Research conducted by Stagecoach has found that bus travel costs are around 55% cheaper than the same commute by car, saving passengers an average of more than £90 a month, according to the study. The study found the biggest savings were in the East of England where bus passengers travelling between St Ives and Cambridge were 83% better off or saving more than £5,500 a year compared to motorists. This savings would be enough to cover the entire annual energy costs for a medium-sized house even with fuel prices being at their lowest level for six years.

​Further information can be found here.

It is believed that a typical British person spends three and half hours of every 16 waking hours to their car. There are cheaper options and each month we will explore each alternatives to cut your car use.

This month we explore walking as it links in well with the National Walking Month from 1st to 31st of May. Living Streets encourage people to take to their feet and feel the benefits of walking. Walking totes the same benefits of running, with the added bonus of being low impact.

To make a walk effective for fitness, (oppose to a leisurely stroll) try: walking fast, walking far or using your arms to "pump" with your steps. This increases the cardiovascular demand on the body and better circulates blood throughout the body.

​Here are some ideas for walking:

• Walk to work. If you live within 2 miles of work, walking could take you no more than 30 minutes, burn 100 calories and save 0.5kg of CO2.
• Leave your workstation. Get into a habit to fit in 30 minutes of walk at lunchtime on your own or with you walking buddy and discover parks and neighbourhood in your area.
• Run errands on foot. This may be a little more time consuming but it's worth it to be able to get a workout in. If you did the walk separately, it would take a lot longer!
• Walking on the treadmill at the gym or home is surprisingly challenging. Add an incline to the routine to rev up your calorie burn and overall fat loss.

​The Mental Health Foundation has reported that just 30 minutes of low-intensity exercise can improve self-esteem, boost concentration and help us sleep better, as well as combating tension, stress and mental fatigue by flooding your body with happy chemicals like oxytocin and vitamin D. Walking is a great way to improve your physique and overall health and fitness levels. Walking also lowers stress, strengthens the heart, and tones the lower body.

Summer is a good time to consider leaving your car at home and trying other options of getting around.

Travel Plan Plus is organising an open event to promote a range of green sustainable modes of transport to get to work which will be held at the Trinity Centre Car Park. This event will be held on 2nd June to coincide with the World Environment Day on 5th June which focuses on doing something positive for the environment. The World Environment Day is the “opportunity for everyone to realise the responsibility to care for the Earth and to become agents of change” (UNEP, 2016).

This open event offers you the chance to explore a wide range of sustainable modes of transport to get to work, sustainable options for running errands on the weekends including day trips with young children and even reviewing your current transport options. The event will provide a perfect opportunity to discover everything you need to know about sustainable modes of travel and also updates on the City Deal projects.

Some of the companies who will be present on the day to discuss about their products include: Abellio Greater Anglia, Ben Hayward Cycles, Cambridge Motorcycles, Cambridge Regional College, Dutch Bikes, Elms Cambridge, GreenAir Cars, Greater Northern Rail, Network Rail, Outspoken and many more.

Event details are as follows:
Date & Time: Thursday 2nd June 2016, 1130 - 1430
Where: Trinity Centre Car Park, Unit 24 Cambridge Science Park, Milton Road
 
Further information and reminders will follow, but for now please save this date and time in your calendars and we look forward to seeing you on the day.

The Outspoken will be relocating from Newmarket to a new premises of 11,000 sq ft on 140 Cowley Road on 19th May 2016. The building includes warehouse and office space over two floors on a site of a third of an acre. All their three services – Outspoken Cycles, Outspoken Training and Outspoken Delivery will all be housed under one roof.