Get There Gently: Healthier Ways to Travel Around Plymouth

How we move around Plymouth shapes more than our daily routines. It affects our health, the air we breathe, the wildlife around us and how connected we feel to the city.

Transport currently accounts for around 35% of Plymouth’s total carbon emissions, making it one of the biggest areas where small, everyday changes can add up. Many of the most climate‑friendly ways to travel also come with benefits for our physical and mental wellbeing.

Travel that supports your health

Walking, cycling and using public transport all help build gentle movement into the day. You don’t need to think of it as “exercise”, it’s simply moving more as part of everyday life.

Regular movement is linked to:

• Improved heart health
• Better mood and reduced stress
• Increased energy levels
• Better sleep

Even short journeys can make a difference, especially when they become part of a routine.

Getting out in nature as part of the journey

One of Plymouth’s strengths is how close nature is to everyday routes. From coastal paths to parks and green corridors, nature is often right on the way to where we’re going.

Choosing to walk, cycle or take public transport can mean:

• More time outdoors
• Noticing seasonal changes and wildlife
• Feeling more connected to the places we pass through

Spending time in green and blue spaces is known to support mental wellbeing and help people feel calmer and more focused. Why not see how many different species of animals or plants you can spot on your journey?

Cleaner air, better living

Fewer car journeys mean cleaner air and quieter streets. This benefits everyone, especially children, older residents and people with respiratory conditions.

Reducing traffic also helps create:

• Safer streets
• More pleasant neighbourhoods
• Better conditions for plants and wildlife

Making it work for real life

Sustainable travel doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Many people mix different ways of getting around depending on time, weather, hills or accessibility.

You might try:

• Walking part of a journey and using public transport for the rest
• Cycling on quieter routes
• Leaving the car at home for one or two trips a week
• Car sharing

With 76% of journeys under 3 miles made by car in the UK, small, realistic swaps are often the ones that last. Swapping just one typical 2.5-mile journey for walking, wheeling or cycling could save you around £1.40 every time. Replacing one short journey a day could save you more than £650 a year! That’s a noticeable bite out of household budgets.

Plymouth is already moving

There are lots of local projects and organisations across Plymouth working to make walking, cycling and public transport easier, safer and more accessible.

Exploring local organisations such as Connect Plymouth and Plymotion can help you find options that fit your routine and your neighbourhood.

A healthier way to move

Choosing gentler ways to travel can support your health, help protect Plymouth’s natural environment and contribute to a cleaner, calmer city. If it helps you feel better, breathe easier or enjoy your journey a little more, that’s a great place to start. Even one gentle swap a week can make a difference.