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Exercise your freedom

HEALTHY TRAVEL ALTERNATIVES

Don’t let your ticket to freedom become a one-way trip to ‘slothsville’.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has pointed out that younger people tend to walk and ride their bikes less once they have their licence.

But the fact remains that if you don’t get enough exercise you’ll be less healthy than you should be. And if you find yourself easing your chariot out of the driveway to pick up some munchies at the milk bar 50 metres up the road then it’s time to take stock.

Apart from helping you to look and feel good, leaving the car at home every now and then can give the planet a break and let everyone breathe a little easier.

In 2010 there were 4.7 million licence holders in NSW alone. If we all choose some alternatives to the car every now and then it can make a big difference. Here are the top options.

Public transport: the romantic option

Okay, we just made the romance bit up. But there are lots of advantages to public transport.

For a start, it’s almost always cheaper than taking the car and you won’t have to worry about trying to find a park. You can catch up on your reading or talk on your mobile phone as much as you like. If you’re over 18, you can have a quiet one with your friends without fearing the zero blood alcohol limit.

You can also feel very self-righteous about all the singletons in their cars, burning up the planet’s resources while you make your way, clean and green, to your destination.

Walking: the exercise of champions

Low impact, free and easy to master, walking is the little black dress of exercise, the iPod of exertion. The original and the best, walking will never go out of fashion (unlike folding scooters and white lace-up roller skates).

Walking allows you burn kilojoules steadily while taking you where you need to go. You can also combine it with the romantic option (see above) for longer journeys.

Fact: A 54 kilogram woman will burn about 810 kilojoules in an hour of walking. That’s just a bit less than the kilojoule count of a small packet of fries from a well-known take-away outlet. Bonus!

Cycling: you get to wear skin-tight lycra

Other less crucial advantages include extra speed and kilojoule-burning power compared to walking, and general Euro-style coolness. Good bikes don’t cost a fortune and off-road and on-road cycleways are sprouting all over the place, making cycling safer and easier.

Public transport info

Go to www.131500.info for public transport news and info, including timetables and an online trip planner. Call 131500 for the same service over the phone.

Walking info

You’ve probably got a handle on this walking business but if you’re after a challenge go to www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au for info about bushwalking across the State. The have a nifty section where you can specify what kind of walk you’re looking for – the region of NSW, distance, level of difficulty and the kind of environment you’d like to walk through (rainforests, woodlands, even bogs and swamps are listed).

Cycling info

The Bicycle Info website - www.bicycleinfo.nsw.gov.au - has stacks of info for experienced and non experienced cyclists including tips on riding your bike safely and cycleway maps.

Exercise: the benefits

Regular exercise has heaps of benefits. Here are a few:

Stronger heart and cardiovascular system.
Increased flexibility and stronger muscles.
Stronger bones.
Improved stamina.
Lowered cholesterol and reduced blood pressure.
Loss of excess body fat.
Reduced risk of various diseases, including heart disease.
Better mental health.
Reduced stress levels.

TALK TO US

Here at GEARED, we love to read your comments and suggestions – even your complaints! You can send us questions, suggestions for articles... anything you like, to geared@rta.nsw.gov.au