Catching the bus could be your ticket to health
Remember the last time you caught the bus? Besides sitting on the bus, it involved walking to and from the stops, right? Here’s a surprising fact: these short walks mean bus users walk an extra 33 minutes on average daily.
These walks could help you meet daily physical activity guidelines, helping lower your risk of heart conditions, type 2 diabetes and mental illness.
Not only is catching the bus beneficial to health, but it’s also eco-friendly, improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
With fewer than half of all Australians meeting physical activity guidelines, the Menzies Institute for Medical Research is calling on Burnie, Launceston and Hobart residents to participate in a study.
Researchers aim to explore the health benefits of bus use and the motivations behind it. If you’re over 15, live in an urban Metro bus service area, and use a motor vehicle for trips that could be taken by bus, you might qualify for this study. Plus, you could receive a $100 reward for participation.
To take part, visit the Get Bus-Active website.