cycling - Research library - 'We can move' insight2024-03-28T09:29:15Zhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/feed/tag/cyclingSustrans and Bosch bring e-bike charging stations to the National Cycle Networkhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/sustrans-and-bosch-bring-e-bike-charging-stations-to-the-national2022-06-22T11:40:20.000Z2022-06-22T11:40:20.000ZLouise Silverhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/LouiseSilver<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10588040056?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Source: Sustrans 17.06.22</p>
<p><a href="https://www.sustrans.org.uk/our-blog/news/2022/june/sustrans-and-bosch-bring-e-bike-charging-stations-to-the-national-cycle-network/" target="_blank">https://www.sustrans.org.uk/our-blog/news/2022/june/sustrans-and-bosch-bring-e-bike-charging-stations-to-the-national-cycle-network/</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Sustrans have partnered with Bosch eBike Systems to introduce electric bike charging stations on National Cycle Network routes across the UK. The charging stations will give e-bike riders the confidence to take long distance trips across the British countryside.</p>
<p>The charging stations are known as PowerStations and are placed in key locations across the National Cycle Network. The stations are free to use and available to all e-bike riders.</p></div>Bikeability receives £20 million government investment to improve access to cycle traininghttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/bikeability-receives-20-million-government-investment-to-improve-2022-03-15T15:56:38.000Z2022-03-15T15:56:38.000ZLouise Silverhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/LouiseSilver<div><p>Source: Gov.uk 10.03.22</p>
<p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bikeability-receives-record-20-million-government-investment-to-improve-access-to-cycle-training" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bikeability-receives-record-20-million-government-investment-to-improve-access-to-cycle-training</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed £20 million of funding for Bikeability which aims to promote active travel and provide cycle training to half a million children and their families. The scheme has trained over 3.6 million children since 2007 and DfT has now announced record funding to ensure even more are equipped with the skills, confidence, and knowledge to cycle on our roads and can gain other essential life skills.</p>
<p>Bikeability teaches children an essential life skill that benefits their health and helps them make more sustainable travel choices. Getting children cycling when they’re young embeds active habits for life, gives them the independence to travel to school and, most importantly, helps them discover how fun cycling is.</p>
<p>The Government wants more parents and pupils to choose cycling for the school run and other everyday journeys, as we look to decarbonise our transport network and build back greener from COVID-19. </p></div>Olympic gold medallist and cyclist Chris Boardman to lead government's new active travel bodyhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/olympic-gold-medallist-and-cyclist-chris-boardman-to-lead-governm2022-01-27T14:30:07.000Z2022-01-27T14:30:07.000ZLouise Silverhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/LouiseSilver<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10050422872?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Source: Gov.uk 22.01.22</p>
<p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/olympic-gold-medallist-and-cyclist-chris-boardman-to-lead-governments-new-active-travel-body" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/olympic-gold-medallist-and-cyclist-chris-boardman-to-lead-governments-new-active-travel-body</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Active Travel England (ATE), the government’s new cycling and walking executive agency has been launched with Olympic gold medallist and cyclist Chris Boardman as interim commissioner. The agency aims to create safer streets for cycling and walking to boost air quality and help improve the health and wellbeing of the nation.</p>
<p>Chris Boardman will now lead the ATE team in its work to raise the standards of cycling and walking infrastructure,in line with the principles set out in <a href="https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/yoloCxlm5c1pyXHVOQE_?domain=loughboroughuniversity.cmail19.com">Gear Change: a bold new vision for walking and cycling</a>. ATE is also responsible for managing the national active travel budget. Preliminary work is already underway, scrutinising councils’ plans for active travel and supporting them to create ambitious schemes that will enable more people to walk, wheel and cycle safely. </p></div>Better walking and cycling infrastructure crucial to keeping over 50s healthyhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/better-walking-and-cycling-infrastructure-crucial-to-keeping-over2021-10-06T15:21:52.000Z2021-10-06T15:21:52.000ZLouise Silverhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/LouiseSilver<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9651564062?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Source: Ageing-better.org 04.10.21</p>
