Active Travel Challenge: still time to sign up for a healthier commute

As we enter the final week of the Active Travel Challenge (ATC), the Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging those who haven’t joined yet to sign up, get active and get involved in a healthier commute.

The month-long ATC is a joint initiative by the PHA, Department for Infrastructure, Sustrans and Translink. It began on 1 June and runs until 30 June and has included four themed weeks: Bus + Train Week, Bike Week, Walk Week, and Get Active Week, which starts today.

“Throughout the month, we have been asking employers to encourage staff to leave the car at home and walk, cycle or take public transport for some of their journeys to, from and during work,” said David Tumilty, Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement Manager at the PHA.

“We are encouraging people to make multi-modal journeys, for example, walking to the bus or train stop, catching public transport and then cycling on to work.”

ATC participants log their ‘active travel’ journeys online and can compete with colleagues and other companies to see who makes the most journeys or who travels the furthest actively. This year’s ATC has a range of fantastic prizes up for grabs including shopping vouchers, sports watches and Translink tickets.

“Research shows that people who take public transport are more active, clocking up additional steps and burning more calories as they walk to and from the bus or train,” said David.

“Building active travel into your working day through walking and cycling can help contribute to meeting the Chief Medical Officers’ recommended amount of physical activity of 150 minutes each week.

“Research shows that people who are physically active can reduce their risk of developing chronic conditions including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, cancer and respiratory conditions. It can also improve sleep, help maintain a healthy weight and reduce stress and anxiety.”

If you have still to sign up just visit www.atc.getmeactive.org.uk and fill out the quick and easy registration form. The new and improved ATC website is now mobile-friendly, so you can register and continue to log journeys on the go from your smartphone.