Category: News

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The Rise Of Cargo Bikes



What are cargo bikes? 

Some may have heard the phrase thrown around and for some, this is a completely new subject, but cargo bikes have the potential to revolutionise transportation and be the best new mode of transport to fight climate change. 

Cargo refers to the haulage of goods from one place to another, so quite simply a cargo bike is one that is designed, built, and strengthened specifically to carry goods/items: serving as an environmentally friendly substitute for cars, vans, and even lorries! 

Cargo bikes have been around for longer than you think, new to some and not properly utilised; perhaps ignored once the motorised vehicle took off.  

Demand for cargo and e-cargo bikes has grown significantly within the last few years, especially with the pandemic which has changed people’s attitudes and day-to-day lives. Around 2,000 cargo bikes were sold in the UK for commercial use in 2020 which has continued to increase tenfold in 2022 due to the increased urgency on climate change and agreements to reach net zero. 

You also have the option to go up a price bracket to an e-cargo bike; these aren’t fitted with a throttle of any sort; you still have to pedal! The electric element is there to merely assist with the peddling, therefore taking the stress off the legs which allows the rider to go for longer and ride inclines with relative ease. 

The cargo bike range has grown due to the rise in popularity, now transitioning more so to e-cargo bikes, but the luxury comes with added expense. However, in comparison to the costs of buying and running a car or van, e-cargo bikes are still sold at a much lower price, are more sustainable, and present a huge opportunity for UK retailers.  

Who uses them? 

Due to the vast range of cargo bikes available now, there are options available for all purposes; anyone can use them.  

Companies have been transitioning to cargo bikes as an alternative for vans and cars, as they can and are being used for delivering everything and anything: post, food, and even people. For example, Pedal Me is a cargo bike delivery service based in London which has gained popularity over recent years with its team of trained delivery drivers. With detachable trailers and a cargo max load of 150kg, they are showing that bikes could be the way forward to combat congestion and CO2 emissions. The company also gained publicity when they were able to transport vulnerable people around during the pandemic; when public transport poses a risk, a bike taxi provides the perfect solution; and is likely to get you there quicker too!  

It’s fair to say that the use of cargo bikes is possibly easier and more accessible in densely populated areas such as cities; especially for deliveries, as they can provide the last stint of the delivery with relative ease. However, the transition to e-cargo bikes provides a much easier, less strenuous journey for the rider, with some e-cargo bikes boasting a range of up to 60 miles, making journeys in the countryside a smaller issue. 

Where can I get one and how much will it cost? 

Cargo bike is a broad term as there are so many different options available to suit your needs, which also makes them vary in price. Regular cargo bikes with no electric assist can price upwards of £900 new and when given the electric assist some will tip over the £1500 mark, which is more than most regular bikes; but perhaps an essential addition in particular situations than to the regular cargo bike. So, is it worth it? 

The added electric assist will push the range up to several thousands of pounds, a large investment for those that are not using the bike frequently or for business purposes. Although the prices hike up with this added luxury, and therefore this isn’t for everyone; we’re certain you’ll be thankful for the electric assist when the load gets heavy, you’re faced with steep inclines and loaded up with two children, their stuff, and the weekly shop.   

In summary of the initial cost of an e-bike: they’re more expensive than most bikes, but when evaluated as a replacement for a car or a van, etc; the cost is considerably lower. It’s a one-off payment with no running fees which can provide the same use as a car and even more.  

Why you should consider one… 

It’s a unique selling point that stands out to customers and to the competition, putting you in the spotlight for making a difference and contributing to the net-zero goal. By replacing vans/cars with cargo bikes you will be able to avoid several tonnes of CO2 each day and reduce the costs for your business.  

For leisure use of a cargo bike, it’s another great investment. It can provide all the positive effects that a regular bike provides plus the added extras of being generally practical and a great substitute to your typical modes of transportation.  It can provide a cheaper and more sustainable alternative to a second car; emitting approximately 0kg of CO2 and once you’ve paid the initial investment, its costs approximately £0 to run. 

