Reimagine your commute this March
Would you consider walking, cycling, e-cycling, scooting, skating, public transport, lift sharing or running for your commute to work?
Sustrans Scotland is encouraging people to leave the car behind and reimagine their commute this March by joining the Scottish Workplace Journey Challenge.
Workplaces from across the country will compete to get their staff travelling sustainably to see who can clock up the most walking, cycling, public transport and car-sharing journeys from 1st – 31st March, in a bid to win more than £4,500 worth of prizes.
Businesses and individuals can join the free online challenge, funded by Transport Scotland, encouraging people to replace solo car journeys in favour of healthier, environmentally friendly, sustainable travel options.
Participants can sign up to log journeys online and compete to climb the leader board. They will have access to how many calories they’ve burned, CO2 savings and the amount of money they’ve saved on each journey by choosing healthy, green and cheap alternatives to driving.
Walking, cycling, e-cycling, scooting, skating, public transport, lift sharing, running and even working from home/ teleconferencing count. One enterprising individual even kayaked into the office in 2018.
Individual challengers will be judged on the number of journeys they complete while workplaces are judged on the overall rate of participation in the team.
2018’s event saw nearly 4,000 people from 300 businesses sign up. Logging over 55,000 journeys, burning 33,744 doughnuts in calories, saving over £62,000 and nearly 60,000kg in CO2 emissions by choosing to travel actively and sustainably for their journeys to, from and for work.
Scottish Workplace Journey Challenge won the Best Practice in Travel to School and Work Schemes prize at the Scottish Transport Awards in 2018.
Lee Craigie, Active Nation Commissioner for Scotland said:
“We all want a more active nation and the workplace challenge is a great way to encourage people to change the way they commute every day by making healthier and greener travel choices."
“Walking and cycling, alongside public transport and car sharing options can be better for your physical and mental wellbeing but also saves money, reduces harmful emissions and has less environmental impact."
“If you are yet to make a change in 2019, it’s never too late. Find out more about the Sustrans workplace challenge, get involved and discover the benefits for yourself.”
Sustrans Workplaces Coordinator, Terry Roberts said:
“We’re asking people to reimagine how they travel to work. Could your journey actually be quicker by bike? Maybe combining a brisk walk to the bus stop with a bus journey allows you headspace before getting to work. The Scottish Journey Workplace Challenge encourages a healthier, happier workplace. Following exercise, you arrive at work more alert and ready to face the day ahead."
“A fun interactive way to improve fitness, team building and promote active travel among staff. The Challenge is a good opportunity to look at how you commute and a great way to make cycling and walking part of your daily life."
“We wish all the workplaces involved the best of luck over the coming month.”