20 September 2011 - 1 January 0001, 00:00 -

Prescribing Active Travel - The Great Health and Transport Debate!

Rutherford Hall, Ellison Place, Northumbria University

Refreshments from 17:00 for 17:30.

This meeting is jointly organised by Northumbria University, TPS and CIHT

This event will discuss the links between transport and health, focusing particularly on practical ways to promote active travel. The event will explore the links between the emerging public health and transport policy agendas, and the potential for transport planners and public health professionals to work more closely together to deliver behaviour change. Our speakers will also discuss innovative and practical approaches to engaging with people to encourage higher levels of walking and cycling in local areas.

Dr Meng Khaw, Director of Public Health, Newcastle City Council and Newcastle PCT

Public health plays an important role in improving health through the prevention of disease. Increasing physical activity is a key component of programmes to prevent obesity, an increasing public health problem. Meng will discuss the public health policy context and its relationship with active travel.

Richard Smith, Head of Business and Consultancy Services, Living Streets

Richard will discuss the latest evidence demonstrating the economic case for investing in walking and cycling programmes and how Living Streets is seeking to ensure that Local Authorities and others make the case for investment and follow best practice in designing quality pedestrian facilities.

Jessica Anderson, LTP Core Team Leader, Tyne and Wear LTP Team Authorities

Jessica will discuss the plans contained within Tyne and Wear’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund Programme to promote active travel and provide an update on the status of the LSTF.

Martin Higgitt, Associate Director, JMP Consultants

Using the lessons learned from a range of Personal Travel Planning programmes, including the award-winning Dundee Travel Active project, to demonstrate the effectiveness of using targeted behaviour change programmes to deliver significant increases in walking and cycling.

The event will be chaired by Dr Seraphim Alvanides, a Reader in the Built Environment at Northumbria University. Seraphim has research interests in the health benefits and physical constraints of active travel, focusing on cycling behaviours. He is also researching aspects of school choice in relation to children's travel to school in the UK and South Africa.

Event Flyer

North Eastern Branch Evening Meeting: Prescribing Active Travel