Overview

Transport policy and heath are intertwined - the more we plan for motorised transport, the greater the impact on our health. Inhospitable roads and footways feel dangerous, poor air quality and particulates affect our lungs and more traffic makes active travel less attractive. Conversely, by discouraging the dirtiest vehicles and prioritising alternative means of travel, we can improve health, reduce our car dependency and revitalise our urban centres.

Using Bradford as a case study, you will hear how the UK’s ‘Youngest City’ has used its transport policy levers to cut city centre traffic, whilst creating the cleanest taxi fleet in the country, and learning from innovative active travel projects. Join the CIHT President, Mitesh Solanki, and transport and health practitioners to understand what ‘joined up thinking’ really means.

This event is kindly sponsored by Systra and Sweco.

Who is this event for?

This event is open to anyone working in the Highways and Transport sector and particularly transport and health professionals who are keen to work together and learn about potential health outcomes from transport projects.

Programme

Speakers

Professor Rosie McEachan, Born in Bradford - Public Health Challenges and Opportunities in Bradford

Sally Jones, Environment and Sustainability Manager, Bradford Council - Outcomes from Bradford’s Clean Air Zone

James Greenwood, Active Travel Social Prescribing Manager and Angela Hutton, Senior Public Health Specialist - Promoting Healthy Travel

Take action: Record your CPD

CPD is defined as any activity that provides new knowledge or skills that help you to achieve your professional development goals or has otherwise helped you to develop as a highways and transportation professional

Plan, record and manage your CPD for free at CIHT Learn.

Need help with getting the most out of your CPD access CIHT’s CPD Guidance here.

Accessibility and Inclusion, Help & Support

We are working to ensure that the event is as comfortable and inclusive as possible.

You can contact us in confidence to ask questions and/or to let us know of any accessibility requirements or adjustments that you may have: regions@ciht.org.uk 

Walking Tour led by Darren Badrock, Saira Ali, Bradford Council with reps from Balfour Beatty and SWECO.

Meet at Bradford City Hall, Committee Room 5 at 10:00.

Join the project team for a walking tour of the city centre’s transformation, demonstrating how the significant changes have enabled Bradford to be healthier with a more vibrant and nature-positive public realm. The tour will encompass features such as:

• 2.4 km of segregated cycle lanes through the city which connect with existing and future active travel super highways.
• The “spine route” – a central mobility artery combining carefully placed cycleways, pedestrian zones, street trees, seating and enhanced paving.
• The innovative “super‑crossing” – wide, direct pedestrian and cycle crossings replacing subways, enabling safe movement in both directions.
• Major pedestrianisation of streets such as Hall Ings, with 1.6 km of traffic‑free zones now creating safer, greener places to walk and socialize.
• Integration of green infrastructure and SuDS, creative landscape architecture, pocket parks, and natural barriers ensuring a beautiful, climate-resilient environment.

Finish back at Bradford City Hall by 13:00

Transport and Health Policy and Practice, Presentations and Discussion – sponsored by Systra.

Meet at Bradford City Hall, Committee Room 1 at 13:00, lunch provided, presentations start at 13:30.

Public Health Challenges and Opportunities in Bradford - Professor Rosie McEachan, Born in Bradford

Health Context in Bradford, impact of transport on health, and the need for transport planners and public health practitioners to work together.

Rosie McEachan is the Director of Born in Bradford and the UK Population Health Improvement Healthy Urban Places consortium. Using data from over 60,000 Bradford residents enrolled in the Born in Bradford cohort study, she leads a programme of research embedding evidence in to place based intervention, with a focusing on maximising the potential of place based interventions to improve population health and reduce health inequalities.

Outcomes from Bradford’s Clean Air Zone - Sally Jones, Environment and Sustainability Manager, Bradford Council

The design, development and implementation of the Bradford Clean Air Zone, the challenges along the way and the outputs and benefits for residents as we reach the third anniversary of the CAZ.

Sally Jones has over 25 years’ experience in local air quality management. After many years contributing to the evidence base for air quality action through health research, Sally now specialises in interventions to provide tangible air pollution reduction with a focus on maximum public health improvement. Sally studied Environmental Chemistry at Leeds University and is a registered public health practitioner.

Promoting Healthy Travel - James Greenwood, Active Travel Social Prescribing Manager and Angela Hutton, Senior Public Health Specialist

Bradford is one of 11 local authority areas taking part in an Active Travel England pilot project to test and learn from active travel interventions. The pilot is focused on 3 areas of the District that show significant health inequalities amongst residents.

James Greenwood, is Active Travel Social Prescribing Manager, Bradford Council, an active travel professional, a lifelong active traveler, a qualified Bikeability instructor, Travel Trainer and Ride Leader. A past career in FMCG retail, looking at consumer trends, patterns, demand management and associated product flows. Team, system and process development all part of the many varied roles. James has a degree in Urban and Regional Geography from Sheffield Hallam University.

Angela Hutton is a senior Public Health specialist and team lead for Healthy Places in Bradford Council’s Public Health team. Our small team works with the Place department and other departments, providing practical, population health-based input to projects, bids, policy and strategy, planning decisions and Masterplanning. Angela has a Masters Degree in Public Health from the University of York.

Finish by 15:00.