<p><a href="https://ageing-better.org.uk/news/better-walking-and-cycling-infrastructure-crucial-to-keeping-over-50s-healthy" target="_blank">https://ageing-better.org.uk/news/better-walking-and-cycling-infrastructure-crucial-to-keeping-over-50s-healthy</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p style="line-height:15.75pt;vertical-align:middle;margin:12pt 0cm 0cm 0cm;"><span style="margin:0px;top:-8.5pt;color:#333333;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;position:relative;">According to a new report, 'Best foot forward' published by the Centre for Ageing Better, too many people in their 50s and 60s will remain physically inactive unless we re-design our neighbourhoods to encourage walking and cycling. The report, which looked at the barriers people in this age group face to walking and cycling, says that action is needed from national and local government, service providers and health systems to get people moving.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:15.75pt;vertical-align:middle;margin:15pt 0cm 0cm 0cm;"><span style="margin:0px;top:-8.5pt;color:#333333;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;position:relative;">Data from Sport England shows that 35% of people aged 45 to 54; 38% of those aged 55 to 64 and 43% of those aged 65 to 74 do not do the amount of physical activity recommended by government. People in their 50s spend less than two hours a week walking or cycling, and people in their 60s spend just over an hour and a half walking or cycling.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:15.75pt;vertical-align:middle;margin:15pt 0cm 0cm 0cm;"><span style="margin:0px;top:-8.5pt;color:#333333;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;position:relative;">According to the report, avoiding the stresses and annoyances of driving – like traffic and parking – is a key motivation for walking or cycling; however, fear of traffic and a lack of confidence act as barriers to cycling</span></p>
<p style="line-height:15.75pt;vertical-align:middle;margin:15pt 0cm 15pt 0cm;"><span style="margin:0px;top:-8.5pt;color:#333333;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;position:relative;">The report also found that health conditions and the perception that they’re not fit enough are major barriers to people in their 50s and 60s getting active in this way, but wanting to improve fitness can also be a motivation.</span></p></div>Walking and cycling statistics, England: 2020https://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/walking-and-cycling-statistics-england-20202021-10-05T14:48:40.000Z2021-10-05T14:48:40.000ZLouise Silverhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/LouiseSilver<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9648220667?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p style="line-height:15.75pt;vertical-align:middle;margin:12pt 0cm 0cm 0cm;"><span style="margin:0px;top:-8.5pt;color:#333333;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;position:relative;">Source: Gov.uk 22.09.2021</span></p>
<p style="line-height:15.75pt;vertical-align:middle;margin:12pt 0cm 0cm 0cm;"><span style="margin:0px;top:-8.5pt;color:#333333;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;position:relative;"><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/walking-and-cycling-statistics-england-2020" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/walking-and-cycling-statistics-england-2020</a></span></p>
<p style="line-height:15.75pt;vertical-align:middle;margin:12pt 0cm 0cm 0cm;"> </p>
<p style="line-height:15.75pt;vertical-align:middle;margin:12pt 0cm 0cm 0cm;"><span style="margin:0px;top:-8.5pt;color:#333333;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;position:relative;">This statistical release from the Department for Transport presents information on walking and cycling in England in 2020 using data from the 2020 National Travel Survey (NTS) and the November 2019 to 2020 Active Lives Survey (ALS).</span></p>
<h3 style="margin:20px 0px 0px;line-height:18pt;vertical-align:middle;"><span style="margin:0px;top:-8.5pt;color:#008542;font-family:'Open Sans', sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:normal;position:relative;">Key findings</span></h3>
<p style="line-height:15.75pt;vertical-align:middle;margin:9pt 0cm 0cm 0cm;"><strong><span style="margin:0px;top:-8.5pt;color:#333333;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;position:relative;">Walking</span></strong></p>
<p style="margin:20px 0px 0px 72px;line-height:15.75pt;text-indent:-18pt;vertical-align:middle;"><span style="margin:0px;top:-8.5pt;color:#333333;font-family:Symbol;font-size:10pt;position:relative;"><span style="margin:0px;">·<span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';margin:0px;"> </span></span></span><span style="margin:0px;top:-8.5pt;color:#333333;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;position:relative;">Average walking trips decreased in 2020, whilst miles walked per person increased to their highest levels since 2002.</span></p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 0px 72px;line-height:15.75pt;text-indent:-18pt;vertical-align:middle;"><span style="margin:0px;top:-8.5pt;color:#333333;font-family:Symbol;font-size:10pt;position:relative;"><span style="margin:0px;">·<span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';margin:0px;"> </span></span></span><span style="margin:0px;top:-8.5pt;color:#333333;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;position:relative;">Average walking trips decreased by 5%, from 250 trips per person in 2019 to 236 trips per person in 2020.