The next few weeks are full of keep-fit initiatives, with National Walking Month 2018 beginning in May – following Move More Month, which takes place this month in the United States.
Move More Month is a new scheme originating from the US and replaces National Walk to Work Day as the American Heart Association’s celebration of exercise and promotion of citizens taking part in physical activity.
National Walking Month is a UK scheme – created by Living Streets – with the aim of promoting the benefits this simple form of exercise brings, whether that be health-wise, socially or environmentally.
Aspects of this include Walk to School Week from 21 to 25 May and Happy Shoesday on 22 May – a fundraising initiative for the charity, aiming to raise money for their continued work in creating a safer, cleaner environment for children to walk to school in.
In Oxfordshire – there are many businesses who are at the forefront of initiatives that promote healthy lifestyles when commuting to-and-from work.
For example; there’s Milton Park’s innovative bike loan scheme.
Their concept sees employees across Milton Park entitled to free rental of one of 18 bikes, in order to promote green travel and encourage staff to think about their fitness during their commute to work.
Another strong scheme is the ‘Cyclescheme’ at Diamond Light Source, who are based at the Harwell Campus.
‘Cyclescheme’ is a Government initiative allowing employees to get tax free bike and safety equipment for their commute to work. Nothing is paid upfront and payments are taken tax efficiently from the staff member’s salary, saving them on average a 25% to 39% saving overall on all their cycling needs.
Another Oxfordshire initiative that encourages a greener commute and healthier employees is the ‘OXONBIKE’ scheme.
‘OXONBIKE’ sees a series of pedal and electric bikes cropping-up around the sites of some of Oxfordshire’s biggest employers, such as the John Radcliffe Hospital and Begbroke Science Park.
With tariffs starting at £1 an hour, the scheme enables employees a cheaper, faster and healthier commute to work, whilst reducing Oxfordshire’s congestion and levels of pollution.
With such schemes operating within the county, Oxfordshire is paving the way for a greener, healthier future, inspiring its various workforces to think more about the ways in which we travel.
Leona Weston
PR and Communications Apprentice – OxLEP
Pictured: The opening of Backhill Tunnel - Milton Park, November 2017.
