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Tips on greener travel

If more people choose sustainable ways to get around - even just by choosing not to travel by car one or two days a week (or at all) - we can help tackle climate change, save time and money and improve our health.

On this page:

Greener travel - what's best?

When it comes to reducing the environmental and climate change impact of how we travel, there's a simple league of what's best.

In top place comes avoiding unnecessary travel, followed by walking, then cycling, then public transport. After that it's sharing a car, followed closely by driving alone and lastly going by air.

Sometimes there's nothing else for it but to hop in the car or to take a flight, but even then you can practice eco-driving or share a lift and try to limit the damage caused by air travel.

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Avoiding unnecessary travel and congestion

Do you really need to make that journey? Or could you double up that journey with something else you need to do?

For example, you could visit some relatives, grab the weekly shopping and do the recycling all in the same trip.

Smarter working

At work, could you do the same thing by using the telephone, email or the Internet? Could you avoid heavy, slow moving traffic in the mornings and evenings by working from home or adjusting your working hours to avoid peak traffic hours?

Read advice on Smarter Working from WorkWise (external link)

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Walking

For short journeys, why not walk instead of taking the car? It's easy, it'll help keep you fit and it won't cost you a thing.

Why not walk the kids to school or walk to work instead of driving? Even just once or twice a week can make all the difference. You might even surprise yourself and enjoy the change as it becomes part of your routine.

Read more on the benefits of walking at Paths To Health (external link)

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Cycling

Cycling around our towns is easier than ever, with more off-road routes, cycle lanes and advance stop areas at junctions being added all the time. It's cheap, will help get you fit, you won't have to pay to park and you'll avoid any rush-hour jams.

Also, you can usually get much closer to the entrance of shops and other premises if you arrive by bike than you would in a car.

Read helpful advice on cycling in Scotland on these websites

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Public transport

Most people live within 6 minutes walk of their nearest bus stop.

Not sure about which bus or train to catch, where to catch them, or how long it will take?

Try Traveline Scotland's Personal Journey Planner (external link)

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New cars

There's an increasing range of more fuel-efficient and alternative-fuelled vehicles on the market that can help the environment and save you money - on fuel bills and road tax.

Though smaller engine sizes usually burn less fuel per mile than larger ones, check what fuel consumption you should be getting when looking at new cars.

Read more car-buying tips from the Energy Saving Trust (external link)

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Eco-driving

You can get more miles for your money and ease the pressure on the environment by driving at a sensible speed, not accelerating or braking sharply and by making sure your car is regularly serviced.

Keeping your tyres pumped up to the right pressure and clearing unnecessary junk out of your car will also help to save fuel.

With modern engines, there's no need to 'warm up' the engine before setting off (it only wastes fuel).

Read more eco-driving tips from the Energy Saving Trust (external link)

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Park and ride

If you have to drive, using park and ride facilities can also save miles of wear and tear on your car and cut out the hassle of city driving. With more and more bus lanes and better rail links, using park and ride is often quicker in rush hour too. Many train stations around Scotland have free on-site parking.

Find information on Park and Ride facilities at TrafficScotland (external link)

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Oil changes

Every year waste oil finds its way into our watercourses and wreaks havoc on plants and wildlife but, properly handled, used oil can be a valuable resource.

Read more on recycling motor oil

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Lift sharing

Your work may have a car share scheme or you could simply ask around to see if anyone else makes a similar journey to you.

All of Scotland's Regional Transport Partnerships now have websites where you can find out about lift-sharing opportunities:

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Air travel

Air travel releases more of the greenhouse gas CO2 per mile than any other form of transport.

The first question to ask is, do you really need to fly? Could you, for example, take the train, coach or a ferry instead?

If you really do have to fly, you could help to pay back the environmental cost of your flight by paying a small amount to a 'carbon-offset' scheme. You can even do this for those unavoidable car journeys through a range of schemes including those offered by some of the major petrol companies.

When booking flights, bear in mind that take-offs and landings use huge amounts of fuel in comparison to cruising at altitude. Look for flights or connections with a minimum number of stops or changeovers.

Read more advice on carbon offsetting schemes from DirectGov (external link)

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Travel planning

Does the organisation you work for or your school, college or university have a travel plan? Travel plans are packages of measures that work together to encourage and support people to make more sustainable transport choices.

Maybe you could encourage your employers to look at developing a Travel Plan for the organisation, with all the financial, productivity and well-being benefits that they can bring?

Find out more about Travel Planning at Choose Another Way (external link)

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