Have a Better Journey Day every first Friday
FROM today, on the first Friday of each month, islanders are being encouraged to build sustainable habits by changing the way they travel for Better Journey Day.
Launched by new non-profit organisation The Better Journey Project, the initiative is not anti-car, but hopes to benefit mental health, the environment, and the local economy by inspiring positive choices.
‘Better Journey Day aims to show islanders that travelling without defaulting to the car can be a normal part of everyday life,’ said committee member Richard Agnelli.
‘The repetition hopefully will make people more confident to do it again.’
He said the island would need to focus more on traffic management in the future.
‘Also, with fuel prices and the cost of living rising, this is a great way to save money,’ he added.
Fellow committee member Barrie Duerden hoped the initiative would reduce the number of car parking spaces required in new developments.
‘When considering the big picture of the Guernsey economy, it’s clear we face a demographic time-bomb with more islanders retiring and a shrinking pool of labour as a consequence,’ he said.
‘The best way to solve the issue – estimated at £85m. each year by government – is to increase tax revenue. This is best done through having more taxpayers, which means more housing.
‘This will increase the load on our transport infrastructure unless islanders think about each journey that they make and make it more sustainable.’
The first Better Journey Day is today.
Organisers are making ‘tool kits’ available to businesses with ideas to bring into the regular day.
‘They lay out some ideas to use to encourage staff and colleagues to travel more sustainably,’ Mr Agnelli said.
According to the States’ Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, in 2019 road transport produced 72,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, which the project hoped to help reduce.
Committee member Mark Smith said journeys could be altered in a fun way by walking, cycling, catching the bus, or car-pooling with colleagues.
‘This is your Better Journey Day – make it fun, an adventure,’ he said.
‘Take the quieter roads, find a view not noticed before, and start the day with breakfast somewhere or end it with a drink on the way home.
‘You can benefit your health and maybe your pocket while also doing your bit for the environment.’
n For information, visit www.betterjourneys.gg/better-journey-day.