We understand that this can be a large investment for something you’re perhaps uncertain about, but to put your mind at ease, you can visit a Babboe store to test ride. Who knows, this could completely replace your car! 



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What is net zero and how can you help?

The term net zero is the world’s answer to stopping climate change. On the 29th of June 2019, the UK became the first major economy to pass laws to end our contribution to climate change and pledged to become net zero by 2050.

The term net zero refers to reducing emissions to their lowest amount through energy efficient measures and then using offsetting as a last resort to balance remaining hard to remove emissions. 

Energy efficiency measures include simple changes such as: double glazing, cavity wall insulation, and efficient light bulbs.

Net zero can also be understood as achieving a balance between carbon emitted into the atmosphere, and the carbon removed from it. By extension, net zero means driving down your personal emissions from your home and lifestyle to the lowest you can and then offset any remaining hard to remove emissions.

Net Zero Week 2nd -8th July 2022

Before you start reducing your personal emissions, why not check out the WWF Footprint calculator to check your environmental footprint?

The reason behind having net zero week is to introduce the concept worldwide and to encourage everyone to all make a change in their respective lifestyle. Achieving net zero can not be done by one person or one country, it must be done globally.  o here are some starting points we’ve gathered for you.

What can you do for Net Zero week?

It may be overwhelming to think about what you can do to contribute to a net zero environment. In truth, it is simple! Here is a list of actions that you can challenge yourself to this week:

  • Switch your regular transport to another alternative to reduce emissions. Can you cycle to town to meet your friends? Can you cycle to your grocery shop?
  • Switch off your lights, electric, or gas appliances when not in use. Around one-fifth of the UK’s total carbon emissions come from our homes, with 40% coming from heating. Are you watching TV in your living room? Can you switch off the lights in your bedroom and your bathroom extractor fan?
  • Could you open your windows for fresh air and breeze, instead of using an electric fan?
  • Recycle humidifier water to water your plants.
  • Fill up your car only half the tank to be more economical.
  • Collect and recycle food waste. Have you got a food waste bin? The UK wastes £10bn a year on food waste. Food production is responsible for 25% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. If you don’t have one, have you thought about composting your household food waste?
  • Wash your clothes at 30 degrees and avoid using the tumble dryer.
  • Take a shorter shower and have fewer baths.

Simple lifestyle changes such as the above are doable without cost. However, if you would like to make your home net zero, you could:

  • Efficient water management. Reduce your water consumption by replacing the shower head with a water efficient single spray showerhead, and a water-saving tap.  
  • Generate your own energy – such as having solar panels installed on your roofs, or wind turbines to be mounted on one of the poles standing around your house to generate electricity for your household use such as charging your electric vehicle.
  • Have an efficient heating system running on low carbon fuel – To reach net zero carbon emissions target, we will need to reduce the carbon emissions from heating homes by 95% over the next 30 years. Visit the Energy Saving Trust website for tips about what you can do to lower your carbon emissions and save money on heat pumps, boilers, electric heating, solar water heating, heating controls, and more.

There are many more things you can do about turning your home net zero. Click here to learn more about other measures.

Why should you get involved in Net Zero Week?

The world is battling to keep the global temperature within 1.5 degrees. If we pass the 1.5 degree limit, the impacts of global warming could be irreversible and catastrophic. By achieving net zero, we would be able to keep the global temperature within the 1.5 degree mark.

Other than significant environmental benefits, achieving net zero by making your home energy-efficient will also help you save a lot of money every month and reduce your personal carbon emissions. Simple lifestyle changes could also help you save a lot of money in the long run, and help with your physical health.

If you don’t know where to start, why not start by switching your regular transport to another alternative, and travel actively to reduce your personal emissions?

COP26 identified that transport accounts for 30% of global carbon emissions, with 72% of its emissions coming from road transportation, and 80% from private cars. Active Travel can bring huge benefits to our communities, health, and environment.

If you would like to know how to become net zero with your travel, please contact us and we will be more than happy to help.

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Streets For The People

As the challenging race to net-zero has begun, we look at the efforts made by the UK Government and take some insight from successful low carbon areas overseas.