</span></p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 0px 72px;line-height:15.75pt;text-indent:-18pt;vertical-align:middle;"><span style="margin:0px;top:-8.5pt;color:#333333;font-family:Symbol;font-size:10pt;position:relative;"><span style="margin:0px;">·<span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';margin:0px;"> </span></span></span><span style="margin:0px;top:-8.5pt;color:#333333;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;position:relative;">Average miles walked per person in 2020 increased to the highest levels since the start of the series, 220 miles per person per year. This follows the 34% increase in average walking trips over a mile in 2020 compared to 2019.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:15.75pt;vertical-align:middle;margin:15pt 0cm 0cm 0cm;"><strong><span style="margin:0px;top:-8.5pt;color:#333333;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;position:relative;">Cycling</span></strong></p>
<p style="margin:20px 0px 0px 72px;line-height:15.75pt;text-indent:-18pt;vertical-align:middle;"><span style="margin:0px;top:-8.5pt;color:#333333;font-family:Symbol;font-size:10pt;position:relative;"><span style="margin:0px;">·<span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';margin:0px;"> </span></span></span><span style="margin:0px;top:-8.5pt;color:#333333;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;position:relative;">Cycling levels increased in 2020 to the highest levels seen since the start of the series, with increases seen in trips, stages and miles cycled.</span></p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 0px 72px;line-height:15.75pt;text-indent:-18pt;vertical-align:middle;"><span style="margin:0px;top:-8.5pt;color:#333333;font-family:Symbol;font-size:10pt;position:relative;"><span style="margin:0px;">·<span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';margin:0px;"> </span></span></span><span style="margin:0px;top:-8.5pt;color:#333333;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;position:relative;">Average cycling trips increased by 26%, from 16 trips per person in 2019 to 20 in 2020.</span></p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 0px 72px;line-height:15.75pt;text-indent:-18pt;vertical-align:middle;"><span style="margin:0px;top:-8.5pt;color:#333333;font-family:Symbol;font-size:10pt;position:relative;"><span style="margin:0px;">·<span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';margin:0px;"> </span></span></span><span style="margin:0px;top:-8.5pt;color:#333333;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;position:relative;">Average miles cycled per person increased by 62% between 2019 (54 miles per person) and 2020 (88 miles per person), more than double the average distance in 2002 (39 miles per person).</span></p></div>Million pound investment to make cycling more accessible for allhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/million-pound-investment-to-make-cycling-more-accessible-for-all2021-09-22T09:29:17.000Z2021-09-22T09:29:17.000ZLouise Silverhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/LouiseSilver<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9595399074?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Source:Gov.wales 09.09.21</p>
<p><a href="https://gov.wales/million-pound-investment-make-cycling-more-accessible-all" target="_blank">https://gov.wales/million-pound-investment-make-cycling-more-accessible-all</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p style="line-height:15.75pt;vertical-align:middle;margin:12pt 0cm 0cm 0cm;"><span style="margin:0px;top:-8.5pt;color:#333333;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;position:relative;">An electric bike pilot scheme that has received more than £1 million of funding from the Welsh Government is already helping local residents to swap their car for a bike in communities across Wales.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:15.75pt;vertical-align:middle;margin:15pt 0cm 0cm 0cm;"><span style="margin:0px;top:-8.5pt;color:#333333;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;position:relative;">The electric bike loan scheme, run by Sustrans, offers a range of battery assisted electric bikes for free on long-term loan for local residents that do not cycle regularly or find the cost of electric bikes a barrier to using them.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:15.75pt;vertical-align:middle;margin:15pt 0cm 15pt 0cm;"><span style="margin:0px;top:-8.5pt;color:#333333;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;position:relative;">The scheme which is being rolled out initially in five locations across Wales, Rhyl, Swansea, Newtown (with links to Aberystwyth) and Barry, will help the Welsh Government gather data to inform recommendations for the long term use of electric bikes and active travel.</span></p></div>Increasing uptake of cycling following COVID-19 travel disruptionhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/increasing-uptake-of-cycling-following-covid-19-travel-disruption2021-08-05T13:32:57.000Z2021-08-05T13:32:57.000ZLouise Silverhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/LouiseSilver<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9384705073?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Source: Gov.uk 30.07.2021</p>
