Transport & Travel Facts

It’s a fact! Transport is one of the biggest contributors to climate change. The choices we make can affect our health and cost us time and money.

To save time, money, improve fitness and help protect the environment, why not follow a travel hierarchy by: avoiding unnecessary trips, then choosing to walk, cycle or use public transport and, finally, if you must use a car, try sharing.

Congestion

There’s nothing worse than being stuck in a traffic jam feeling stressed out as even more greenhouse gas emissions are pumped into the atmosphere.

Unfortunately, congestion is still a huge problem in the UK.

Nearly a fifth (18%) of the monitored routes on Scotland’s trunks roads experienced serious or severe congestion for more than one hour per day.

12.8% of car drivers’ journeys were reported as delayed by congestion in 2006 and around 25% of car drivers’ journeys in weekday rush hours (7-9am and 4-6pm) were reported as delayed by congestion in 2005.

Even if you only use your car for part of the journey, by using park and ride, you’ll still help ease congestion.

If you must use your car, here are some tips to try to make the journey a bit greener:

• If possible try car sharing, on the way to work or for a day out with friends
• Turn off the engine when you’ve stopped
• Move up the gearbox as quickly as is safely possible
• Roll your windows down instead of using air conditioning
• Get your car serviced so it runs efficiently
• Consider buying an eco friendly car (and reduce your road tax too)

The good news is there are transport choices you can make that not only help avoid congestion but could also benefit your health and save you money.

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Public Transport

Using public transport is a great way to take the stress out of your daily commute. Instead of sitting in a traffic jam feeling stressed, you could be reading the paper, or a good book while someone else takes over the driving.

And the good news is that just one double-deck bus can take 75 cars off the road, giving a potential annual carbon saving of 67,200kg.

In fact if every bus took just one more car driver we could save up to 1.2 million tonnes of CO₂ per year.

With Scotland’s bus operators more committed than ever to providing a clean, efficient fleet of buses, there’s no reason not to give the bus a try. You might even get there quicker as buses can use greenways, bypassing traffic jams. Take a look at our Greener Travel map to see which bus companies operate in your area.

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Cycling

On your bike! That’s right why not try getting in the saddle and choosing our next most eco friendly way to travel – the bicycle.

Using your bike rather than a car or bus can have great benefits for your health and your wallet as well as being carbon friendly. If you are not sure where to start with getting out and about on your bike, Sustrans is offering you a free information pack called Free Your Bike.

75% of people in the UK live within 2 miles of National Cycle Network Routes including traffic-free, quiet lanes and on-road walking and cycling routes. If that sounds tempting why not give it a go.

If you are a woman who’d like to get in to cycling for everyday trips or as a holiday activity but not sure if it’s for you then check out Bike Belles for tips on how to get started and learn to love your bike.

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Walking

Walking is the greenest option of all and is perfect for shorter journeys. Why not try walking to work or walking the kids to school rather than taking the car or bus?

Walking is completely free, needs no special equipment, can have great health benefits and creates no greenhouse gas emissions making it the greenest form of transport around.

You could start by walking a few times a week when you would normally drive. Once it becomes part of your routine you’ll enjoy it and feel the health benefits too.

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