Latest news with #activeTravel
BBC News
04-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Chief medical officer makes case for active travel at York conference
England's chief medical officer has said the case needs to be made for the health benefits of active travel, even though it "isn't always politically easy".Prof Sir Chris Whitty told the Active City York conference the smallest changes to help people walk or cycle could transform people's health for the he said the weight of science and data needed to be thrown behind active travel as the issue had become increasingly Chris called on authorities to encourage people to make an early start, saying: "If people don't have the opportunity to get into the habit when they're children it will be very difficult to do so after." Speaking at the conference hosted by City of York Council at the Barbican, Sir Chris said active travel could have the biggest impact on people in ill said people's perceptions about active travel including concerns over safety needed to be overcome."It's critical to think about the short distances and to build between the spaces that people care about," he said."That can be transformational, it's really important for people's physical and mental health." The two-day conference saw active travel professionals gather alongside politicians for speeches and panel them was Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood, who said the government was moving on from divisive to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, he said support of measures to boost cycling and walking had been framed as a war on said: "When we ensure that travel is more accessible we see healthier and more cohesive communities."It's about fundamentally reimagining how cities and towns work and who they serve."He said mayors and council leaders had a "critical role" in delivering on local said the government was looking very carefully at how to tackle pavement parking, and said decisions on 20mph speed limits should be made comments came as regional mayors including York and North Yorkshire's David Skaith backed a commitment to create a nationwide walking, wheeling and cycling focusing on school runs will be prioritised as part of the wider project which aims to create more than 3,500 miles of safer routes across the Boardman, Active Travel England's national commissioner, said the body's £616m in government funding for the next four years would bring transport freedom and improve safety, including for children.
The Guardian
02-07-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Chris Whitty says culture-war coverage of cycling could harm nation's health
Culture war-based coverage of cycling based on stereotypes of middle-aged men in Lycra could harm the nation's health because it shifts focus away from the people and communities who benefit from physical activity, Chris Whitty has said. Speaking a day before the launch of the NHS's 10-year-health plan, which is expected to focus heavily on prevention, Whitty, the chief medical officer for England, called for people to set aside media cliches and instead focus on 'data which nobody can dispute'. If active travel 'is seen as something which is simply the reserve of middle-aged, Lycra-clad people cycling possibly too fast around the park, that completely misses the point of actually where the huge health gains are', Whitty told a conference in York. He said: 'There are some areas where you can send a debate from a cultural war into a much more day-to-day one by actually saying, 'OK guys, but this is the maths,' and ensuring that you do so with facts which people find surprising. 'So for example, the culture wars will always try and paint the person who's in favour of active transport, and let's say cycling, as middle-class, entitled, speeding like a bad person. What they don't see is a woman in a wheelchair who actually benefits even more from the activity that we're talking about.' Being more active, Whitty noted, was 'one of the most impressive things you can do to preserve health of all forms, physical and mental'. He added that the best way for people to do this was to build it into their everyday life, for example by walking, cycling or wheeling for transport. 'The people who benefit most from any form of activity are people who are doing none,' Whitty said. 'And the next group who benefit most are the people who are doing a very small amount, who might do a bit more. 'The second group of people who benefit most are those who are teetering on the brink of ill health, or are in ill health which could accelerate from under them. And for many of those people, a small amount of activity is going to be very hard work, but it is going to be remarkably powerful at preventing and in many cases, reversing the health conditions they have.' Transport planners should not just focus on bigger projects such as bike lanes, but also on everyday issues such as uneven pavements, which might put off someone with mobility issues from walking a short distance, Whitty said. To get more people active, he said, 'what we've got to do is build between the places people care about: from their homes to their shops, to their place of worship, to the school and so on. We've got to think about that in a really serious way.' In a sign that politics has begun to move on from the culture war-infused transport discourse under Rishi Sunak's government, 12 of England's regional mayors, including two Conservatives and one from Reform UK, have signed up to a plan to create a 'national active travel network'. Speaking alongside Whitty, Simon Lightwood, the junior transport minister, said the Labour government took a different approach to Sunak: 'Gone are the days, I hope, of this poisonous rhetoric around the war on the motorist.'
