Help improve air quality on the move
There are lots of things that you can do to make a difference when you travel.
Walk
Walking is a cheap, healthy, flexible and realistic travel choice for short journeys. For longer distances, you could combine a walk with other sustainable travel methods, like public transport.
Find walking route maps, discover new places and even take on a walking challenge with TFL’s walking information.
There are lots of health benefits to walking, find out more about walking for health (NHS).
Rethink your car journeys
To help reduce pollution from using the car, you could:
- share it with people who make the same journey as you, known as carpooling
- join a car sharing scheme, known as a car club
- drive more efficiently
- get an electric car
Share regular car journeys to work or school
People who drive to work are usually the only person in their car. You could save money by sharing the car with people travelling to the same place as you.
Check if your workplace has a car sharing scheme or if colleagues who live near you would like to try sharing the journey.
Create a carpool with other parents if you need to take children to school by car. You could take turns driving on different days which could free up more time for yourself and help to reduce pollution.
Join a car club
Car clubs offer a membership scheme with all the benefits of being able to use a car without the cost and hassle of owning one.
You could save up to hundreds of pounds a month compared to private car ownership.
Car clubs can also help to improve air quality and reduce parking pressures by reducing the number of vehicles on the road.
Join a car club and save money.
Turn your car off when stationary or go electric
Idling creates a lot of pollution. If you leave your engine running unnecessarily while stationary, you could get a Fixed Penalty.
Turning your engine off and on does not hurt your car. It helps to cut pollution and save fuel.
Consider choosing electric if you’re buying a new car.
Use public transport or cycle
Using buses and trains helps reduce the number of vehicles on the road. This helps reduce congestion and improves traffic movement and air quality.
Borrow a bike or learn to cycle
If you live, work or study in the borough, you can sign up to Try Before you Bike. Run by Peddle My Wheels, the subscription scheme lets you borrow everything you need to start cycling, for a monthly fee.
Cycle Confident offer cycle skills and bike maintenance courses. They run:
- Dr Bike sessions to check your bike’s in good order
- bicycle maintenance workshops so you can learn to fix it yourself
- family cycle training courses
- school holiday cycle training
- cycle training for schools