BackCost of London travel to increase? Give walking a go
With the news that bus and tube fares in London are set to increase in 2010, national charity Living Streets’ Walking Works campaign is encouraging all Londoners to give walking a go on their journey to and from work.
Walking is the greenest, cheapest and more often than not the easiest way to commute around the city, but despite this, only 9% of people in the city currently commute to work on foot. An enormous 109 journeys (53%) between central London tube stations are quicker to walk, so even if walking the entire journey isn’t possible, you can save cash by avoiding public transport in zone 1 and walking the remainder of your journey.
And its not just money you can save. By walking for just 30 minutes a day during the working week means meeting the Government’s recommended daily activity levels to transform your health.
Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets said:
“At a time when everyone is feeling the pinch, news of fare increases on tubes and buses is understandably causing stress to many people. But rather than looking at it as a trial, we are urging people to take the opportunity to change their commute and making walking a key part of their journey to and from work.
“Many journeys in central London are quicker by foot anyway, and you'll be getting the advantages of some time to yourself to plan for the day ahead, or to unwind after a busy day. So if you usually commute by train and jump on the tube, why not walk once you arrive in London? Or if you have to get a bus, why not get out when you get to zone 1, meet a friend and walk the rest of the way together? We urge all commuters to give walking a go; we think you’ll be amazed at how easy it can be.”
Walking routes are also easy to plan using the Walk It website, visit www.walkit.com
To find out more about the benefits of walking to work and to pledge to walk more, please visit www.walkingworks.org.uk
For more information contact Anna Powell, Press Officer at anna.powell@livingstreets.org.uk, tel: 020 7377 4914.
Notes to editors
Living Streets’ Walking Works campaign is an England-wide communications programme, with specific funding for London. Our aims are to encourage employees to walk more as part of their daily commute and to help employers to promote walking. Visit www.walkingworks.org.uk for more information.
The Walking Works campaign is funded in London by Transport for London and London Councils.
Living Streets’ national Walking Works campaign is part of a portfolio of projects being delivered by a Consortium of the leading walking, cycling and health organisations and funded through the Big Lottery Fund's Wellbeing Programme. The Programme provides funding to support the development of healthier lifestyles and to improve well-being.
The Consortium is led by Sustrans and includes British Cycling, CTC, Cycling England, Living Streets, London Cycling Campaign, the National Heart Forum, the National Obesity Forum, the Ramblers’ Association, Campaign for Better Transport and Walk 21. It is delivering a portfolio of projects that will enable 2 million people nationwide to become more physically active by walking or cycling as part of their daily lives by 2012.
The Big Lottery Fund, the largest of the National Lottery good cause distributors, has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since its inception in June 2004.
Living Streets, celebrating its 80th birthday this year, is the national charity that stands up for pedestrians. With our supporters we work to create safe, attractive and enjoyable streets, where people want to walk.
We have been the national voice for pedestrians throughout our 80 year history. In the early years, our campaigning led to the introduction of the driving test, pedestrian crossings and 30mph speed limits. Since then our ambition has grown. Today we influence decision makers nationally and locally, run successful projects to encourage people to walk, and provide specialist consultancy services to help reduce congestion and carbon emissions, improve public health, and make sure every community can enjoy vibrant streets and public spaces.
Published on: 16/10/2009
