Opting to travel actively for all or part of your journey offers benefits in addition to CO2 reduction. It gives the opportunity to get out in the fresh air, grab some physical exercise and de-stress between meetings. You can avoid the congestion and hassle of finding a parking space too.
61% of all car journeys made are under 2 miles, many of these could be walked or cycled, which saves petrol and enables you to shoe-horn some exercise into your day.
Around 60% of men and 70% of women do not take enough physical activity to benefit their health. Sedentary lifestyles lead to obesity and increase the risk of health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancers and osteoporosis. One of the easiest ways to increase physical activity is to include walking and cycling in your daily routine. It could even save you a gym membership fee.
Walking
It is generally considered that a distance of 1 to 2 miles is an acceptable walking distance for the average adult.
Is your business meeting within walking distance?
Countryside Access
Highland Council web pages on countryside access including the core walking paths across the Highlands.
Step it Up Highland
Those wanting to take-up walking in groups in their local area can check the Step it Up Highland website. Step it Up Highland is an initiative that aims to develop a series of walking opportunities to enable people in Highland to step out into their communities and step up their level of physical activity.
Jogscotland
Staff may be interested in finding out about Jogscotland groups who meet in Highland. The website also contains information on setting up a jogscotland group in your work place.
Active Travel Masterplans
The Highland Council is developing a series of Active Travel Masterplans for each of the main settlements within Highland. The purpose is to help establish a network for walking and cycling and access to public transport. The masterplans will identify a core active travel network in each location which will form part of the Local Plan and serve as a framework for future development proposals.
Car Free Walks
Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) have 100's of free and easy-to-use guides for bus walks and train walks across Great Britain on their website. You can search for a car-free walk in your choosen location, or help spread the word to other keen walkers by adding a walk of your own. Check: http://www.carfreewalks.org