<p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/increasing-uptake-of-cycling-following-covid-19-travel-disruption" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/increasing-uptake-of-cycling-following-covid-19-travel-disruption</a></p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9384706289,original{{/staticFileLink}}">moment-of-change-increasing-cycling-uptake.pdf</a></p>
<p>This research, published by the Department for Transport, explores how to increase cycling behaviour following COVID-19 travel disruption.</p>
<p>The research sets out to develop policy options to convert high levels of cycling during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic into more long-term travel habits.</p>
<p>The report sets out three policy options, developed to focus on three target areas:</p>
<ul>
<li>home movers</li>
<li>cycling to work</li>
<li>groups identified as ‘high priority’, including new or returning cyclists.</li>
</ul></div>Gear Change: one-year-on reviewhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/gear-change-one-year-on-review2021-08-05T13:28:55.000Z2021-08-05T13:28:55.000ZLouise Silverhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/LouiseSilver<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9384695875?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Source: Gov.uk 30.07.2021</p>
<p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gear-change-one-year-on-review" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gear-change-one-year-on-review</a></p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9384697273,original{{/staticFileLink}}">gear-change-one-year-on.pdf</a></p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9384701081,original{{/staticFileLink}}">gear-change-a-bold-vision-for-cycling-and-walking.pdf</a></p>
<p>This document reviews the progress made towards achieving the goals of the government’s Gear Change walking and cycling plan.</p>
<p>The report:</p>
<ul>
<li>summarises what has been achieved</li>
<li>sets out evidence from a number of case studies</li>
<li>explains the benefits of the investment.</li>
</ul></div>Cycling study transforms heart health of dialysis patientshttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/cycling-study-transforms-heart-health-of-dialysis-patients-12021-08-05T08:49:46.000Z2021-08-05T08:49:46.000ZLouise Silverhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/LouiseSilver<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9383247896?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Source: NIHR 09.04.2021</p>
<p><a href="https://www.leicesterbrc.nihr.ac.uk/cycling-study-transforms-heart-health-of-dialysis-patients/" target="_blank">https://www.leicesterbrc.nihr.ac.uk/cycling-study-transforms-heart-health-of-dialysis-patients/</a></p>
<p>Cycling at moderate intensity during dialysis could drastically improve the heart health of patients with kidney failure and result in significant savings for the NHS, according to new research by the University of Leicester supported by the charity Kidney Research UK and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Centre.<span id="more-2714"></span></p>
<p>Patients in the CYCLE-HD study were offered 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise on a specially adapted bicycle during their regular dialysis sessions. Dialysis can lead to long-term scarring of the heart, which can accumulate over time and lead to heart failure. The study set out to examine whether exercise could reduce these side-effects.</p>
<p>After six months, participants’ hearts were assessed with an MRI scan and compared with pre-trial imaging. Patients who had cycled showed improvements in several aspects of heart health – their hearts were more like a ‘normal’ size, they had less scarring, and there was less stiffness of the major blood vessels.</p></div>Promoting cycling can save lives and advance health across Europehttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/promoting-cycling-can-save-lives-and-advance-health-across-europe2021-06-10T13:54:15.000Z2021-06-10T13:54:15.000ZLouise Silverhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/LouiseSilver<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9073705680?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Source: World Health Organisation June 21</p>
<p><a href="https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/disease-prevention/physical-activity/news/news/2021/6/promoting-cycling-can-save-lives-and-advance-health-across-europe-through-improved-air-quality-and-increased-physical-activity" target="_blank">https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/disease-prevention/physical-activity/news/news/2021/6/promoting-cycling-can-save-lives-and-advance-health-across-europe-through-improved-air-quality-and-increased-physical-activity</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p style="line-height:15.75pt;vertical-align:middle;margin:12pt 0cm 0cm 0cm;"><span style="margin:0px;top:-8.5pt;color:#333333;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;position:relative;">On World Bicycle Day, celebrated on 3 June, the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights a new master plan that calls countries to acknowledge cycling as an equal mode of transport and to double the level of cycling by 2030. The Pan-European Master Plan for Cycling Promotion provides a set of recommendations to reallocate space for cycling and walking, improve active mobility infrastructure, increase cyclist and pedestrian safety to reduce fatalities, develop national cycling policies and integrate cycling into health policies and urban and transport planning.