Walking and Cycling

There are numerous local amenities that are conveniently within walking distance.
Martlesham Heath Surgery is reachable in 19 minutes, while Birchwood Primary School is also accessible with a 23-minute walk. The local post office is just a 33-minute stroll away. For public transportation, the nearest bus stop is situated on Gloster Road, opposite BT near the local Aldi supermarket.
Brightwell Lakes will have a Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG), providing an ideal setting for walking, cycling, and leisure activities.
Take a look at the map in your Travel Information Pack for further details.

Cycling can be a great alternative to short car journeys and many local facilities can easily be reached by bicycle. There is an on-road cycle route running along The Street. If you are cycling to the local shop, there are cycle stands outside – just don’t forget to take your lock with you. Cycling doesn’t have to be just for commuting or errands though, it can also be for leisure purposes and for those that are a little more serious about cycling, you can find local cycling groups through the Cycling UK website.

Claim your voucher! Residents are entitled to claim a £150 active travel voucher one per household. This can be redeemed at Decathlon or similar. You are free to spend your voucher on anything Decathlon offers, whether this is a contribution towards a new bike or perhaps some cycling equipment, such as lights or a lock and clothing or some walking boots. To claim your voucher, all you need to do is complete this short online Brightwell Lakes Travel Survey. We will then take care of the rest for you.

Free Cycle Training

The Suffolk Road Safe Team are now delivering sessions for families who want to cycle more regularly, whether to keep fit, to commute to work or school, or to go and visit friends!

The session will be about 3 hours long and free of charge. They will come to you, chat about what you are trying to achieve, and then work on your route or specific challenges that you have.

Some of the things you’ll learn include:

• how to ride with your children so that you can help them gain confidence;
• a simple system for remembering how to deal with different road scenarios;
• how to improve your safety at any junctions you use;
• how you can use your road position to control other road users and enhance your safety.

Find out more here.

Electric bikes are becoming increasingly popular – but some people claim they are ‘cheating’. E-Bikes just offer a little extra assistance when pedalling, particularly when cycling up-hill which makes them ideal for the elderly, injured or just those who don’t want to get as hot and sweaty! If your employer is part of the Cyclescheme, you can use this to purchase an electric bike.

Is your employer part of the Cyclescheme? This allows you to save 25-39% of the cost of a new bike & accessories whilst also spreading the cost. Find out more information on how this works and how to sign up on the Cyclescheme website.

Take a look at this video for some top commuting by bike tips!