To save our planet, must we not prioritise the ICE vehicles (Internal Combustion Engine) and make our streets for the people and not for the machines.

Green Zones

Perhaps more formally known as ‘Clean Air Zones’, ‘green zones’ are mostly in place within busy pedestrian areas. They restrict certain cars from entering, however, if they do, they must pay a charge. This method has been identified as an effective way to reduce dangerous air pollution to those that live in cities and built-up areas. But do we have to be stricter? Fines will deter most from entering these zones, but the question is why allow ICE vehicles within the inner-city limits at all?  In most cases, driving is the slowest option; and when you have options to walk, cycle, scooter, or take the available forms of public transport, driving becomes a burden. Studies have shown that being stuck in daily heavy traffic causes one to be impatient, leading to higher chronic stress, which can make people vulnerable to other diseases and even depression.

The Dutch Way

The Dutch way is to focus all attention on pedestrians and bicycles, the country is now at a stage where bicycles outnumber people. To divert focus, we look at Utrecht as an example; it is the fastest growing city in the Netherlands, and you can see why people would want to live here. From protests in the 70’s due to an abundance of car-related deaths, laws and infrastructure began to change to accommodate safer streets for the people of Utrecht, and now under 15% of journeys into the city are made by the car. Roads have changed, motorways have been demolished and they are reaping the benefit from this decision. From reducing air pollution and therefore healthcare costs, Utrecht are estimated to save around £250 million a year… in which they put straight back into enhancing the infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians. A state-of-the-art multi-storey bicycle garage is a recent staple for Utrecht’s community, only with plans to improve on and make bigger as the demand for cycle parking continues to rise.

There could be worse problems…

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTN)

LTN are quiet, smaller roads formerly used as cut-throughs that have been shut off to large vehicles so that pedestrians and cyclists can travel safer. The concept of LTN invites more of a community feel, where one can meet friends without noisy vehicles, feel safe when crossing the road and avoid harmful emissions from the abundance of traffic at a standstill.  

It seems there are mixed opinions on the introduction of LTN, they often cause a divide in the public opinion. LTN are heavily criticised in London where they have been tested, as delivery drivers can’t drop off deliveries and where roads are closing, others are said to become more congested. The general worry is that traffic blocked on one street will merely pick up on another. However, there is evidence of “traffic evaporation”, meaning that this has had an effect and people are changing the way they travel shorter journeys.

Although people are hesitant of LTN and the plan to create more exclusive spaces for pedestrians rather than motorised vehicles; they are improving the air we breathe, as research demonstrates that where LTN are introduced, people walk and cycle more, air quality improves, and people come to like their local area more. They also improve the local economy, providing increased foot traffic into highstreets shops. A Living Streets case study found that people who walk to the high street are likely to spend up to 40% more than people who drive to the high street.

What’s Next?

To conclude; efforts are being made by the UK Government, mainly due to their very ambitious targets, but nonetheless, action is being taken. It’s difficult to make large changes over a short period of time, but with restricted zones and pedestrians becoming the focus there is hope that more cities in the UK will follow behind the Dutch way of transport where we will disregard ICE vehicles and reduce harmful levels of emissions to make liveable streets for the people

Credit to: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-05/how-the-dutch-made-utrecht-a-bicycle-first-city



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Thinking about cycling? Here is a guide to help you get started!

With summer approaching, many of you might be considering cycling to get out and about, instead of driving. We understand that not everyone is an avid cyclist, or maybe you’re not too confident when it comes to cycling.

That is why here at Smarter Travel, we would like to advise, guide, and support you in all ways possible.

DO YOU OWN A BIKE?

If you don’t but are keen to try cycling, why not ask a friend or a family member if you could borrow a bike from them? Borrowing a bike from a friend or family has no cost implications to start with, and they can even show you some of their own favourite cycle routes whilst you get established.

If this isn’t an option, then look up rental bikes in your area:

In Norwich for example, Beryl has over 580 bikes available. All you need to do is download the Beryl app, sign up, and check the map to see where your closest Beryl bay is and you are ready to go.

