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Walking, cycling and public spaces

Introduction

Walking and cycling, whether for pleasure or as part of daily living, are key activities contributing to the government Chief Medical Officer's recommendations for health. However, walking and cycling have both declined significantly over the past 20 years. The average distance people walk has fallen by about one-third and the distance they cycle by about 14%. [DfT Transport Trends 2002].

Transport policies

Transport and planning policies that encourage walking, cycling and active play are vital if we are to achieve an increase in population physical activity levels. In particular, policies are needed to:

Travel to school

Car journeys to school have doubled in the last 20 years and almost one child in three now travels to school by car, less than 50% walk and just 1% cycle to school. How children travel to school is influenced by the distance from home to the school gate, and by parental concerns about traffic and stranger danger. The National Heart Forum supports initiatives such as Safe Routes to School and the Healthy Schools Programme, which have successfully encouraged local walking and cycling schemes.

Travel to workplaces, transport hubs and amenities

In 2001, a total of 2.6 million people in Britain walked to work, 10.8% of the number in employment. The percentage of workers walking to work has steadily declined since 1991 when 13% walked to work. Twice as many women (15%) walked to work in 2001 than men (7.3%). [Labour Force Survey]. In the same year, 741,000 people cycled to work in Britain, 3% of all those in employment.[Labour Force Survey]

How adults choose to travel is largely dependent on distance. However, the proportion of short trips made by car is slowly increasing [National Travel Survey. In 1999/2001, cars were used for 18% of trips under one mile and for 61% of trips of between one and two miles.

Local policies to encourage people to travel by foot or bicycle can include positive incentives, disincentives (e.g. a charge for parking at workplaces), provision of secure storage facilities and provision of changing facilities. Policies to encourage the use of public transport are also beneficial in that people must usually travel by foot or cycle to reach the transport hub. In addition, greater uptake of public transport will reduce traffic congestion and increase perceived and real road safety for vulnerable pedestrians such as children and the elderly.

Space to play

Public spaces provide adults and children with an opportunity to be active, and provide an important destination for journeys made on foot and by bicycle. Until recently, local authorities were not under any statutory duty to provide parks and leisure services. However, in 2005 this became a requirement in local delivery plans. Strategies to encourage use of local parks and open spaces should in particular look at safe access for all age groups, and should where possible avoid restricting the use of space (such as preventing ball games, cycling, skate-boarding).

For statistics on current levels and trends in walking, cycling and use of public space see:

Health Survey for England
National Travel Survey
General Household Survey
British Heart Foundation statistics
National Diet and Nutrition Survey 

> Walking, cycling and public spaces
> National policy and strategies
> Published guidance
> Current National Heart Forum Campaigns


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