Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Go for green when it comes to travel..
BUSINESSES are being encouraged to promote greener modes of travel among their workforce this June for the Active Travel Challenge.
Translink, Sustrans, the Department for Infrastructure, Public Health Agency (PHA), health trusts and some councils are all backing the challenge and encourage large and small businesses across Northern Ireland to take part.
Active travel means making journeys by physically active means.
The joint initiative encourages people to adopt a mode of transport for the commute like walking, cycling, or getting public transport.
For the month of June, workplaces can sign up and track their journeys to win prizes and compete with other businesses across NI or even set up teams within the office for some healthy competition. This collaborative drive aims to inspire people to adopt greener travel options that will prioritise their health and wellbeing and support Northern Ireland’s ‘green’ economic recovery and progress towards a lowcarbon future.
Translink Director of Service Operations Ian Campbell said: “Taking public transport, walking, or cycling is not only an easy way to add in daily exercise, but it saves you money and creates time for yourself and your mental health.
“This year we have added more than 100 zero-emission buses to our fleet, as well as tap on technology to allow contactless payments on a range of bus services.
“We are transforming public transport to make it more attractive and easier to use, so more people make it their first choice for travel.”
Sustrans Director Caroline Bloomfield said hybrid working gives a new opportunity to try active travel methods: “Instead of sitting in a traffic jam or spending time looking for car parking, why not try walking or cycling as part of your commute or shopping trip.”
Chief Executive of Belfast City Council, John Walsh said the challenge offers an opportunity to try something new: “As a council, we want to encourage more people to walk and cycle and in turn, improve their physical health and mental wellbeing while reducing their carbon footprint.”
To find out more and go to atc. getmeactive. org. uk/ or email challenge@sustrans. org. uk.