A new report released today, Active Transport for Healthy Living, calls on government to do more to encourage better use of active transport.

The Active Transport for Healthy Living collaboration is a made up of preeminent professional bodies from health, transport, architecture, planning, engineering and the environment including the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT).

This Case for Action highlights the breadth of existing work that demonstrates the benefits of active transport for health, the economy and the environment.  It also identifies opportunities within the planning, design, engineering and transport policy realms to increase levels of active transport.

Britain is facing an inactivity crisis with associated health impacts costing society an estimated £10 billion a year.

Poor air quality, caused in no small part by traffic pollution costs £19 billion and traffic accidents cost £9 billion.

Excess traffic delays incur urban economies expenses of £11 billion every year.

Making our towns and cities places where walking and cycling are both safe and attractive options could reduce these costs significantly. There is a raft of wider benefits, not least boosts to local high streets pending, more attractive and inclusive neighbourhoods and greater climate resilience associated with such measures.

55% of car journeys are less than 5 miles and could often be taken by active modes, yet in the UK only 2% of journeys are taken by bike at present (compared to 27% in the Netherlands).

These messages have been recognised in health and transport sectors for some time but this is the first time that they have been championed by such a broad collective of authoritative bodies.

Andrew Hugill, Director of Policy & Technical Affairs at CIHT, said: “Our highway and transport networks, used in an active, integrated way, have the potential to substantially improve the health of our country. We welcome this report.”

ENDS

Notes for editors

The report is available to view here.

Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation:

CIHT is a membership organisation representing over 12,500 people who work in the highways and transportation sector.

CIHT members plan, design, build, operate and maintain best-in-class transport systems and infrastructure, whilst respecting the imperatives of improving safety, ensuring economic competitiveness and minimising environmental impact.

CIHT supports its member's professional endeavours by:

• offering training, information, professional development and support
• promoting the value added to society by the profession
• being the focused voice to Governments and other decision makers on transportation expertise and knowledge.
 

For more information please contact:

Daniel Isichei, Director of Communications e: daniel.isichei@ciht.org.uk  t: +44(0)20 7336 1567 m: 07912 122573 www.ciht.org.uk