Why travel greener?

Transport is one of the largest contributors to climate change. Pollution from transport damages health and congestion on the roads costs 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.

Financial benefits

Recent rises in fuel prices are hitting motorists, making public transport an increasingly attractive option on price grounds alone, while costs for cycling remain low and walking is free!

When we do need to drive, sharing lifts is another way to cut costs and benefit the environment by cutting pollution and congestion.

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Health benefits

Most men and women are failing to achieve the minimum recommended level of physical activity (30 minutes 5 times a week). The 2003 Scottish Health Survey estimated that in Scotland 22% of men and 24% of women are obese - an increase from 16% of men and 17% of women in 1995.
Source: The Health Education Population Survey (HEPS).

Walking and cycling are great ways to improve or maintain fitness. If they're part of your daily commute, they also help get the blood flowing at the beginning of the day and can help us wind-down when work is finished.

Driving in heavy traffic can also be stressful - why not let someone else deal with the jams or avoid them altogether?

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Time benefits

In rush hour, it's often much quicker using public transport or cycling or walking short distances. Cyclists and walkers are rarely affected by traffic jams! On the bus or train, your time's your own too - you can read, snooze or simply gaze at the scenery.

Of course, the biggest benefits for our time, finances and the environment come if we can avoid travelling altogether. With modern communications technologies - like email and video-conferencing - more people than ever before are choosing to do just that.

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Travel, climate change and the environment

Including international aviation and shipping, greenhouse gas emissions from transport in Scotland grew by 13.5% between 1990 and 2006. Transport emissions accounted for 24.4% of overall Scottish emissions in 2006. This proportion has increased from 18.8% in 1990. Road transport caused 70% of our transport greenhouse gas emissions.

Source: National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory.

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Congestion

In 2006, 34,302 million kilometres were driven by cars on Scotland's roads, an increase of over 13% since 1996. The number of cars licensed in Scotland at 31 December 2006 was 2,173,000 - a growth of around 30% since 1996.

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

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.

Sources:
Scottish transport statistics Scottish Government 2007 (external site).
Congestion on Scottish Trunk Roads 2003, Scottish Executive March 2005 (external site).

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