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:15.75pt;vertical-align:middle;margin:15pt 0cm 0cm 0cm;"><span style="margin:0px;top:-8.5pt;color:#333333;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;position:relative;">Cycling can contribute to improving the environment as well as people’s health, safety and overall quality of life. Each year, about one million deaths in the WHO European Region are attributed to insufficient physical activity. Increasing the level of cycling can help to prevent these deaths. The Pan-European Master Plan for Cycling Promotion, endorsed by 56 countries of the pan-European region in May, supports this goal.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:15.75pt;vertical-align:middle;margin:15pt 0cm 15pt 0cm;"><span style="margin:0px;top:-8.5pt;color:#333333;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;position:relative;">During the pandemic, cycling emerged as a viable mobility option that enables physical distancing, relieves the burden on public transport and helps people to meet the minimum requirement for daily physical activity. Many countries have seen an increase in bicycle usage and developed new initiatives to support cycling that are opening the door for new, lasting policies.</span></p></div>Cycling study transforms heart health of dialysis patientshttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/cycling-study-transforms-heart-health-of-dialysis-patients2021-05-19T09:14:16.000Z2021-05-19T09:14:16.000ZLouise Silverhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/LouiseSilver<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8944646257?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Source: Kidney International April 21</p>
<p><a href="https://www.kidney-international.org/article/S0085-2538(21)00269-6/fulltext" target="_blank">https://www.kidney-international.org/article/S0085-2538(21)00269-6/fulltext</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Cycling at moderate intensity during dialysis could drastically improve the heart health of patients with kidney failure and result in significant savings for the NHS, according to new research by the <a style="background-color:transparent;color:#94197d;font-weight:600;position:relative;text-decoration:underline;" href="https://le.ac.uk/">University of Leicester</a> supported by the charity <a style="background-color:transparent;color:#94197d;font-weight:600;position:relative;text-decoration:underline;" href="https://kidneyresearchuk.org/">Kidney Research UK</a> and <a style="background-color:transparent;color:#94197d;font-weight:600;position:relative;text-decoration:underline;" href="https://www.leicesterbrc.nihr.ac.uk/">National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Centre</a>.</span></p>
<p style="background-color:transparent;color:#595959;font-family:'myriad-pro', sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin-bottom:24px;margin-top:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;">Patients in the CYCLE-HD study were offered 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise on a specially adapted bicycle during their regular dialysis sessions. Dialysis can lead to long-term scarring of the heart, which can accumulate over time and lead to heart failure. The study set out to examine whether exercise could reduce these side-effects.</p>
<p style="background-color:transparent;color:#595959;font-family:'myriad-pro', sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin-bottom:24px;margin-top:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;">After six months, participants’ hearts were assessed with an MRI scan and compared with pre-trial imaging. Patients who had cycled showed improvements in several aspects of heart health – their hearts were more like a ‘normal’ size, they had less scarring, and there was less stiffness of the major blood vessels.</p>
<p style="background-color:transparent;color:#595959;font-family:'myriad-pro', sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin-bottom:24px;margin-top:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;">Analysis of the study also demonstrated a saving in healthcare costs of more than £1,400 per patient which, when balanced against the cost of the exercise equipment, could result in significant savings for the NHS.</p>
<p style="background-color:transparent;color:#595959;font-family:'myriad-pro', sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin-bottom:24px;margin-top:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;">James Burton is a Professor of Renal Medicine and Honorary Consultant Nephrologist at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, and was chief investigator on the study. He said: “We know that being more active can help reduce the risk of heart disease, as well as helping to control weight, reduce blood pressure and cholesterol, and improve mental health.</p>
