Active travel is a convenient, accessible and affordable way to get around. Plus you et to support your wellbeing and do your bit for climate action with every carbon emission-free journey.

So, what does active travel actually mean?

Active travel is a catch all term for making journeys in a physical way. This includes walking, wheeling (using a wheelchair or mobility aid), cycling or using a scooter. Choosing to walk, wheel or cycle for your everyday journeys is great for your physical and mental health as well as being beneficial for the environment.

What are the benefits?

MOST ACTIVE TRAVEL METHODS ARE FREE Save money on petrol and public transport. With petrol prices soaring, your wallet (and the environment) will thank you.

GET SOME MORE SUN Active travel is a great way to get your recommended 10mg a day of Vitamin D. Vitamin D is needed for healthy bones, teeth and muscles. Spending time outdoors is also great for your mental health. Just don’t forget sun protection!

REDUCE AIR POLLUTION Air pollution is the term used to describe several substances that are harmful to human, animal and plant life. Sustrans, the national travel charity, estimates that 28,000 to 36,000 early deaths occur each year in the UK due to air pollution worsening heart and lung disease.

Public Health England has recently published a report on interventions to improve outdoor air quality which recommends a targeted reduction in traffic emissions investing in active transport such as walking and cycling.

INCREASE YOUR FITNESS Physical inactivity costs the UK £7.4 billion per year and is responsible for 1 in 6 deaths. 

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), regular physical activity can:

• improve muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness;
• improve bone and functional health;
• reduce the risk of hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, various types of cancer and depression;
• reduce the risk of falls as well as hip or vertebral fractures; and
• help maintain a healthy body weight

Walking, cycling and wheeling are great ways to increase physical activity. Sustrans estimates that a 3-mile commute using active travel methods will achieve recommended levels of activity each week.

REDUCE YOUR CARBON EMISSIONS – A study conducted in Cardiff to assess the potential impact for carbon emission savings found that, taking into account individual travel patterns and constraints, walking or cycling could realistically substitute for 41% of short car trips, saving nearly 5% of CO2e emissions from car travel.

Here are the five ways you can start your active travel journey…

LESS THAN 5 MINUTES TO DRIVE?

Nationally, about a quarter (24%) of car driver trips are under two miles. More than half (56%) are under five miles. Take the challenge of walking, cycling, or riding to your destination if it takes 5 minutes or less to drive. The planet, and your wallet, will thank you!

FIND CYCLE ROUTES NEAR YOU

Find local cycle routes to skate, scoot and walk across your town, city or village with websites such as British Cycling’s Let’s Ride or Cycling UK.

AIM FOR 10,000 STEPS A DAY

Motivate yourself to walk by tracking your steps and aiming for at least 10,000 each day. You don’t need even a fancy fitness tracker, as most phones come equipped with pedometers.

MIX IT UP

Active travel includes more than just bicycles. Dig out your old roller skates, skateboards, scooters or maybe even find a unicycle! Find a method that feels fun for you, and you’ll be getting a double dose of exercise and recreation.

More companies are investing in inclusive active travel too. If you have reduced mobility, take a look at recumbent tricycles, wheelchair tandems and electrical bikes via Wheels for Wellbeing.

TAKE A MINDFUL WALK

You can incorporate mindfulness into your morning walk to work or decompress on your way back from school. Try focusing on the rhythm of your footsteps and the physical sensations of walking or simply breathe in the fresh air and notice what’s around you.

The next time you take a journey, think about the travel choice you make and how it might affect your health, happiness and the wellbeing of the planet.