The Guardian
01-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Twelve of England's regional mayors back plan to create ‘national active travel network'
Twelve of England's regional mayors have signed up to an unprecedented plan to create a 'national active travel network', focusing initially on helping children to walk, cycle or scoot to school safely. The scheme, which involves all non-London regional mayors other than one from Reform UK, is intended to fit into wider efforts to devolve transport planning, working with Active Travel England (ATE) to implement schemes they think would help their area. It has the backing of Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England, who said the scheme has the potential to 'significantly improve' public health in the areas involved, covering 20 million people overall. The 12 mayors, nine of them Labour and two Conservative, plus Luke Campbell, the Reform UK mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, have signed a joint pledge to 'work together to improve our streets for everyone, for the benefit of the health, wellbeing and connectedness of our communities'. The initial focus from this autumn will be on trips to and from school, with a pledge to create a combined 3,500 miles of routes safely linking schools to homes, town and city centres, and transport hubs. It will be based around interventions such as safer road crossings and blocking motor traffic outside schools at drop-off and pick-up times. The involvement of the two Conservative mayors, Ben Houchen of Tees Valley and Paul Bristow, who represents Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, underlines that the debate has moved on from the culture war-infused period under Rishi Sunak, whose government pushed back against safer walking and cycling in favour of a 'plan for drivers'. Campbell was the last mayor to sign up. His Reform colleague Andrea Jenkyns, the mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, is the only mayor not involved outside London, which already has hundreds of so-called school streets and similar projects. Chris Boardman, the former Olympic cyclist who heads ATE, said the focus on routes to schools followed focus group work which found that people are particularly amenable to messages about walking and cycling when it is about children being able to travel safely and independently. He said countries including Finland had travel cultures in which primary school-age children routinely make their own trips, adding: 'If you start with asking people, do you want that for your kids, you'll have a very, very strong, powerful and politically popular – yes. 'So if there are mayors and leaders who are not standing next to that, then they have to be accountable for their choice. 'I want to see fear of missing out. If we get to a point where x per cent of kids in an area have the freedom to walk or ride to school, I think we'll see parents in neighbouring streets and communities thinking, hang on, why can't we have that?' Whitty said: 'Increasing physical activity has health benefits across the life course. As part of this, we need to make walking and cycling more accessible, and safer, as well as access to green space easier and more equitable. 'This will help remove barriers to improving physical activity levels and could significantly improve the health of England's increasingly urban population.' The 12 mayors to have signed the pledge are: Tracy Brabin (Labour) of West Yorkshire. Paul Bristow (Tory) of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Andy Burnham (Labour) of Greater Manchester. Luke Campbell (Reform UK) of Hull and East Yorkshire. Oliver Coppard (Labour) of South Yorkshire. Helen Godwin (Labour), the West of England mayor. Ben Houchen (Tory) of Tees Valley. Kim McGuinness (Labour), the North East mayor. Richard Parker (Labour) of the West Midlands. Steve Rotheram (Labour), the Liverpool City Region mayor. David Skaith (Labour) of York and North Yorkshire. Claire Ward (Labour), mayor of the East Midlands. Sadiq Khan, the London mayor, signed the pledge in support.
BBC News
30-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
How could Wantage's town centre be improved?
As the birthplace of King Alfred and the home of former poet laureate John Betjeman, Wantage in Oxfordshire has an illustrious past. But what about its future? Oxfordshire County Council is inviting people to give their thoughts and ideas on how to improve Market Place, with a particular focus on active travel and improving accessibility. The four-week survey will inform changes the authority wants to make for Wantage to be a "healthier, friendlier and safer environment". But speaking to businesses and shoppers on an overcast weekday morning, one particular issue dominates the conversations: parking. Packing up his van after selling out of burritos, trader Carl Condon says Wantage is a "brilliant" place to work. "We started off slow [as a business], but we're established now, so we can only see things getting busier."But he says he has noticed people struggling to park when the market takes over the square's car park on Wednesdays and Saturdays. "There are a few changes that could be made to improve footfall: mainly parking," he says. "A lot of people will circle the market trying to find somewhere to go". On the West End of Market Place, which has been pedestrianised since the Covid pandemic, baristas Maisey Collins and Abbie Davis are taking a break from their shift."More restaurants and more bars [would be a good idea]," says Miss Collins. "If we go out for dinner or anything like that, we go out of town". Miss Davis says parking in the town is "a bit of a nightmare... I park at one of our regular at the cafe's flats."Otherwise it's about £7 to park for the day at work which is obscene on my salary... [you could] potentially make the Sainsbury's car park payable". Oxfordshire County Council says it wants to improve public transport access to the town, which Miss Davis says is needed."The buses take a very long time to get anywhere other than Wantage, so you're a bit stuck here unless you drive". Oxfordshire County Council also says it's committed to exploring ways to make Market Place more accessible and "safer for those with mobility issues".Back on Market Place, mobility scooter user Gene Hicks says navigating the town centre was simple "once you know the places to go.""Sometimes, the cars park over the dropped kerbs and you can't get down. Apart from that, it's easy." Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said the project was at an "early stage." "Our vision for Wantage Market Place is to create a vibrant, welcoming, and accessible space for everyone. "We aim to enhance the historical charm of the market town while addressing the challenges of climate change. "The project is at an early stage and a design is yet to be developed."The online survey closes on 22 July, and the council will hold two drop-in events on 5 and 9 July in the town. An initial design for Market Place is not expected to be revealed until Spring 2026. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Irish Times
