Benefits of active travel
A small change to your daily commute can be beneficial to your health, your wallet and the environment.
Walking
Walking is one of the cheapest ways to get around and doesn’t leave a carbon footprint, so it’s ideal to help reduce air pollution and congestion. There are also a number of other great benefits:
- Stroll now, sleep later – Taking a walk in a green environment can reduce stress and may lead to a better sleep the following night.
- A daily dose of sunshine – Going for a short walk at lunchtime is a great way to get your fix of vitamin D, which is important for keeping our bones and our immune system healthy.
- Reduce your risk of disease – A short walk each day is a brilliant way to boost your activity and could help to reduce the chance of heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer.
- Free and convenient – You can just get up and go when it suits you, and it won’t cost you a penny on fuel or parking!
- Improve your environment – walking instead of driving means less pollution and better air quality
- Mental health – walking can improve your mood, help to treat depression, reduce stress and anxiety and build your self-esteem.
Cycling
Cycling is a great way to enjoy an active lifestyle and be healthier. Regular cycling can help you burn calories, reduce stress and anxiety and improve your sense of well-being.
Cycling is one of the easiest ways to fit exercise into your daily routine because it’s also a form of transport. It saves you money on fuel and is good for the environment, by lowering air pollution
Don’t have your own bike, but want to try cycling? Visit Scarborough’s very own Bike Library, for free bike-hire! It’s only a 25 minute walk from CU Scarborough.
Public transport
If you think you can’t walk or cycle, don’t forget about public transport:
- You’ll be more active by walking to your stops and final destinations.
- Your journey is less stressful – you can use the time to read, listen to music or just relax.
- It saves you money as you only pay for the trips you make.
- It’s better for the environment than driving a car.
You can also find out more about walking and cycling in Scarborough on the Open Scarborough website. If you have any questions about Open Scarborough or are interested in free cycle training, please email Benjamin.Stokes@northyorks.gov.uk.