<p style="background-color:transparent;color:#595959;font-family:'myriad-pro', sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin-bottom:24px;margin-top:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;">“For all those reasons – but especially because the risk of heart disease is so high – keeping active is particularly important for people on dialysis. Unfortunately, by the time that someone has travelled to and from the dialysis unit, and spent four hours connected up to the dialysis machine, there’s very little time to do anything else that day, and the reality is that this happens three times a week for most patients.</p>
<p style="background-color:transparent;color:#595959;font-family:'myriad-pro', sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin-bottom:24px;margin-top:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;">“The findings of this study offer significant improvements to the heart health of dialysis patients which may have a major impact on their outlook.”</p>
<p style="background-color:transparent;color:#595959;font-family:'myriad-pro', sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin-bottom:24px;margin-top:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;">Lord Bethell, Minister for Innovation, said: “Keeping active has a range of health benefits – both physical and mental – and the importance of exercise has become increasingly apparent over recent months with its impact on COVID-19.</p>
<p style="background-color:transparent;color:#595959;font-family:'myriad-pro', sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin-bottom:24px;margin-top:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;">“We have long been aware of the impact of exercise on other diseases and this research by the University of Leicester is testament to the ways we’re constantly looking to improve people’s health – through better understanding of conditions, faster diagnosis and improving treatment.</p>
<p style="background-color:transparent;color:#595959;font-family:'myriad-pro', sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin-bottom:24px;margin-top:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;">“Not only does this research show we can reduce the side effects of dialysis, but it could also mean a significant saving for the NHS.”</p>
<p style="background-color:transparent;color:#595959;font-family:'myriad-pro', sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin-bottom:24px;margin-top:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;">Professor Jeremy Hughes, kidney doctor and chair of trustees at Kidney Research UK said: “We are delighted to have supported this fascinating study, which shows how exercising while on dialysis can have so many benefits. Cycling can keep patients active and help to pass the long periods of time they spend attached to their dialysis machines.</p>
<p style="background-color:transparent;color:#595959;font-family:'myriad-pro', sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin-bottom:24px;margin-top:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;">“However, this study demonstrates that this simple intervention keeps their hearts healthy and offsets the major heart risk associated with kidney failure. We hope this research will lead to other studies examining how to roll it out to other dialysis units across the country.”</p>
<p style="background-color:transparent;color:#595959;font-family:'myriad-pro', sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin-bottom:24px;margin-top:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;">Dialysis is a life-saving procedure for people living with kidney failure, removing waste products from the body. More than 24,000 patients in the UK typically undergo haemodialysis therapy three times a week at four hours each time.</p>
<p style="background-color:transparent;color:#595959;font-family:'myriad-pro', sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin-bottom:24px;margin-top:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">A quarter of deaths among haemodialysis patients in the UK between 2009 and 2018 were as a result of cardiovascular disease, according to the <a style="background-color:transparent;color:#94197d;font-weight:600;position:relative;text-decoration:underline;" href="https://renal.org/about-us/who-we-are/uk-renal-registry">UK Renal Registry</a>.</span></p>
<p style="background-color:transparent;color:#595959;font-family:'myriad-pro', sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin-bottom:24px;margin-top:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Researchers will now examine the possibilities of a wider rollout of the scheme to benefit patients across the UK, and it now forms part of the <a style="background-color:transparent;color:#94197d;font-weight:600;position:relative;text-decoration:underline;" href="https://renal.org/">Renal Association’s</a> haemodialysis guidelines.</span></p>
<p style="background-color:transparent;color:#595959;font-family:'myriad-pro', sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The CYCLE-HD study was undertaken by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Centre and supported by <a style="background-color:transparent;color:#94197d;font-weight:600;position:relative;text-decoration:underline;" href="https://kidneyresearchuk.org/">Kidney Research UK</a>.</span></p></div>Walking and Cycling statistics release - England 2019https://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/walking-and-cycling-statistics-release-england-20192020-08-12T10:38:30.000Z2020-08-12T10:38:30.000ZAlan Inman-Wardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/AlanInmanWard<div><p>Source: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/walking-and-cycling-statistics-england-2019">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/walking-and-cycling-statistics-england-2019</a></p>
