Green Travel

Wigan & Leigh College staff and students are encouraged to use sustainable forms of transport whenever possible, both when travelling to and from college and between college sites. There is growing emphasis on these methods of transport not just because of environmental issues but also because of the health benefits associated with walking and cycling.

Get involved in Active Travel

Walking
Studies have shown that walking regularly can have anti-ageing effects, not only could it keep you looking healthy on the outside but it can help ward off diseases such as osteoporosis, diabetes, arthritis, strokes and depression.

Fact: Walking one mile in 15 minutes burns about the same number of calories as running a mile in 8 and a half minutes.

You can also use the time you spend walking to:

• Listen to music
• Talk on the phone to catch up with friends
• “Read” a novel by putting a book on your iPod
• Get to know your local area

Visit www.walkingworks.org.uk for more information about walking and to make a pledge to walk more often.
Visit www.walkit.com to get a route map between any two points, including your journey time, calorie burn, step count and carbon saving.

Cycling
Cycling can be good for you and good for the environment, it is a great way to stay in shape and it can also be a way of meeting people. If you are fed up of being stuck in a traffic jam every morning, you could beat the queues by taking your bike to college instead.

Cycling can significantly improve your fitness. The health benefits of regular cycling –as for any regular physical activity – include reduced risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes, colon and breast cancer. It can help control weight, build and maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints and reduces the risk of dying from heart disease. One advantage that cycling and walking have over other forms of exercise is that they can easily become part of everyday activity.

The college provides secure cycle storage at Parson’s Walk campus, Pagefield campus and Leigh Sixth Form and plans to increase the amount of storage at all sites in future.

For information on cycling events in the North West please visit the following websites:

• www.cyclegm.org for information on cycling within Greater Manchester
• www.dft.gov.uk/cyclingengland – Department for Transport website for Cycling England
• www.ibikemcr.org.uk – website for cycling in Manchester, includes dates of Critical Mass cycling event
• www.sustrans.org.uk – Sustrans website, the UK’s leading sustainable transport charity

Car Share
Car sharing can mean reduced congestion on the roads and a better chance of getting a parking space when you arrive at work. Car share spaces are in the process of being allocated at all College sites.

Some other benefits of car sharing include:

• Sharing the fuel costs leads to a cheaper journey
• Fewer cars on the road will result in less CO² in the atmosphere, which is good for the environment.
• Fewer cars on the road also means a reduction in noise
• Reduce your stress levels by taking it in turns to drive
• Car sharing is sociable! Meet other people at College or even from other local businesses.

Fact: LiftShare estimates that the average person can save up to £1000 per year on car sharing

Fact: Did you know that the average car commuter drives 19 miles a day? Cutting that by half through car sharing would save 648kg of carbon dioxide over one year, the same as that absorbed by 216 trees

What next?
Ask the people from your office or in your class where they are travelling from and see whether you can car share.
Visit www.carsharegm.com to join Greater Manchester’s car share network.

Public Transport & Buses
Top five reasons to take the bus

• Economy: no parking fees or fuel costs and you can invest in a bus pass to make journeys cheaper
• Health: you get exercise walking to and from the bus stop
• Environment: leaving your car at home results in fewer greenhouse gas emissions and a healthier community
• Reduced Congestion: Fewer cars on the road will lead to less traffic and a shorter travel time
• Time Management: you can catch up on reading or write out your To Do lists

Both Wigan and Leigh have bus stations and all campuses are within walking distance from these stations. If you are a student and live with the Greater Manchester area then you are eligible for a GMPTE bus pass, enquire at college receptions for further details. If you live outside the greater Manchester area and travel using Arriva Buses then you could be eligible for subsidised bus passes, enquire at college receptions for more details.

For details of bus timetables please visit http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/

Trains
Wigan has two train stations, Wigan North Western (for national services) and Wigan Wallgate (for local services). Both stations are within walking distance from the Wigan Campuses. They are also within walking distance to Wigan Bus Station; from there you can take the bus to Leigh.

For train timetables and ticket prices please visit www.nationalrail.co.uk or www.thetrainline.com