In the autumn of 2019, I made myself the Walking and Cycling champion for my hometown of Wellingborough.
To be honest, getting anything done to improve lives for the vast majority will be incredibly difficult as it is very loud minority which scream and shout to get their own way. For the benefit of society, it is time to benefit the most vulnerable modes of travel.
It takes a simple Google to begin to understand the vast benefits of walking and cycling.
In 2017, the government pushed the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy.
I shall be using this page to note some key quotes from the document which developers, planners, and highways engineers need to remember.
Public Health England: Everybody Active, Every Day
2.28 Physical inactivity directly contributes to one in six deaths in the UK and costs business and wider society £7.4 billion a year (9). Physical inactivity is among the top ten causes of disease and disability in England (10).
2.29 Childhood obesity is the great health challenge of this generation. We have one of the worst records for childhood obesity in the developed world and one in five children leave primary school obese (11). Physical activity brings important health benefits, andactive travel – like walking or cycling to school – provides a healthy way to start the day. The Government’s Childhood Obesity Plan (12) will help children and families to recognise and make healthier choices, and be more active.(9) Public Health England (2014) Everybody Active, Every Day – An evidence-based approach to physical activity
(10) Newton et al. (2015) Changes in health in England, with analysis by English regions and areas of deprivation, 1990–2013: a
systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013. The Lancet(11) http://www.noo.org.uk/NOO_about_obesity/child_obesity (
12) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childhood-obesity-a-plan-for-action
2.30 In October 2014, Public Health England published an evidence-based framework, Everybody Active, Every Day (13), highlighting that walking and cycling are often the easiest ways to build activity into daily life, and are good for our physical and mental health. Public Health England is continuing to support the public health system and transport planners on prioritising and taking action on active travel.
National Planning Policy
2.33 National planning policy sets out a clear approach to promote sustainable transport. One of the core planning principles set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (15) is that the planning system should actively manage patterns of growth to make the fullest possible use of public transport, walking and cycling, and focus significant development in sustainable locations.2.34 The Community Infrastructure Levy allows local authorities in England and Wales to raise funds from developers undertaking new building projects in their area in order to help provide vital infrastructure, based on local priorities. The levy can be used to fund a wide range of infrastructure, including transport, parks and green spaces, cultural and sports facilities. The levy is a set charge on relevant new developments based on the amount of gross internal floor space.
2.35 Through their Local Plans and planning decisions, local planning authorities should ensure developments that generate significant movement are located where the need to travel will be minimised and the use of sustainable transport modes can be maximised. Local Plans, prepared in consultation with local communities, should protect and exploit opportunities for the use of sustainable transport modes for the movement of goods or people. Developments should be located and designed where practical to:
• give priority to pedestrian and cycle movements, and have access to high quality public transport facilities
• create safe and secure layouts which minimise conflicts between traffic and
cyclists or pedestrians
• site key facilities such as primary schools and local shops within walking distance of most properties, particularly within large-scale developments(13) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/everybody-active-every-day-a-framework-to-embed-physical-activity-into-daily-life
(15) http://planningguidance.communities.gov.uk/blog/guidance/transport-evidence-bases-in-plan-making/transport-evidence-bases-inplan-making-guidance/