In Suffolk, if you are looking for bike hire or rentals, check out the Suffolk Cycle Hire website. They have a great range of bikes available, and they even deliver bikes to your doorstep.

Borrowing a bike or renting one is a great start for any beginner. This way you can explore and build confidence with your cycling.

As a resident of Boyton Place, you are entitled to claim a £100 cycle store voucher if you complete our short travel survey. The voucher can be used for getting some new equipment. You could also look to join the Haverhill cycling club . They have different levels of Sunday cycling rides.

  • Cycle to work Scheme

If you would like to start cycling to work, check if your employer has a [HR1] cycle to work scheme.  This is an employee benefit supported by the government that saves you 25-39% on a bike and accessories to get you started on cycling to work. The cycle to work schemes can be different with each company, so check with your company to see what they have to offer!

WHERE TO GO?

Now that you have a bike sorted, where to go now?

  • Start with a plan. Either for leisure or commuting, research your routes. Check your local community forums, local parks, or National Trust for open spaces to get out on your bicycle. You might even find a local cycling group to join.
  • Google maps. Simply enter your destination and starting point, it will automatically show you various routes, and you can switch between walking, cycling, driving, and train travel. If you hover your mouse on the lower-left square, Google maps will also show you trails, dedicated cycle paths, bike-friendly routes, and unpaved trails. We advise that you check that thoroughly, since footways are paths that are set aside for pedestrians, and it is an offence to cycle along them.
  • Cycle Streets is also a great website to plan your routes. Like Google Maps, you only need to enter your destination and starting point, and it will show you three route options: the fastest route, the quietest route, and a balanced route option. It also shows you journey time, distance, calories burnt and CO₂ saved by cycling.

Learn more about cycling in Norfolk and Suffolk, or contact us for more information.

NOT A CONFIDENT CYCLIST?

Not a problem! Did you know there are plenty of courses and resources from various organisations that support people to cycle?

  • For our Norfolk residents, look up Smart Cycle Training. It is accredited by the Department of Transport, and Bikeability, a Charitable organisation with a vision to ensure everyone has the confidence to cycle and enjoy it. They have worked with other qualified instructors delivering necessary training for schools, companies, and other organisations, they also deliver one on one training.
  • Little Riders: They offer group training, one to one sessions, and more!
  • Bikeability: This platform shows all the academies near and far, for any age group, offering all types of courses.

Beryl also offers free minutes for all Bikeability learners.

ANY OTHER TIPS?

  1. a cycling companion along with you for support.
  2. Check the Highway Code regularly, the government’s guidelines regarding how different vehicles can share the road together safely.
  3. Understand essential hand signals. With more people choosing cycling as a means of transport every day, it is crucial that you know the basic signals to ensure your own safety and for the drivers around you.
  4. Be seen and protect yourself. Although it is not a legal requirement that you should wear a helmet when cycling, it is strongly advised that you do so. Stay safe by being seen, and wear florescent items such as reflective clothing and working lights. Look up cycling accessories and clothes from sites such as Wiggle and Halfords.
  5. Get a good bike. Check out the We are Cycling UK or Love to Ride website for more guidance on starting to cycle.

TIPS FROM SMARTER TRAVEL AVID CYCLISTS:

Our director Martin, who cycles into our Norwich office a couple of times week, suggested that:

“It is important to avoid doing too much too soon as a beginner. When getting started, make sure to learn how to use different gears on your bike to get the most out of the bicycle. Try the gears on an off-road cycleway, away from traffic to get used to them! And his golden tip is to check the ABCs (air, brakes and chain) before every ride.”

Our Smarter Travel Associate, Ray, who also cycles into our Norwich office, but everyday, suggested that:

“Make sure that you have a bike that is the right size for you. There are lots of stuff online that work out what size bike is best for your height. Get a good bike lock such as a d-lock and register if it’s a new bike. Getting a decent puncture kit, even a small one could possibly save you up a lot of money long term. If you are not a confident cyclist, sign up for cycle training.”

If you would like more information, please speak to one of your Travel Plan Coordinators, and we will be more than happy to assist you.