<p>5th August 2020</p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7425867666,original{{/staticFileLink}}">walking-and-cycling-statistics-england-2019.pdf</a></p>
<h2 class="gem-c-heading gem-c-heading--font-size-27 gem-c-heading--mobile-top-margin">Details</h2>
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<p>Statistics on walking and cycling statistics in England for 2019. This statistical release is based on 2 main sources:</p>
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<li>National Travel Survey</li>
<li>Active Lives Survey</li>
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<p>Results from the National Travel Survey in 2019 show that:</p>
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<li>people made an average of 332 walking stages and walked an average of 205 miles</li>
<li>people on average have walked less than the previous year, after increasing in recent years.</li>
<li>people made an average of 17 cycling trips and cycled an average of 54 miles</li>
<li>people cycled 41% further compared to 2002</li>
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<p>Results from the Active Lives Survey in the year ending mid-November 2019 show that:</p>
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<li>71% of adults in England reported walking at least once a week</li>
<li>nearly all (98%) local authorities had at least 60% of their adult population walking at least once a week</li>
<li>11% of adults in England reported cycling at least once a week</li>
<li>in most local authorities (96%) less than 20% the adult population reported cycling at least once a week</li>
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<h2 id="contact-us">Contact us</h2>
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<h3>Walking and cycling statistics</h3>
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<p class="email"><span class="type">Email</span><a class="govuk-link" href="mailto:subnational.stats@dft.gov.uk">subnational.stats@dft.gov.uk</a></p>
<p class="tel"><span class="type">Public enquiries</span>020 7944 3077</p>
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</div></div>School Streets Closure Traffic Displacement Literature Reviewhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/school-streets-closure-traffic-displacement-literature-review2020-08-05T13:36:00.000Z2020-08-05T13:36:00.000ZAlan Inman-Wardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/AlanInmanWard<div><p>Source: <a href="https://blogs.napier.ac.uk/tri/projects/">https://blogs.napier.ac.uk/tri/projects/</a></p>
<p>10th July 2020</p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7251801893,original{{/staticFileLink}}">School Streets Closure Traffic Displacement Literature Review FINAL.pdf</a></p>
<p>This report sets out the findings of a review of the existing literature on the impact of school street closures designed to create safer spaces for walking, cycling or street play. The evidence from the literature was supplemented by a number of semi-structured telephone interviews with relevant officers responsible for local authority school street closure schemes.</p>
<p>The review focuses in particular on whether any traffic displacement brought about by schemes was associated with negative safety issues in surrounding streets.</p>
<p><br />The main findings are:</p>
<p>On the nature, scale and coverage of the evidence<br /> We located 16 studies, all of which had not been peer reviewed although one was a Masters dissertation<br /> The locations covered by the studies included Camden, Edinburgh, Solihull, Perth and Kinross, East Lothian, Croydon, Southampton, and the region of Flanders, Belgium.</p>
<p>On the motivators of the street closure schemes there is<br /> Strong evidence that reported road casualties were not a motivator of the closure schemes<br /> Strong evidence that local perceptions of danger and safety risk were the key motivators<br /> Strong evidence that the key purpose or one of the key purposes of the schemes was to increase the number of children travelling actively to school.</p>
<p>On the impact of the schemes on active travel and vehicles levels and on local support there is<br /> Medium strength evidence that in almost all cases the total number of motor vehicles across school closures and neighbouring streets reduces<br /> Medium strength evidence that active travel levels increased at the schools with street closures<br /> Medium strength evidence that closures are supported by the majority of parents and residents living on the closed and neighbouring streets and that their support increases after any trial period.</p>
<p>On the impact on neighbouring streets<br /> Strong and consistent evidence that traffic displacement does not cause road safety issues of any significance and that mitigating measures, where needed, have been applied successfully<br /> Medium strength evidence that perceived road safety on surrounding streets as well as the closure streets improves as active travel increases</p>
