Benefits
There are many benefits to using alternatives to the car particularly health benefits, benefits to the environment , the community, the employer and financial. Examples of the benefits of getting involved in the BIG Green Commuter Challenge are shown below.Health
Regular exercise such as brisk walking and cycling will help improve your health and fitness.
It can reduce risk of:-
- heart diseasestroke and high blood pressure
- diabetes
- osteoporosis (thinning of the bones)
Regular exercise can help improve:-
- mental health, mood and stress levels
- blood cholesterol levels
- blood pressure levels
- diabetes control
Other considerations:-
- walking and cycling to work can easily be incorporated into your daily routine.
- there is no need to join a gym, take up a sport or use special equipment to exercise
- door to door convenience, as there will be a known journey length, as you are unlikely to get stuck in traffic queues
- walking and cycling is environmentally much less harmful than driving
- can helps you to lose weight and gives you more energy.
- reduction in the number of journeys made by car by using alternatives such as carsharing or public transport will improve air quality.
Environment
- reduce congestion, pollution and global warming
- towns and cities will become much more pleasant environments in which to live
- air quality improvements for everyone
- less road accidents due to less road traffic
- help preserve the resources we have by using them more responsibly
Financial
- the average cost of driving a car is 40-50 pence a mile (based on AA figures for an average car and typical annual mileage)
- there are great savings to be made with monthly, three monthly or annual bus or train season tickets over the single or daily return tickets
- walking and cycling are cheap or virtually free forms of transport
- car sharers are able to ask their passengers for a contribution to any costs eg petrol, parking as long as they do not make a profit and can save an average of £1000 a year
- by not driving you will reduce wear and tear on your car and reduce running costs
- reduction in costs to society, not just of ill-health but the costs of road accidents
Employers
- there will be less demand for car parking and more land available for landscaping or development
- less money spent on provision and maintenance of car parks
- greater staff retention and recruitment especially if improved bus, cycle and or walking routes are developed or loans for season tickets/bikes introduced
- encouraging individuals to use the train over the car could save on business mileage payments and time could be better by working or reading
- by reducing the number of meetings that individuals need to travel to there will be obvious savings both in terms of business mileage costs and time savings
- a fitter, healthier workforce will be less likely to take time off sick
Community
- using car less can lead to an increase in support community based businesses as you are walking or cycling
- less traffic means a decrease in traffic noise and a quieter more pleasant environment
- reduction in traffic conjestion and parking problems
- increase social interaction within the local community