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How to reduce your carbon footprint this Black Friday

Black Friday | Boyton Place

Black Friday occurs once a year on the last Friday in November and is a major sale event across the majority of businesses creating a mad rush to get the biggest discount. As you can imagine, all of this shopping can create a pretty large carbon footprint due to the increased number of cars on the road and all the plastic packaging!

Here are our top tips for reducing your carbon footprint and not missing out on a bargain this Black Friday:

Plan what you buy in advance:

This can help reduce over-buying which may result in items going to waste.

Order online:

Leave the car at home and avoid the mad rush by shopping the Black Friday deals from the comfort of your own home!

Buy locally:

Take a stroll into your local area and make someone smile this year by shopping locally. Often local shops offer unique and beautiful items that you may not find anywhere else.

Make the most of public transport:

If you do have to travel to the shops try taking the bus or train. You may even overhear someone discussing an amazing deal you would have otherwise missed out on!

Car share:

Here at Smarter Travel, we’ve declared November our car sharing month! Get involved and travel with friends or family, it will be more fun than going it alone! You can always visit the Liftshare website to find someone new to car share with.

We recommend making the most of the Black Friday deals by purchasing practical items that will last. Here are some websites we think are worth checking out for sustainable travel related purposes:

  • Wiggle.co.uk – This online sports and bike shop offers everything from a bike light to gym supplements. We suggest finding some cycle accessories or walking boots to improve your commute to work! They also have a great Christmas gift guide.

  • CycleRepublic.com – This cycle shop has stores across the country and features an online list of winter essentials for every cyclist.

  • MountainWarehouse.com – An online outdoor clothing and equipment specialist with coats that are tested for warmth in -50 degrees Celsius conditions. Great for finding a winter jacket for the walk to work!

  • Blacks.co.uk – Selling a variety of outdoor clothing and equipment, Blacks also has a section featuring eco-conscious products which are great for those of you trying to reduce your carbon footprint.

  • MoneySavingExpert.com (Transport) – This is a great website for finding the best deals around Black Friday. It’s worth keeping an eye on the page to check what deals you can take advantage of.

We hope this has helped you consider a more eco-friendly Black Friday, if you have any questions about changing your travel habits then please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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Saving £1,000 per year – easy! Just car share your regular commute!

The next time you’re out and about in your car, take a moment to realise how many journeys are being made with just one person in the vehicle. Imagine how much less traffic there would be if everyone decided to car share with at least one other person…

Could you do your bit and car share your journey with someone else? Whether this is a family member, friend, colleague or a stranger (who we have no doubt, would be your new friend before long!)

Still not sure? By car sharing the average commuter could SAVE up to £1,000 plus 1.1 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year!

To find out exactly how much money you could save, head over to the Liftshare Calculator.

Sharing your journey can be a great opportunity to meet new people and have a laugh before work as well as helping to improve air quality, reduce congestion and solve parking problems. Even if you can’t share your journey every day why not aim for one or two days a week?

Car sharing doesn’t just have to be for work, if you have a big event coming up such as a festival or sporting event then check to see if there are people looking for lifts nearby. This could help reduce traffic on route to the event as well as increasing the amount of parking spaces available once you get there.

Liftshare.com

The Liftshare website is a great tool for searching or advertising journeys. Head over to their website to sign up for FREE. There is also a very handy step-by-step guide which explains how everything works! You can also search for people already offering lifts from your local area, however, if you can’t find anything suitable, why not register yourself as a driver?

Win a £50 Love2Shop Voucher!

To celebrate all those that are car sharing, we are offering you the chance to win a £50 Love2Shop voucher. To be in with a chance of winning; just share a selfie with us of you and your car sharing buddies! Tag us on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn, and all entries will be entered into our prize draw on 30th November 2019. Full terms and conditions can be found here.

Your selfie doesn’t have to be on a commute, it could be a trip to an event or perhaps just a shopping trip! Just remember, take the selfie before you set off!

