Information on Loughborough

Loughborough MP backs Active Travel plan

Posted on 10/07/2007
P. Klein

deer pictured at Bradgate Park Loughborough MP Andy Reed is backing the findings of a new report which says walking and cycling is the best buy in transport investment.

The Sustrans report entitled "The Value of Investment in Active Travel reviews evidence from around the world, and concludes that schemes to encourage a shift from private motorised transport to walking and cycling are the most cost effective use of transport funds, and are also the most cost efficient means of increasing physical activity levels across the population.

In England, 63% of men and 76% of women are not meeting the recommended physical activity target " participation in activity of at least moderate intensity for at least 30 minutes on at least 5 days a week " and in Scotland, 59% of men and 72% of women are not sufficiently active. This inactive lifestyle substantially increases their risk of a broad range of chronic diseases.

In children, fewer than half of 15 year old boys and under 30% of girls in England achieve the recommended hour of physical activity on most days of the week; in Scotland the figures are similar for boys but only 23% for girls, and in Wales just 40% of boys and 18% of girls.

A major factor in this decline in physical activity has been the growth of car travel, which has led to a long term decline in active travel " walking and cycling. Between 1975/76 and 2005 the total walking mileage per person per year fell 21%; cycling fell 29%.

Government policy and public health guidance call for increases in physical activity, noting that two-thirds of the UK population are insufficiently active to protect themselves from major risk to health such as heart disease and some cancers, and that physical inactivity now cost the UK over £10 billion a year.

The research cited includes analysis of three local walking and cycling route projects built in 2005, using a new Department for Transport cost benefit assessment tool. The returns on investment for these turned out far higher than for typical transport schemes focussed on private motorised transport.

Reed said:

"I back the findings of this new report by Sustrans, especially the research they are doing into the importance of Active Travel. This is what I have been saying for some time, that we need to encourage people to be more active in travelling from A to B and walking and cycling wherever possible.

"As I said during a health debate in the House of Commons last week, we need to tackle lifestyle illnesses like obesity by getting people active " and then combine this with having a proper diet. This will have a massive positive impact not just on Government spending on health, but also on the lives of the people who commit to more active travel in their daily lives.