According to Sustrans the average family in the UK spends one out of every six pounds on travel.

Regular cyclists enjoy a fitness level equal to that of a person ten years younger.

Health professionals recommend walking 10,000 steps a day (about 5 miles).

There are lots of ways you can choose to improve your quality of life and reduce your carbon by thinking differently about how you travel. Below are some suggestions to help get you started:

Liftshare: Register your weekly commutes on the liftshare website and you can help reduce the number of cars on the road, cut your carbon footprint and save hundreds of pounds per year! If you live in Barrow-in-Furness or Staveley you can also join local liftshare schemes there - click on the place names to visit the sites. Alternatively, why not enquire at work or amongst your friends and find someone willing to share a lift?

Home Shopping: Home delivery of groceries is estimated to cut car mileage to the supermarket by as much as 70 to 80 perent for those using the service. Most supermarkets offer a home delivery service. Alternatively, why not go local at the same time for double effect and get your home deliveries with beelocal.

Get Discount Bus Travel: Do you know that for £23.50 a week you can travel free across Cumbria on all Stagecoach buses? There are many great deals on bus travel out there so take the time to find out what is available to you. All bus timetables can be found here.

Get Your Free Bus Pass: If you are over 60 or eligible disabled then you are entitled to a free bus pass entitling you to free off peak bus travel throughout England. Click on the link to apply today!

Walk for your Health: There's no doubt about it - walking is seriously good for you! Why not combine walking more with reducing your carbon footprint? If you drive to work try parking further from town and walking the remaining distance. Or why not walk into town? There are lots of ways to incorporate walking into your daily routine whilst cutting car miles at the same time.

Get On Yer Bike!: Cycling is also an excellent way to get regular exercise. Health professionals recommend 30mins of exercise a day to keep fit and healthy - thats about 5 miles of cycling. So stop paying those expensive gym fees and get on your bike instead! See the link for more reasons to cycle as well as links to local cycling groups.

Cycle to Work Initiative: Get your employer to sign up to the Government's tax free cycle to work scheme and you could get up to a 50% discount on a brand new bicycle. It's a brilliant programme where everyone wins - employees make big savings on new bikes and employers get a healthier workforce and save money too!

Plan Your Journey: Plan your journey online and see how much CO₂ you can save. Alternatively for local journeys by bus you can visit traveline northwest or by train visit the trainline.

Travel Without Flying: Plan your journey abroad without flying this year and be the ultimate climate hero. Flying is the single biggest contribution you can make as an individual towards global warming. Besides, you may find you prefer the fun of getting there more than you do the destination!