Active Travel Week on BrightonMums.com

An article by Claire    Comments Off

All next week on BrightonMums.com it’s Active Travel Week. We’ve team up with Brighton & Hove Council’s travel planning team to bring you daily features on ways to get fit, get around and get economising through cycling, walking and greener driving.

Active Travel benefits the whole family

Across Brighton & Hove, health issues associated with lack of exercise are estimated to cost £3m per year. Exercise is a cheap way to avoid many common health conditions and walking or cycling are both functional and reliable ways to keep active. In the current economic climate more and more families are looking for ways to stretch the household income. The rising costs of petrol and diesel have squeezed family budgets even further. Using the bus or getting back on the bike could not only save cash, it can be a great way to spend quality time together as a family.

Look out every day for our features on…..

• Bike confidence for you and kids
• News on ways to try bike seats and other equipment for transporting young children
• Family cycling holidays to Paris
• Saving the planet and cash by doing an eco-driving course
• Opportunities to sign up for courses and win kids scooters!

In central Brighton we are a fairly active bunch already with 30% of journeys made on foot, 7% on bike but still 28% are made by car. With a great and affordable bus network, especially now Brighton and Hove buses have introduced The Key bus pass system, cutting back on car use and avoiding car park headaches is relatively easy. Family day trips across the county work out cheaper than using the car. A trip by bus on The Regency line to Ashdown Forest to the famous Pooh Sticks for a family of four (2 adults, 2 child tickets) works out at less than £10.00.

We are also launching Hunt The Shed – looking for community bike shed’s across the city. Brighton’s Victorian and Regency residential accommodation doesn’t lend itself to bike storage. If you know of a space for rent in your neighbourhood the Travel Planning department want to hear from you. If you would be interested in renting a space in a garage for £25.00 per year, we want your views:  travel.planning@brighton-hove.gov.uk

If you have any stories or experiences of travelling with your family without a car, we want to hear from you. It could be a holiday, daily bus travel, walking, add your voice to Active Travel Week   brightonmums@gmail.com

Claire introduces Active Travel Week on Audioboo.