Alternative ways to travel to work

Hit the snooze button and save money

Over 90% of all UK commuters travel less than 30km to their workplace, but as many as 71% of British workers do that journey by car every day.

   

However, cars are the largest CO2 culprit in the UK’s transport mix. So, what are our alternatives if we want to cut emissions and save time and money?

   

Burn calories not fossil fuels, by walking and cycling

Nearly a quarter of all car journeys made are shorter than 3.2km, which make cycling and walking feasible alternatives. Not only will you shrink your carbon footprint and petrol bills, it will also get your heart pumping. A two-mile cycle trip could burn up to 100 calories, and walking 10,000 steps a day can improve your health.

   

Get a free bike ride in the capital

A free cycle-hire scheme launches in London on 30 July 2010. After paying a registration fee, you can use one of the 6,000 cycles from any of the 400 docking stations scattered across the city’s Zone One. It’s free of charge for the first 30 minutes. Annual members can cycle away for as little as 12p per day.

   

Go faster efficiently on public transport

Travelling by electric trains, trams and buses can be as much as 10 times more efficient than by car. And high speed trains, despite going twice as fast as cars, can be as much as 27 times more energy efficient.

   

Share the cost of driving

If you have to drive, why not share your car with colleagues, family and friends?

   

Or, sign up to a car share scheme on the internet that matches people with the same travel routes. Sharing the cost of fuel and other expenses like parking is an easy way of saving money.

   

Or opt for electric instead of a fossil-fuel car

Plug-in electric cars can be five times more energy efficient than a baseline fossil-fuel car and significantly more efficient than a hybrid. And new models like the Tesla Roadster can tear to 62 miles per hour (mph) in less than four seconds.

   

Mythbuster

Although hybrids, such as the Toyota Prius, offer decent fuel economy and reduced CO2 emissions, they are no greener than other manufacturers’ “eco” cars, such as the Skoda Greenline range


Every BIG helps

  • Sticking to the motorway speed limit not only reduces carbon emissions, but can save you 10% off your fuel bill (compared to driving at 80mph)
  • Almost 25% of all car trips are shorter than two miles. In many cases this distance could be cycled in under 15 minutes
  • Public transport can be as much as 10 times more energy efficient than private cars
   

Five ways to drive greener

  • A car travelling at 37mph in fifth gear uses 25% less fuel than it would at the same speed in third gear
  • Under-inflated tyres can increase your fuel consumption by up to 3%
  • Driving smoothly reduces fuel consumption, so avoid harsh acceleration and braking
  • Switching off your engine while you’re stationary for long periods helps save on fuel and emissions
  • Travelling at 50mph uses 15% less fuel than driving at 70mph over the same distance


Team Green Britain and London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Ltd (LOCOG) do not endorse any of the products, companies, organisations, opinions or websites that have been mentioned in this article. The content of this article has merely been provided as background to, or discussion on, various topical issues relating to the environment and it is not necessarily representative of the views of Team Green Britain and LOCOG. Further, any figures and calculations noted in this article are estimates (unless otherwise specified), and may vary in light of numerous factors and readers are advised to undertake their own research in relation to the facts and figures applicable to their particular circumstance.


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