Aberdeen City Health & Social Care Partnership has marked Clean Air Day 2018 with a special “green transport challenge”.
The event pitted four modes of sustainable transport against each other – with four Public Health Team staff taking, respectively, an e-bicycle, an electric car, the number 13 bus and the NHS shuttle bus from NHS Grampian HQ at Summerfield House on Eday Road to the city centre finishing line at the Community Health & Care Village on
Frederick Street.
The contestants set off from Summerfield House at 12.45pm.
ACHSCP Public Health Lead Linda Smith rode the e-bike on the 3.5-mile route, while Public Health Practitioner Estelle Muller-Girod drove the electric car, fellow PHT Emma Williams was aboard the bus and Hilary Bell, also a PHT, travelled on the shuttle bus.
The bike and car were both required to follow the same route – and abide by the Highway Code! – via Lang Stracht, Westburn Road, Hutcheon Street, West North Street and Frederick Street. The number 13 followed its regulation route from Stronsay Drive to the city centre and the shuttle bus travelled via ARI. The bike had to be locked up at the finishing point and the car had to be parked in the Frederick Street car park.
Bike-riding Linda was first over the line inside the Health Village in 21 minutes, followed by Estelle in the electric car in 24 minutes. Bus passenger Emma’s journey took 38 minutes, while Hilary’s shuttle bus trip took 41 minutes.
Linda said: “NHS Grampian and the health and social care partnership were really happy to support Clean Air Day by holding this event for staff.
“Our race showed just how quickly and easily people can get about Aberdeen using sustainable modes of transport – and especially by bike.
“The event aimed to inspire everyone – our staff and the general public – to be more physically active. It can be fun, save you money and lead to a longer life free of chronic disease.
“We support all our partner organisations in their efforts to promote active travel and improve air quality in all sorts of ways, like walking, car-sharing, using public transport or through greater uptake of electric vehicles."
Katharine Brough, Head of Behaviour Change at Cycling Scotland, said: “Cycling Scotland were delighted to support all the events to promote Clean Air Day. Not only did the ACHSCP challenge increase awareness of what is being done to improve the quality of the air we all breathe, it also demonstrated that cycling is often the quickest way – as well as healthiest, cheapest and greenest – to get around.”
Clean Air Day was co-ordinated nationally in Scotland by the charities Environmental Protection Scotland (EPS) and Global Action Plan in support of the Cleaner Air For Scotland strategy, which aims to give Scotland the best possible air quality.
The day saw events in towns and cities across Scotland, all aiming to encourage people to take at least one action to help improve air quality – whether it’s walking their children to school or cycling or using public transport in place of the car. It is also aimed to raise awareness of less polluting low-emission and electric vehicles.
John Bynorth, EPS’s Policy & Communications Officer, said: “I am delighted that Linda crossed the finish line in first place on the e-bike after this unique challenge, but everyone was a winner as it has raised awareness of how quick and easy it is to travel across major cities by bike and public transport as an alternative to cars.
“This great initiative has helped raise the profile of Clean Air Day in Aberdeen and will encourage more people to take part in active travel. We are grateful for the support of NHS Grampian and the Health & Social Care Partnership on Clean Air Day.”
The event was organised by ACHSCP Public Health Practitioner James Norman.
Air pollution is real and harms the health of millions. But there are lots of simple things we can do to improve air quality and look after our own and other people’s health.
Clean Air Day was a chance to find out more about air pollution, share information with friends and colleagues, and help make the air cleaner and healthier for everyone.
In November 2015, the Scottish Government published ‘Cleaner Air for Scotland (CAFS) – The Road to a Healthier Future’ to provide a national strategy within which everyone in Scotland can work towards the common aim of achieving the best possible air quality for Scotland.
The Scottish Government last year announced plans for Low Emission Zones to be in place in Scotland’s four main cities, with Aberdeen’s expected to be in place by the end of 2020.
More information can be found at www.cleanairday.org.uk.