The wider benefits of ‘healthy transport’ for Local Authorities

Peter Ashcroft, Adrian Davis Department of Health – South West 20/21May 2010

1

Active people live longer 70 60 50 Number of deaths per 10,000 40 30 20 10 0 low 1 2 3 Levels of fitness 4

Physical Fitness & Longevity: a Little goes a Long Way, Blair et all A prospective study of healthy men and women JAMA 262:2395, 1989

Male Female 5 high

Our message



“For most people, the easiest and most acceptable forms of physical activity are those that can be incorporated into everyday life. Examples include walking or cycling instead of driving…”

DH, 2004 ‘At Least Five a Week’.

Chief Medical Officer

1.Education and Young People: Active travel contributes to learning

There is a significant positive relationship between physical activity in childhood and general ‘cognitive functioning’ and academic achievement in school.…

Sibley, B. Etnier, J. 2003 The relationship between physical activity and cognition in children: A meta-analysis,

Pediatric Exercise Science

, 15: 243-256.

Key Education ‘asks’

• 20 mph speed limits around schools • safer walk & cycle routes to schools • cycle training • Secure and weather-protected cycle parking at school premises • Smarter choice programmes include pre choice ‘child miles’ information

2. Businesses & LA Human Resources: Active travel reduces sickness absence

As little as one extra hour of physical activity per week has lead to a reduction of over a third in sickness leave in the long term. This level of activity is readily achievable through changed travel behaviour

Transport for London, 2007 Can promoting physical activity in the workplace reduce absenteeism?

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/roadusers/sustainable-

Potential savings per active employee is £175 to £300 pa (based on CBI, ONS estimates)

Key Business ‘asks’

• Better promotion of workplace travel plans – Secure and weather-protected cycle parking at workplaces premises – Mileage allowance for active travel during course of work – 40p per mile – Shower facilities for those who want to cycle or walk to work – Provision of peddle and electric bikes instead of company cars for short distances • Promote the business case to embed incentives/support for those who choose to commute actively (including cost savings from less parking, reduced absence, company image)

3. Planning: active people create more neighbourly communities

People living in walkable, mixed use neighbourhoods have higher levels of social capital than those living in car-oriented suburbs

.

Leyden, K. 2005 Social capital and the built environment: The importance of walkablle neighbourhoods,

American Journal of Public Health

, 93: (9): 1546-1551.

Key Planning ‘asks’

• Speed control –greater use of 20 mph in urban areas and 30mph max in villages • Open up town centre public realm to people over traffic • Limits to car parking provision • Traffic demand management a highway condition on new developments

4. Community Safety: active people contribute to sense of trust

People who feel safe in their neighbourhood are more likely to be physically active.

Harrison, R., Gemmell, I., Heller, R. 2007 The population effect of crime and neighbourhood on physical activity: an analysis of 15,461 adults,

Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 61: 34-39,

The more people walking and cycling the greater their safety.

Jacobsen. P. Safety in numbers: more walkers and bicyclists, safer walking and cycling, Injury Prevention, 2003, 9: 205-209.

Key Community Safety ‘asks’

• Speed control –greater use of sub-30mph in urban areas and 30mph max in villages • Well signed and lit paths and routes • Mixed use developments to encourage activity and passive surveillance • Strong promotion of walking and cycling at the neighbourhood level for short trips

5. Leisure and Green Space: active people press for quality green space

Perceived neighbourhood greenness has been more strongly associated with mental health than with physical health. Leisure walking explains the link between greenness and physical health.

Sugiyama, T, Leslie, E., Giles-Corti, B., Owen, N. 2008 Association of neighbourhood greenness with physical and health: do walking, social coherence and local social interaction explain the relationships?

Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health

, 62: e9.

Access to a garden or short distance to green areas are associated with less stress and lower likelihood of obesity Nielsen, T. Hansen, K. 2007 Do green areas affect health? Results from a Danish survey on the use of green areas and health indicators, Health and Place, 13: 839-850

Key Leisure ‘asks’

• Enhancing routes to, and awareness of, high quality green spaces. • Providing and promoting public transport and active travel access.

6. Finance: active people cost less to provide for • Benefit cost ratios measure VFM • DfT accept ‘good value’ for transport investment is

2:1

• Cycling & Walking investment – UK average

19:1

– EU average

13:1 Value for Money: An Economic Assessment of Investment in Walking and Cycling. DH-SW March 2010

Key Finance ‘asks’

• Focus on these very high value for money low cost schemes to help transport deliver “ more from

less”

Scrutiny: Members can ask or be asked

“ Ten questions to ask if you are scrutinising how physical activity can be promoted through planning, transport and the physical environment”:

6.

Does the local transport plan prioritise pedestrians, cyclists and public transport eg?

•Pavement widening •Restrictions on motor vehicle access •Cycle lanes •Road user charging •Traffic calming •Safe routes to schools