Walking and cycling: local measures to promote walking and cycling as forms of travel or recreation
Not surprisingly says cycling and walking are the best ways to get people more active and to improve their health.
NICE stress the need to put cycling and walking in all policies. Policies under a range of heading should include cycling and walking. Relevant policies and plans include those on:
- air quality
- community safety
- environment (including sustainability and carbon reduction)
- health and wellbeing
- land use, planning and development control
- physical activity
- regeneration and economic development
As the BBC put it: “...people should shun their cars if a trip could be done in 15 or 20 minutes on foot or bike.” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20499005
Specific policies for promoting cycling that were suggested include:
- car free days
- improved bike parking and storage
- more adult and child training
In the new public health structure, cycling should be part of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy for every local authority and should be funded by the new Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs). Funds should also be available to promote cycling from other budgets as appropriate, for example for some infrastructure improvement from the transport budget or for recreational cycling from sports and recreation budgets.
What is lacking from the NICE report? Very little quantitation. No clear targets – maybe this is not what NICE feels its role is. But also, little imagination. Depends overmuch on published research in an area (cycling promotion) where very little research exists. So we have led walks given as a suggested activity backed up by several studies. But led cycle rides are ignored as no one has ever done a proper study. Finally, extremely unclear on who is responsible for planning and funding cycle promotion. Says CCGs should fund – but this would only be directly health related. Mentions multiple sources of funding for different aspects as appropriate. Which really means no one will be responsible. Cycling “champions” are mentioned, but their powers and budgets are not mentioned. They are undoubtedly a good idea but need to have the resources to make a difference.
However, these guidelines could be really useful. But it will depend on us pressing and campaigning to get some of the structure proposed by NICE in place and resourced.
NICE Walking and Cycling Overview. http://pathways.nice.org.uk/pathways/walking-and-cycling#content=close
NICE PH41Walking and Cycling Guidance. http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/13975/61629/61629.pdf