26-06-2025
- Irish Times
How cycling has economic as well as health benefits
Cycling is often dismissed as a niche mode of transport, favoured only by fitness enthusiasts or environmental advocates. Recent figures suggest that as a mode of transport, Ireland still has stubbornly low levels of cycling at 1.9 per cent of all trips. This is a huge missed opportunity to capitalise on the health and economic benefits of active travel. Despite funding increases towards cycling and walking since 2020, Ireland's transport policies and associated investments still prioritise cars. The cycling infrastructure we do have is not designed in ways that attract women and older people, who tend to prefer safe, segregated cycle lanes that are generously designed. They also prefer their cycle lanes to be part of a continuous, connected network – one that facilitates gentle speeds and all kinds of bicycles and mobility aids. READ MORE I was privileged to attend this year's world cycling summit in Gdansk, Poland recently. This was was also known as Velo-city 2025. The conference included inspiring sessions about mobility policy, urban design, technologies and behavioural change. What stood out for me most were the sessions that highlighted the social and economic benefits of cycling. In the Netherlands , about 27 per cent of all trips are taken by bicycle. Interestingly, the production value of bicycles reached €3.24 billion in 2022, an increase of 79 per cent since 2015, with 3,495 companies involved in the bicycle sector and 13,800 jobs. The economic returns include reducing healthcare costs, boosting productivity and saving households money – while also delivering environmental and public health gains. The cycling economy is now moving into a new phase of shared mobility services such as bike-share schemes, bike leasing and mobility hubs. Such hubs are designed to make multi-modal trips easier, such as a commute that combines a bike ride or car trip to a train or bus station, followed by a bike rental at the other end to the final destination. At a national level, cycling infrastructure is far cheaper to build and maintain than roads for cars. A kilometre of urban road can cost millions, whereas high-quality cycle lanes require significantly less investment. The Netherlands spends approximately €30 per person annually on cycling infrastructure – a modest sum compared to the €500 million per year saved in reduced traffic congestion and healthcare costs. Studies show that every €1 invested in Dutch cycling infrastructure returns €5-€19 in economic benefits, thanks to lower air pollution, reduced road maintenance and improved public health. Researchers who analysed the cost-benefit frameworks currently used to assess bicycle infrastructure projects in Copenhagen reported that the cost to society of 1km of car driving is more than six times higher (€0.50/km) than cycling (€0.08/km), when collisions, climate change, health and travel time are considered. The Dutch cycling ecosystem is not just about bicycles and spare parts: the cycling economy includes the use of the bicycle for utility, logistics, recreational and tourism purposes. For 'last mile' logistics, cargo bicycles are both cost effective and highly efficient alternatives to the ubiquitous vans and lorries that often needlessly clutter up Irish towns and cities. Evidence from the Netherlands shows that bike-friendly streets increase retail sales by up to 25 per cent As for the health benefits, regular cycling reduces the risk of chronic illnesses by up to 27 per cent, leading to fewer hospital admissions and lower medical costs. These benefits increase with age. To recoup these benefits, therefore, cycling infrastructure must be attractive, safe and inviting to older people. In the Netherlands, cycling prevents around 6,500 premature deaths each year, saving the healthcare system €3 billion annually. Additionally, cyclists take 15 per cent fewer sick days, boosting workforce productivity. It is a tragedy that so many proposals for cycle lanes still meet public opposition, often fuelled by misinformation about the economic impact. The perception that cycle lanes will result in lost revenue to local business is usually mistaken. Repeated studies show either neutral or largely positive impacts from replacing car-parking spaces with cycling infrastructure. Evidence from the Netherlands shows that bike-friendly streets increase retail sales by up to 25 per cent. Cyclists and pedestrians stop more frequently and spend more in local shops than drivers. [ 'Amsterdam is a whole lot easier to get around than Dublin ... You get a much better quality of life here' Opens in new window ] [ Visit Copenhagen: Great food, self-assured style and bicycles in Denmark's capital Opens in new window ] And finally, tourism is another key component of the cycling economy. The Netherlands attracts 4.5 million cycle tourists annually, generating €1.2 billion in revenue. Ireland's growing network of greenways are ideal for similar growth but require sustained investment and great public appreciation of their local benefits. Expanding cycling infrastructure nationwide and creating a Wild-er Atlantic Way that caters for cyclists could create thousands of jobs in hospitality, bike rentals and maintenance services. If we want to make these benefits accessible to all, cycling infrastructure will need to cater to the safety concerns of women, people with disabilities and older people, for whom the benefits of cycling are particularly pronounced. Additionally, investment will need to increase dramatically to create the connected networks that allow cycling to become a realistic and safe alternative to driving. Sadhbh O'Neill is a climate and environmental researcher
