Choose bus to relax — #lovemybus
#lovemybus – choosing to travel by bus allows us to relax
The car is often held up as the most attractive mode of transport, with convenience, speed, comfort and individual freedom presented as arguments in its favour.
However, taking the bus helps reduce the stress and strain from travel. Bus provides an opportunity to relax promotes mental health and wellbeing.
Research has linked mindfulness to commuters under less stress than car drivers. It can be associated with improvements to mental health, social engagement, and behavioural regulation.[1]
However, these perceived advantages must be connected with comfort-related attributes such as having a seat on the bus and a pleasant temperature.
Professor Adrian Davis also notes that;
“Physical activity boosts mental health and wellbeing and contributes to reducing the risks of ill-health and premature death from preventable diseases.
Most bus users undertake at least some physical activity in accessing the services.
There is strong evidence that this makes a significant contribution towards achieving the 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity recommended each week by the Chief Medical Officers.” [2]
You can find Professor Davis full briefing here.
#lovemybus Champion Christine agreed with this.
She chooses the bus to commute, ‘because it is happy and stress-free’.
She goes on to say that, ‘the relax theme is really why I like using the bus. I actually use my meditation app. on the way home, which is not something I could do if I was driving’.
[1] Lajeunesse, S., Rodriquez, D. 2012. Mindfulness, time affluence, and journey-based affect: Exploring relationships, Transportation Research Part F, 15(2) 196-205.
[2] Patterson, R. et al. 2018. Physical activity accrued as part of public transport use in England, Journal of Public Health, 1-9.doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdy099
