Active Travel
Creating Supportive Environments for Health
Making everyday journeys by walking or cycling is one of the easiest ways to increase the amount of physical activity you do. It’s also great for your mental health, cheaper and a more enjoyable way to travel.
Why is Walking so Good for You?
Research has shown that walking 10,000 steps per day will dramatically improve your health and burn excess calories.
Walking has also been shown to improve self esteem, relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety, and improve mood, other benefits include:
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Helps reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke
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Lowers high blood pressure
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Helps reduce weight and body fat
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Helps reduce risk of some cancers
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Reduces anxiety and depression and improves your mood and mental well-being
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Helps control joint swelling and pain from arthritis
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Gives you more energy
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Helps you sleep better
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Helps you look better
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Improves bone density and helps reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis
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Helps those people who are recovering from a period of ill-health.
For further information on walking the benefits of walking please visit the NHS choices website.
Why is Cycling so Good for You?
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Regular cyclists enjoy a fitness level equal to that of a person ten years younger. (Source: National Forum for Coronary Heart Disease Foundation, Sharp)
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Cycling at least 20 miles a week reduces the risk of heart disease to less than half that for non-cyclists who take no other exercise (Source: British Heart Foundation, Morris)
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If one third of all short car journeys were made by bike, national heart disease rates would fall by between 5 and 10 percent (Bikes not Fumes, CTC, 1992).
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During rush-hour, a bicycle is about twice as fast as a car - good if you hate traffic jams!
For more info on the benefits of cycling, please visit the why cycle website.
Membership information and benefits of joining the Bicycle Users Group Solent (BUGS)
Stay healthy, happy, save money and help the environment!