Bus operators back Walk to Work Day to boost health

To improve air quality and overall wellbeing the bus operators are appealing to car commuters to consider leaving their vehicles at home and using active travel (walking, bus, rail, cycle) on Friday April 1^st.

Public transport offers health advantages as people who commute typically get 25 minutes’ exercise a day by walking at either end of their journeys. Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel also revealed some carbon savings that can be made by using public transport for single journeys rather than a private vehicle on five popular Oxfordshire commutes. 

• Wantage to Milton Park – travelling by bus would save 2583g of carbon compared to driving – the equivalent of keeping a fridge running for 94 days.
• Abingdon to Oxford city – travelling by bus would save 1840g of carbon compared to driving – the equivalent of making 780 cups of tea.
• Harwell to Didcot – travelling by bus would save 1202g of carbon compared to driving – the equivalent of charging a mobile phone 5094 times.
• Oxford city to JR Hospital – taking this journey would save 935g of carbon compared to driving – the equivalent of keeping a lightbulb on for 264 hours.

Phil Southall, Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel Managing Director said “Walk to Work Day is a great opportunity for us all to think about how we can individually reduce our carbon footprint and be healthier. Taking public transport is not only a great environmental option; it is the ethical option. If everyone switched to the bus a couple of times a month, we could collectively contribute to better air quality, healthier lives and reduce congestion. Hopefully Work to Work Day inspires people to give active travel a try.”

Private cars account for 55% of greenhouse gas emissions from transport. Buses account for just 3% of emissions, and one double-decker bus has the potential to take as many as 75 cars off the road. More than two-thirds of the Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel fleet meet the Euro

VI emissions standard, helping improve air quality in Oxfordshire.

An Oxford City Council air quality report recently revealed with NOx emissions from buses has decreased by half since 2013. Buses now contribute less pollution than cars in Oxford city centre. City Sightseeing Oxford, owned by Oxford Bus Company, introduced the first electric double decker bus to the city last year.