What Can I Do About Air Quality?

1. Bus Travel:

The benefits of travelling by bus include:

More time for yourself. You can use the time spent travelling more effectively than if you were driving yourself. You can read a book or newspaper, catch up on some work, or even have a power nap.

• Cheaper. No road tax, no MOT, no insurance, no licensing, no breakdown recovery services, no fuel bills and no unexpected expenses.

2. Train Travel:

Travelling by train can be a cheap, quick and easy way to get to work.

The benefits of travelling by train include:

• More time for yourself. You can use the time spent travelling by train more effectively than if you were driving. You can read a book or newspaper, use the train as a mobile office, or even have a power nap.
• Less stress. No traffic jams, no road rage and fewer accidents.
• Quicker. People often under-estimate how long it takes to make a journey by car, and over-estimate how long it takes to travel by other methods.
• Cheaper. No road tax, no MOT, no insurance, no licensing, no breakdown recovery services, no fuel bills and no unexpected expenses.

3. Car Sharing:

If every car commuter used an alternative just one day a week, car usage levels for commuting would be reduced to the levels experienced during school holidays.

The benefits of car sharing are many and include:

• Saves you money on petrol costs.
• Reduces local air pollution and cuts greenhouse gas emissions.
• Reduces the demand for car parking spaces.
• Reduces traffic congestion and makes the roads safer.
• Makes journeys more sociable and less stressful.
• Means that you can share the driving.

4. Cycling

Cycling is an easy way to introduce physical activity into everyday life, plus it is very convenient and often quicker during peak times. Regular exercise reduces stress and heart disease and can improve your general health.

The benefits of cycling include:

• Increased Health. Regular cyclists enjoy a fitness level equal to that of a person ten years younger. Even if you cycle only a few miles per day, your muscles will gain the benefit, usually becoming trimmer and more toned. On average, cyclists live two years longer than non-cyclists.
• It's Speedy. During rush-hour, a bicycle is about twice as fast as a car - good if you hate traffic jams!
• It's Cheap. No road tax, no MOT, no insurance, no licensing, no breakdown recovery services, no fuel bills and no unexpected expenses. The average cost of maintaining a car is £273 per year compared to just £75 for a bike. Also a bicycle can be parked just about anywhere, so no more expensive car park bills.
• It's Green. Twenty bicycles can be parked in the same space taken up by one car. Cycling is the least polluting way of travelling after walking; a cyclist emissions only bother the person behind! 2kg of carbon are saved for every short journey that is made using a bike instead of a car.

5. Walking

For many people, walking is rarely considered as a travel option, yet it is a cheap, healthy, flexible and realistic travel choice for short journeys. We are all recommended to walk 10,000 steps a day to keep fit and healthy.

The benefits of walking include:

• It's free!!!
• Increased health and energy.
• Helps you sleep better.
• Improves mental well being.

Remember walking is most suitable for journeys under two miles and can be combined with other methods, such as public transport to cover longer distances.