From safer crossings and improved bus facilities to better walking and cycling routes, the first phase of the Garden Town’s new transport infrastructure in Harlow has introduced a range of changes designed to improve everyday journeys.
But the scheme, already recognised at national and regional level and most recently shortlisted at the Essex Housing Awards 2026, is about more than new infrastructure.
Running from Harlow Town Centre to Burnt Mill roundabout/Harlow Town Station, it gives people more choice in how they get around.
Whether it’s walking into town, cycling to the station, catching the bus or driving a car, different journeys suit different people on different days.
The aim is to make those choices easier, particularly for people making shorter trips around the town every day.
For those journeys, the difference is often less about how things look and more about how they feel.
It’s being able to cross a busy road without waiting for a gap in traffic.
People want to feel confident enough to cycle with their family or have enough space to walk comfortably
It’s wanting to use a route without worrying about muddy paths or poorly lit sections.
Individually, they might seem like small changes, but together they can make a big difference to the overall journey experience.
In fact, some of the biggest improvements are the least obvious at first glance.
New crossings at busy roundabouts, improved lighting, clearer space for cyclists and better connections into the town centre aren’t always that dramatic visually.
But they can completely change whether someone feels comfortable making a journey at all.
And that’s one of the project’s most important aims, improving confidence.
For people who already walk or cycle regularly, some of the upgrades may feel like a welcome extra.
But for families, children, women, older residents and those travelling early in the morning or later in the evening, confidence and perception of safety is often the biggest barrier.
Questions such as:
· Is it safe to cross here?
· Is the route well lit?
· Can I get there without worrying about traffic?
They can all influence how someone chooses to travel.
When those concerns begin to disappear, more people will feel able to make shorter journeys without automatically relying on the car.
And that benefits everyone.
When people who are able to walk, cycle or catch the bus choose those options for shorter trips, it helps free up space on the road network for those who genuinely need to drive, whether that’s tradespeople carrying equipment, delivery drivers, carers, people with mobility needs or families making longer journeys.
The car will always be the right option for some journeys, and that’s unlikely to change.
But for other trips, particularly shorter ones, the improvements are about making other options more realistic.
That could mean walking to the shops on a clearer and more direct route, cycling safely into town or catching a bus with improved infrastructure and information.
Importantly, it doesn’t have to be the same choice every day.
One of the biggest changes we hope to see isn’t just in the roads and paths themselves.
It’s in how we think about getting around.
Instead of automatically reaching for the car keys, there are now more options to consider.
On a rainy day, that might be the bus. On a sunny afternoon, it could be a walk. For a quick trip into town, it might be a bike ride.
The important thing is having those options available when you need them.
We understand that some of the improvements may feel subtle at first.
However, together they are helping to create:
· Safer routes
· More comfortable journeys
· Better connections into the town centre
· More travel choices for everyday trips
You may not spot every improvement straight away, but if you’ve walked, cycled or caught the bus along the route recently, we’d love to hear about your experience.
More reading: Station to Town Centre: What’s New? – Harlow and Gilston Garden Town