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Walk to School Month 2019

Walk to School Month 2019 | Boyton Place

Did you know that October is Walk to School Month 2019? This recognised event encourages schools to get children (and parents) walking. There are many benefits to walking to school, for example it could reduce the risk of childhood obesity and get children and families in the habit of walking. The walk to school is the perfect opportunity for some quality family time or a good chat with friends helping to develop strong, happy relationships. Find out more about the great reasons to walk to school on the Sustrans Website.

To celebrate Walk to School Month 2019 and to encourage you and your children to walk to school, we have some FREE walk to school kits to giveaway! These packs include reflective items such as zip-clips, lace reflectors and stickers which are essential now that the mornings are getting darker! To claim your free pack, please just send us an email telling us why you and your children love walking to school! Please include your postal address and we will send your pack directly to you! This offer is limited to residents of Boyton Place.

Full terms and conditions of the giveaway can be found here.

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Cycle to Work Day 2019

Cycle To Work Day | Boyton Place

Cycle to Work Day 2019

Cycle to Work Day is almost upon us. This Thursday (8th August) people will be commuting to work just using pedal power. Will you get involved too? By jumping on your bike and recording your commute you could be in with the chance of winning some fantastic prizes!

Cycling is a great way to get about and provides a great alternative to walking. Occasionally, it can even be quicker than driving, especially through city centres. There are also many health benefits to cycling, including; improved wellbeing by relieving stress, helping prevent chronic and life-threatening illnesses, weight-loss and it can help you sleep better and improve your immune system!

Your bike doesn’t need to be super fancy to commute on, take a look at our previous blog post, ‘My £35 bike‘ which shows how you can make some basic improvements to an old bike you have at home. Additionally, here are some top tips on making a cycle commute successful.

Cycle to Work Schemes

Employee benefit cycle schemes allow you to receive up to £1,000 to spend on a bicycle and/or cycling accessories through your employer. This allows savings of between 25-39% and you repay through salary deductions. Speak to your employer to see if they are signed up to one of the many schemes available so you can take advantage of these discounts! Take a look at this article from Cycling Weekly where several providers are listed and some useful FAQ’s are answered.

Electric Bikes

For those that may be put off a cycle commute due to distance or gradient of hills along the route, electric bikes (or e-bikes) are a great option. These bikes can allow you to cycle further and faster. The pedal assist in these bikes just help boost the power of your legs and hills will no longer be a problem! Find out more about e-bikes here.

Route Planning

If you’d like to start cycling to work (or cycling anywhere), head over to the Cycle Streets website which provides handy route planning. This website is an excellent tool and caters for all levels of cyclists.

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Catch the Bus Week 2019

People on a bus | Boyton Place

This week (1st-7th July) is the return of Catch the Bus Week! This annual celebration, organised by Greener Journeys aims to drive awareness of the benefits of taking the bus. There are already 2.5 million people across the UK that commute by bus with a further 1 million using the bus as a backup option. However, here we have come up with five reasons for the bus being a great idea for more people to use for their daily commute;

Use your time doing something you enjoy!

By catching the bus, you can use the journey time to do something you enjoy, whether this is reading a book, chatting to friends or just relaxing. Feel refreshed by the time you get to work but using this downtime to enjoy your commute rather than driving through heavy traffic. Research suggests that bus travel can be much less stressful than car travel.

Quicker end to end journeys.

One of the biggest advantages of catching the bus is that most city centres benefit from bus lanes, this gives buses an advantage of not getting stuck in traffic. This often makes bus travel quicker during peak hours. Additionally, buses often have access through parts of city centres that you can’t take private vehicles, which means you can get dropped off at main destinations which is great when there’s bad weather or you’ve got heavy shopping bags with you!

It’s probably cheaper!

Fed up with extortionate parking charges? With bus travel, this isn’t something you need to worry about! Also, the cost of bus tickets can be reduced when travelling regularly and purchasing weekly, monthly or even annual tickets. It is estimated that cars are only actually moving 4% of the time, with them being parked up the rest. So, by catching the bus you could eliminate this costly expense of car ownership.

Reduce your carbon footprint!

Did you know that a fully loaded double-decker bus can take up to 75 cars off the road? Even if we all switched from a car to a bus for one journey a month, we could reduce our car journeys by a billion and this would consequently save 2 million tonnes of CO2 every year! With 13% of the UK’s total greenhouse emissions coming from car usage, the whole environment and roadside air can be improved by catching the bus instead of driving.

