Join the Active Travel Challenge to Improve Health and Environment

The annual Active Travel Challenge is set to take place throughout June, inviting participants to leave their cars at home and opt for more sustainable travel methods. Last year, this initiative helped save over 9,000kg of CO2 emissions, highlighting the positive impact of active travel on air quality and the local environment.

The challenge is organized by a coalition of groups including Sustrans, Translink, the Department for Infrastructure, the Public Health Agency (PHA), the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, and the Belfast City Council. It aims to promote healthier and more eco-friendly travel habits.

Open to individuals of all ages and organizations of any size, the challenge encourages participants to walk, cycle, or use public transport. Registration is free, and participants can log their active travel journeys throughout June on an online platform. By doing so, they have a chance to win various prizes, such as vouchers, travel tickets, gym passes, and rewards from national and regional retailers.

Every journey logged will record CO2 savings, allowing participants to see the positive impact of their efforts. The online platform will also display the savings accrued from each journey. Participants can join as individuals or as part of a team, fostering healthy competition among colleagues, family, or friends.

Claire Pollock, Head of Sustrans in Northern Ireland, encourages everyone to incorporate active travel into their daily routines, highlighting it as a simple yet effective way to reduce their carbon footprint. For more information and to get involved in this year's Active Travel Challenge, visit their website.