A free pocket-sized walking and cycling guide for Carlisle was launched recently.
Funded by Cumbria County Council, Carlisle City Council, Friends of the Lake District, Capita, the Environment Agency and Carlisle Renaissance, the map is aimed at encouraging people to walk and cycle both as a way of getting to work, school, the shops and for leisure purposes.
Targeting people of all ages from young children to pensioners, it focuses on the health and financial benefits of choosing pedal and foot power over the car.
As well as featuring a map of the city, with cycling provision around the centre and suburbs of Carlisle, it provides hints and tips for safe cycling and useful contacts including local bike shops.
The map is available through schools, doctors’ surgeries, libraries, local community centres, the tourist information centre and leisure centres.
And in addition to being beneficial to existing walkers and cyclists, it is aimed at those who want to start leading a healthier and more active life.
It highlights just how quickly people will start to feel the benefits of getting out of the car with a series of facts, including:
- New cyclists travelling short distances can reduce the risk of suffering heart attacks or strokes by up to 22 per cent.
- Walking for 30 minutes five days a week burns off 2,000 calories.
- Car drivers suffer four times higher levels of air pollution than walkers.
Cllr Reg Watson, chairman of Carlisle Highways and Transport Working Group, said: “This handy pocket-sized map will encourage local residents and visitors to Carlisle to make more of their journeys on foot and by bike.
“Reducing the use of the car for the many short trips undertaken in the city will benefit people’s health and help improve the local environment of Carlisle.
“The map is easy to use and I’m sure plenty of people are going to benefit from it.”