You’re likely to get more exercise into your day!

It’s likely that the bus stop isn’t as close as your car! Therefore, you’re more likely to get a few more footsteps each day by walking to and from the local bus stop. If you want even more exercise, why not get off a few stops earlier too and walk even further! Just the walk to and from the bus stop can help you achieve the UK governments’ target of 30-minutes exercise per day.

Do you catch the bus? If so, what’s your reason for this? If you don’t use the buses, what would you like to see before you made a change? Let us know on Facebook!

 

 

 

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National Walking Month

Following on from Walk to Work Day, National Walking Month is almost upon us again. Throughout the month of May, walking is promoted and everyone is encouraged to increase the amount of walking they do. There are so many potential health benefits to walking, so with the days getting longer and the weather improving, why not join in this month and get more active?

Why is walking so great?

  • It can benefit your mood – Walking can modify your nervous system and subsequently improves your mood and studies have shown that just a 12-minute walk can have a significant impact on your mental health. Additionally, getting active releases feel-good hormones known as endorphins into the bloodstream, and getting that natural high reduces stress and anxiety and ultimately helps to build self-esteem.

 

  • Walking can help with weight loss – It has been suggested that you should walk 8,000 steps per day to maintain your health, but walking 10,000 steps a day can help aid weight loss. Here are some top tips to get you started with walking for weight loss.

Walking for Health | Smarter Travel Limited

 

  • You’ll be more creative – According to a 2014 study in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, Learning, Memory, and Cognition, going for a walk can spark your creativity. “Researchers administered creative-thinking tests to subjects while seated and while walking and found that the walkers thought more creatively than the sitters,” says Dr. Jampolis. Even just a quick stroll around the block can help assist in improving your creativity.

 

  • Your risk of chronic diseases can be reduced – As well as heart disease, regular fitness walking can impact on the risk of developing type two diabetes, asthma and some cancers. Studies suggest regular exercise such as walking can reduce the risk of diabetes by up to 60 per cent. Using walking as a ‘miracle drug’ is great because there are no real negative side-effects!

 

  • It can save you money – By swapping short journeys that you normally take by car to walking journeys, you can save money on the cost of fuel! Not only that, but walking is free and no specialist equipment is required!

 

  • Strengthen your bones and muscles – Getting out and about in the daylight can boost your natural levels of Vitamin D which is essential for bone health. Not only will walking improve your bone strength but your muscles are likely to strengthen too, reducing the risk of injury during other sports.

If you’re struggling to get motivated and started though here are some suggestions for getting more steps in each day;

  • Walk and talk – If you have a phone call, multi-task and take a stroll at the same time!

 

  • Take the stairs! Where and when possible, take the stairs instead of the elevator.Taking the stairs | Smarter Travel Limited

 

  • When you park the car, instead of trying to get the closest parking space to the office or supermarket, park as far away as you can! This is guaranteed to add to your daily step count!

 

  • Stuck at a desk all day? Get up and move about the office regularly. Take short breaks throughout the day to stretch your legs, it will do wonders for your productivity.

 

  • Use your lunch break! If you can, make sure you use your lunch break! Take a stroll around the block for a quick refresh!

 

  • Walk to the shops rather than drive if possible. It tends to be easier and quicker to jump in the car for quick shopping trips but why not swap this for a walk instead! Take a rucksack with you and you’ll find it’s not too difficult carrying a few items back home with you.

 

Workplace Travel Plans | Smarter Travel Ltd

  • Shake up your meetings! Instead of all sitting down and around a table, why not try walking meetings? Thinking on your feet can have as many benefits for your brain as it does your body!

 

  • If possible, walk to work instead of taking your usual commute. If you can’t walk the whole way, why not get off the bus a few stops earlier or perhaps walk a slightly longer route from the train station to the office.

 

  • Walk with others to keep motivated. Walking with other people can be a great help in keeping you going, so join a walking group such as The Ramblers or start your own with colleagues and friends!