Beat rising petrol prices with ‘Better Journeys’

Friday 29 July 2022

Guernsey's next Better Journey Day is on Friday 5 August, the day after Cycle to Work Day across the UK - and the the Better Journey Project is encouraging islanders to 'double down' and make sustainable travel choices on both days.

The Better Journey Project's Richard Agnelli said rising prices at the petrol pumps mean the cost of filling up a tank is now approaching £100 for many cars.

“We have glorious summer weather, so we want to highlight there are opportunities to leave the car behind," said Mr Agnelli.  

"The Better Journey Project is focused on promoting all forms of sustainable travel, not just cycling. UK Cycle to Work Day has been running successfully for 10 years, and our making use of Cycle to Work Day is one way to promote using two wheels.  

"Thousands of UK commuters have made the switch to cycling or walking to work. They’ve got fitter, reduced their stress levels, saved loads of money on commuting costs – which has never been more important – and done their bit for the environment."  

Pictured: The community group launched this year and has been encouraging car-free journeys to work on the first Friday of each month.

The Project also encourages people to use the bus service and share car journeys as more sustainable travel options than single-occupancy car journeys. 

"Colleagues who used the bus had a pleasant, chilled out experience compared to driving,” said Mr Agnelli.

Mark Smith, another committee member of the Better Journey Project, said more information about how to make sustainable travel changes is available online.

"Our website has links to Walking Maps and a Toolkit for Health and Wellbeing Committees to download, which provide suggestions [about] how to get their people travelling differently. Change how you travel on 4 and 5 August and tell us about it via social media [using] #betterjourneys.”

As before, volunteers wearing green shirts will collect travel data on the morning of their initiative. 

The Better Journey Project is a non-profit organisation aiming to encourage sustainable travel on the island's roads, resulting in a better environment and physical and mental health benefits for islanders.