustrans; ISBN: 1901389359

On Yer Bike magazine
'On Yer Bike in Greater Manchester' magazine contains articles with information on routes and facilities for cyclists, as well as advice on how to use bikes for different sorts of trips and in a safe manner.
Copies are available from numerous public outlets throughout Greater Manchester, such as council offices, libraries, some supermarkets and health centres. Alternatively, if you would like some copies to distribute to employees, please call Julian Ashworth on 0161 242 6084

Centre for Alternative Technology transport-related publications
contact them: Centre for Alternative Technology, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 9AZ
+44 (0)1654 705950 or visit http://www.cat.org.uk

Information sheet:
Alternative Transport fuels
http://www.cat.org.uk/information/catinfo.tmpl?command=search&db=catinfo.db&eq
SKUdatarq=20021201113035&eqCURRENTdatarq=0&cart=3268569928202374&subdir=information