In support of World Car Free Day today, we have some active travel suggestions for you this autumn. This allows you to stay fit, save money and help the environment when moving from A to B.
Active travel is just that, moving between destinations in ways that do not use fossil fuels. Active travel can help improve your overall health and wellbeing, as well as reduce your carbon footprint and save you money at the same time - a triple win!
Why actively travel?
- Save the planet
Swapping fossil fuelled modes of transport to active travel will help lower harmful CO2 emissions and reduce air pollutants, which can cause issues for public health and our environment.
- Save your health
Did you know? The risk of cardiovascular diseases can reduce by 35% if you commit to walking regularly, and stress levels can decrease through daily physical exercise.
- Save money
Running a car can come with high costs - why not work out how much you could save by swapping some car journeys for an alternative active travel option?
- Save time
Walking and cycling can sometimes be the most time effective options. On average, an adult can walk a mile in approximately 15 to 20 minutes and cycle the same distance in about five minutes. With busy traffic or the hassle of parking, it can often take longer to drive to your destination.
Where can you start?
Starting with a few small manageable changes in your day-to-day life can allow you to take positive steps towards mitigating climate change. Here are a few simple tips to get you actively travelling:
- Walk or cycle instead of completing short car journeys
In the UK, about a quarter of all car trips are under two miles, and just over half are under five miles. It’s a great idea to look at which journeys take five minutes or less to drive and set yourself a goal to walk or cycle instead.
- Find your local cycle routes
Sometimes the biggest challenge for people choosing two wheels over four is not knowing the quickest and safest local routes for cycling. Surrey has many cycle routes, paving a safe, active way to get to where you need to be.
In Elmbridge, the route from Weybridge to Brooklands is popular and takes approximately 18 minutes. You can see the route on this map provided by Surrey County Council.
- Travel together
Why not make your active travel a social activity? Walking is a great option to do as a group and provides a valuable chance to socialise with friends and family. Travelling by bike with others can also create a great sense of community.
We have also been organising our Wellbeing Walks since 2003 and Wellbeing Cycle Rides since 2005. All walks and cycles are free and are led by one of our experienced and friendly volunteers.
We are all responsible for our planet and travelling actively can help us on our journey to lower carbon emissions and to create a more sustainable Elmbridge for our future. Happy active travelling!
For more information, please see Active travel.