From Adrian Lane, Exeter 383262, October 08, 2007

THE winners of the Devon Car Free Day competition have been announced.

All employers in Devon were asked to encourage staff to leave their cars at home to try a more environmentally-friendly way of travelling to work on Devon Car Free Day on Friday 21 September. The day was organised as part of the TravelWise campaign in support of the international In Town Without My Car event.

As well as providing an opportunity to raise awareness of sustainable travel in a fun way, as an incentive all participating organisations were entered into a prize draw to win £1,000 towards green travel measures at work.

The money has been won by Involve, the Council for Voluntary Services in Mid Devon. The charity hosts the work of the Mid Devon Transport Group which will use the prize money to pro-actively work with five employers in the Tiverton area to help them introduce green travel within their organisations.

Councillor Margaret Rogers, Devon County Council Executive Member for Environment, said: "Our prize winners have been recognised for their sterling efforts in promoting sustainable travel and making Devon even greener. Everyone who took part in Devon Car Free Day, whether they are prize winners or not, deserves recognition for doing their bit to reduce our carbon footprint and making a difference to our environment."

Devon County Council's Children and Young People's Services Policy and Strategy Officers won the "Best Team Effort" for their 13-strong walking bus on the day.

The team, comprising Ingrid Fisher, Ray Beale, Marta Pawelczyk, Richard Stevens, Maddie Goddard, Sue Darbyshire, Nick Richardson, Vic Ebdon, Sarah Skinner, Steve Keable, Simon Niles, Colin Mackenzie, and Debbie Pritchard, thought they would take a leaf from school travel plans and arrange a walking bus. Just like children travelling to school from outlying villages, they congregated at a virtual bus stop and walked an achievable distance together, cutting down car journeys, getting some exercise and also having quality time for conversation. The team agreed to donate their prize of £50 to the Shirts4Spoon Charity in memory of late colleague Malcolm Baker and the fantastic work he did as a champion for children.

The two runners-up teams were Jackie Davey's team from the Royal Devon Exeter Hospital who pushed her in a wheelchair from Digby Park Ride, and Devon County Council's payroll team of seven staff who travelled to work on hobby horses.

The "Regular Green Traveller" and the "Furthest Distance Travelled to Work by Green Transport" categories were both won by Harriet Davies, from the Barn Owl Trust, who will spend her £100 prize money at the Bike Shed in Crediton. She has been cycling a seventy mile round trip from Crediton to Ashburton through the Teign Valley two or three times a week throughout the summer, whatever the weather. Harriet started by cycling once or twice a week and built up to three or four days. 

Harriet said: "I started cycling to work after completing the Dartmoor Classic Cyclosportive in May which was a 100 mile cycle ride - I thought after that I could do anything. I am by no means fast, taking my time and enjoying the scenery of the Teign valley."

Runner-up in the "Regular Green Traveller" category was Clive Westney from the Royal Devon Exeter Hospital. He said: "I board the train at Whimple with my fold-up bike and get off at Pinhoe. I then cycle to Wonford Hospital. I have been using this mode of transport in and out of work for seven and a half years. It started out by helping in my recovery from a ruptured Achilles tendon when playing squash, It has now become my daily form of exercise."

Runner-up in the "Furthest distance travelled to work by Green transport" category was Warren Danby of the RD E, who cycled to the hospital from South Molton, a journey of 27.7 miles. Although it took Warren longer than he expected he still says he will do it again.

Mark Bailey, who works for the Mid Devon Transport Group in Tiverton, shared the "Most Creative Way of Getting to Work" prize with Jon Parkinson and Roger English from South Hams District Council. Mark walked from his home to the bus stop in Sandford, carrying a mini canoe and mini bicycle. He caught the Turners coach to Cowley Bridge, then canoed down the river Exe to Haven Banks. Back on terra firma he cycled to the Young Farmers Centre for his meeting with the canoe on his back.

Mark said: "I used Car Free Day to raise awareness of carbon footprint issues, and sustainable green travel options. In my job, helping people to access services in Mid Devon, especially in rural areas, I promote existing services and how to find out more about it. There are so many other alternatives to cars."

Jon Parkinson and Roger English completed a mini-triathlon on their way to work. Jon cycled from Brixham to Greenaway and Roger cycled from Strete to Dittisham. They then kayaked for an hour on the river Dart, stowed the kayak at Steamer Quay and then ran for two miles to the council offices in Totnes.

Jon said "We enjoyed the experience so much, with just the wildlife and the birds on the river, that we are going to travel this way more regularly next summer."

The runners-up were Robert Harwood and Sue Smillie from the Environment Agency's Exminster Offices who travelled 2.4 miles with one pushing the other in a wheelie bin.

Notes for Editors:

Councillor Margaret Rogers 01297 680384.

The Mid Devon Transport Group is a multi agency partnership which aims to improve access to employment; leisure, social and health needs by a community led and sustainable system of transport, through research, auditing, networking, developing appropriate responses, providing information and supporting existing groups to enhance their capacity building.