Sustrans Launches Active Travel Challenges

Sustrans has issued a challenge to people across NI to 'switch up their usual routine" in June and walk, wheel, cycle or use public transport as a cleaner, greener way to travel.

Launching their Active Travel Challenge in partnership with Translink, the Department for Infrastructure, Public Health Agency (PHA), Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, and Belfast City Council, individuals and organisations of any size across Northern Ireland have been urged to to take part and help create habits for a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable lifestyle.

In 2022, the Active Travel Challenge saw almost 9,000kg of CO2 saved by people opting to travel by walking, cycling, taking public transport and even skateboarding instead of using the car.

Caroline Bloomfield, Sustrans Director in Northern Ireland, said: "Each year we hear from people who have enjoyed a renewed love of walking, cycling and other active travel methods, thanks to the challenge.

"With so many benefits to health, household budgets, wellbeing and the climate, we would encourage everyone to have a go and see what steps they can take to build active travel into their routine."

Aidan Dawson, Chief Executive of the Public Health Agency, said: "We know that keeping physically active can improve our physical and mental health and wellbeing and quality of life, with as little as 30 minutes of moderate level physical activity most days of the week shown to help reduce anxiety, help maintain a healthy weight and reduce the risk of developing chronic conditions such as heart disease, some cancers, type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis, while also improving our quality of sleep.

"The Active Travel Challenge is a fun and interactive way to get moving more and highlights how incorporating physical activity into our daily lives, such as walking the kids to school or cycling to work, can have a positive impact on our health.

"The PHA would encourage as many people as possible across Northern Ireland to take up the challenge this June and encourage family, friends and work colleagues to take part too."

Commenting on this year's challenge, Chris Conway, Group CEO at Translink, added: "Active travel is an easy and accessible way to make small changes which make a big difference in creating a cleaner, greener environment.

"We're hoping that even more people will get on board as part of this year's challenge and start enjoying the many benefits of a less stressful and more cost-effective way to travel."

The Active Travel Challenge is free to join and lasts for the whole month. Participants just need to log their active travel journeys on the online platform for a chance to win a range of prizes, including vouchers, travel tickets, gym passes and rewards with national and regional retailers.