Not far? Leave the car

6th May 2013

A national campaign has been launched to encourage people across Scotland to consider walking or cycling instead of taking short car journeys.

The campaign carries the message ‘Not far? Leave the car’ and aims to highlight that making active travel choices for short journeys, rather than using the car, can make the environment cleaner and greener, improving people’s health and wellbeing.

The integrated campaign includes TV, radio, outdoor advertising, digital, field activity as well as partnership working to encourage people to reassess their car use. An app has also been created to help people modify their behaviour and track the benefits, through plotting and recording shorter journeys in order to calculate the calories burned and emissions saved.

Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse said: “We’re all in the habit of jumping in the car for short trips that we could easily walk or cycle. Mile for mile, it’s the short car journeys that create the most carbon emissions – and with one in three car journeys made in Scotland being under two miles, and nearly a quarter of all trips under a mile - it’s vitally important that steps are taken to encourage people, where possible, to make active travel choices.

“This campaign aims to do just that. By encouraging people to consider if they can walk or cycle short journeys rather than using the car we will not only help to reduce carbon emissions and tackle climate change but also improve our health and wellbeing. And we’ve already signalled our commitment to making it easier and safer for people to get active by investing over £58 million in cycling and walking projects.

“The new app is a fun and interactive way for people to get involved, allowing them to track exactly how active travel will benefit them and their surroundings. Getting active is easy, simple and the most effective way to better your health and reduce risk of serious illness, adding years of quality life, making you feel happier, less stressed and more energised.

“Of course, public transport and car sharing are also great ways to cut our carbon emissions especially when walking or cycling are just not possible. By making smarter day to day travel choices we can have a real impact on our environment helping to ensure a low carbon, more sustainable Scotland becomes a reality.”

Living Streets Scotland is just one of many organisations backing the campaign. This month, businesses and schools across the country will be participating in Walk to Work (May 13-17) and Walk to School Week (May 20-24).

Keith Irving, Head of Living Streets Scotland, said:“This May, we want to get people across Scotland out of their car seat and onto their two feet. We’re urging families to give walking a go during Walk to School Week, encouraging children to get walking now and set healthy habits for the future.”

“We think you’ll be amazed at what a difference a short blast of fresh air can do for you as part of your daily life. Walking is free, green and easy, helping you feel better, in body and mind.”

Chair of the 2020 Transport subgroup Terri Vogt, said:“The 2020 Climate Group is fully committed to ensuring that all sectors of Scotland’s economy and civic society contribute fully to achieving Scotland’s world-leading target of a 42 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.

“The fact that so many of our car journeys are under two miles, creating relatively more carbon emissions, highlights just why this campaign is necessary – and exactly why the 2020 Climate Group is fully behind the Scottish Government’s new active travel campaign to tackle car use for short journeys.

“Encouraging people to walk more through the campaign message 'Not far? Leave the car' benefits not only the environment but also helps people save money and get fitter.”

Further Information

The campaign gives guidance on how to make smarter travel choices and will be backed by TV advertising, social media as well as a one-stop website www.greenerscotland.org/activetravel which provides support and guidance. The TV advert went live on May 6.

The campaign will also take to the streets with a national information road show visiting towns and cities across Scotland from May 10.

The Scottish Government has committed to ambitious climate change targets of a 42 per cent reduction in greenhouse emissions by 2020 and an 80 per cent reduction by 2050. This includes investing over £58 million in cycling and walking projects over this Spending Review period.

The app can be downloaded from the iTunes App Store by searching ‘greener journeys’.