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Commute to the office the active way with Go Smarter, Go Active maps

Many people are set to make a return to the office this Spring, and with that comes the choice of how to make your commute.

Commuting to workplaces in the North East is heavily dominated by car travel which is a major cause of congestion and carbon emissions in the region. However, with 56% of commuting trips in our region under 10km and 37% under 5km- that doesn’t need to be the case. Go Smarter, Go Active, are an active travel brand, passionate about getting more people across the North East walking or cycling to make every-day journeys, so that the North East is a healthier place for residents to live. We’re here to provide a greener, more sustainable alternative to get to and from the office!

That alternative is active travel- which is a term for ‘journeys made as a result of a physical activity’ – such as walking or cycling. Other examples of active travel include travel using wheelchairs, trikes and scooters.

If you’re looking for tools to help you get started, Go Smarter, Go Active’s Interactive Walking and Cycling Map could be the perfect pocket-sized resource for you.

The map brilliantly brings together the entire North East walking and cycling network to allow you to plan your commute with ease- and what better time to do so as the nights are getting lighter. The map also links with public transport in the region, which is ideal for those making hybrid commutes- i.e., using both active travel and public transport to get to work.

Traffic-free routes and cycleways are also shown on the map- perfect for those who are looking to build their cycling confidence.

As well as the main interactive map covering the entirety of the North East, there are also smaller regional maps you can download in PDF form to take with you on the go.

We’re fortunate to have brilliant walking and cycling infrastructure in the North East to make these journeys a more realistic prospect. Our growing cycle network in our region includes 16 routes that are part of the National Cycling Network, as well as the Tyne Pedestrian and Cyclist Tunnels, which have made active commuting between North and South Tyneside easier since they opened to the public back in 1951.

By using active travel to commute, you are:

• Improving your health and wellbeing
• Helping to take cars off the road, reducing congestion and carbon emissions
• Protecting the environment for generations to come

So, what are you waiting for? Take the stress out of journey planning, while playing your part in protecting our region, by downloading the map today: www.gosmartergoactive.co.uk

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