Bristol residents encouraged to use active travel and reduce car journeys to help improve air quality
To celebrate Clean Air Day today (Thursday 19 June) residents are encouraged to utilise the council’s active travel support and reduce their journeys by car to help improve the quality of Bristol’s air.
Walking and cycling can help people keep fit and stay healthy, can help save money, and means you are exposed to less pollution than when travelling in a vehicle. Evidence shows that air pollution affects everyone and can cause permanent lung damage in babies and young children and can lead to or exacerbate lung and heart disease in older people.
To help residents increase their travel by bike, bus, or scooter, the council has a number of free active travel vouchers available.
The council’s free offers include:
- one month bike and e-bike trials
- adult cycle training to build your confidence
- taster bus tickets
- taster train tickets
- car club credit
If travelling by car, residents are encouraged to reduce idling as much as possible, and to move to an electric car where possible.
I am pleased to support Clean Air Day. Air pollution affects everyone’s health, and it is incredibly important that people across Bristol understand the negative implications that poor air quality has.
Councillor Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council
“Having an impact on the climate crisis can seem overwhelming, but actions that reduce carbon emissions also reduce the pollutants that are harmful to our health when we breathe them in. We can all help by walking or wheeling, cycling, and using public transport for more of our journeys. If you do need to travel by car, choosing an electric vehicle, or turning off your engine while stationary in traffic, can help make a big difference to the quality of air we all breath.
Bristol has made significant steps towards reducing air pollution and tackling carbon emissions, but there is still more work to do. That’s why I encourage everyone to continue to take advantage of the active travel offers that are available to help reduce air pollution and improve residents’ quality of life.
Residents can sign up for free active travel offers on the council’s website.
To find out more about Clean Air Day, visit the Global Action Plan website.
