Regional transport authority Centro is encouraging residents to ‘walk it’ during Climate Change Week (March 21-27), after a region wide walking journey planner went live. Centro are encouraging people to walk and use public transport instead of using their cars.
The calorie-busting website now covers all of Birmingham, Solihull, Coventry and the Black Country after funding of £134,000 was secured to comprehensively map the West Midlands online.
The planner plots walking routes between two postcodes or locations and shows the number of steps, distance travelled, calories burned and carbon emissions saved by walking.
Stephen Bermingham, Sustainable Travel Officer at Centro, said: “This is a great opportunity for people in the West Midlands to see the real benefits that can come from walking.
“Walking is sometimes not seen as a viable alternative to other modes of transport. I hope that the website will help show that it is possible to make at least some of our journeys by foot and to link in to public transport.
“It’s been a combined effort from Centro and the councils to get the region mapped. The good thing about the website is that it also shows that walking can improve your fitness while reducing your carbon emissions.”
The scheme has been supported by Centro in partnership with the seven district councils and WalkIt.com
The funding includes £56,000 from Centro with the rest of the money coming from the region’s councils.
Centro Chairman, Councillor Angus Adams said: “I would urge people to make use of the website and use it to make more informed choices.
“We need to encourage people to have healthier and greener lifestyles. By giving details of carbon savings and calorie burn, this website should help point us in the right direction.”
Centro has been targeting reductions in the number of car journeys made by individuals in the West Midlands as part of a sustainable travel programme.
WalkIt.com aims to help people make more informed decisions about walking in urban areas and the impact on their health and carbon footprint.
Throughout Climate Change Week (March 21-27), staff will be in each of the seven districts to help promote the initiative.