<p> Medium strength evidence that alternative parking schemes such as “Park and Stride” help reduce traffic displacement although a small number of badly parked vehicles can remain an issue.</p>
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<p> </p></div>New report shows large unmet demand for cycling from ethnic minority and disadvantaged groupshttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/new-report-shows-large-unmet-demand-for-cycling-from-ethnic-minor2020-08-05T08:29:28.000Z2020-08-05T08:29:28.000ZAlan Inman-Wardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/AlanInmanWard<div><p>Source: <a href="https://www.sustrans.org.uk/our-blog/news/2020/july/new-report-shows-large-unmet-demand-for-cycling-from-ethnic-minority-and-disadvantaged-groups">https://www.sustrans.org.uk/our-blog/news/2020/july/new-report-shows-large-unmet-demand-for-cycling-from-ethnic-minority-and-disadvantaged-groups</a></p>
<p>28th July 2020</p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7243960462,original{{/staticFileLink}}">cycling_for_everyone-sustrans-arup.pdf</a></p>
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<p class="intro">Cycling for Everyone, a new report by Sustrans and Arup highlights inequalities within cycling participation in urban areas between different demographics, including those from ethnic minority groups, women, disabled people, older people, and those at greater risk of deprivation.</p>
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<h4>What does the report tell us?</h4>
<p>The Covid-19 pandemic has brought to light many disparities within society.</p>
<p>People from ethnic minority groups and other disadvantaged communities being <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-review-of-disparities-in-risks-and-outcomes" target="_blank">disproportionately affected by Covid-19</a> and over-represented within the <a href="https://www.ifs.org.uk/uploads/BN285-Differences-between-key-workers.pdf" target="_blank">key worker sector</a>.</p>
<p>The recognition from our Prime Minister that obesity can increase the risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19 has prompted a new Government Obesity Strategy.</p>
<p>Cycling has proved its worth during the pandemic, as a safe and socially distanced way for people to get exercise and as a means to travel to work and for other essential journeys.</p>
<p>However, 74% of people from ethnic minority groups living in <a title="Bike Life" href="https://www.sustrans.org.uk/bike-life/">our 12 Bike Life cities</a> and towns do not currently cycle.</p>
<p>Despite low participation levels, the report found 55% of people from ethnic minority groups who do not currently cycle would like to start.</p>
<p>This compares to 37% of White people.</p>
<h4><br />Transport isn't doing enough to address barriers for these groups</h4>
<p>This report finds that the transport sector is not doing enough to address the barriers people from ethnic minority groups and other disadvantaged communities face.</p>
<p>Tackling safety, through protected cycle lanes and low-traffic neighbourhoods, is critical.</p>
<p>However, the report highlights a lack of confidence, security, as well as the financial outlay of purchasing a cycle as being some of the barriers that are more likely to prevent those from ethnic minority groups and other disadvantaged communities from cycling.</p>
<p>In <a title="Bike Life" href="https://www.sustrans.org.uk/bike-life/">our 12 Bike Life cities and towns</a>:</p>
<ul>
<li>a third (33%) of people from ethnic minority groups were not confident in their cycling skills</li>
<li>25% of people from ethnic minority groups stated that a lack of facilities at home or work (e.g. secure cycle storage) was a barrier to cycling</li>
<li>20% of people from ethnic minority groups stated the cost of a suitable cycle stopped them from cycling.</li>
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<h4> <br />What needs to be done?</h4>
<p>In order to address these barriers, the report highlights recommendations which aim to help to work towards reducing inequalities within cycling.</p>
<p>While challenges exist between different demographic groups, including between different ethnic minority groups, the report finds many of the barriers to increasing diversity in cycling are shared.</p>
<p>Key recommendations highlighted in the report include an extension of the UK Government’s Cycle to Work Scheme to include those in low-income jobs, as well as support to those not in employment, to ensure that cost is not a barrier for <a href="https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/work-pay-and-benefits/employment/employment/latest#by-ethnicity" target="_blank">anyone looking to purchase a cycle</a>.</p>
<p>The report also urges the need for improvements in secure cycle storage in residential areas, and particularly for flats and high-rise buildings where storing a cycle inside may prove challenging.</p>
<p>To improve confidence free cycle training needs to be provided to all children and adults, and cycling infrastructure expanded to reach areas where transport options are poor and high traffic levels exist.</p>
<h4><br />We must welcome and support all people to cycle</h4>
<p>Daisy Narayanan, Director of Urbanism at Sustrans said:</p>
<p>“This report brings to light that for too long, the needs of so many have been ignored within cycle planning and development.</p>
<p>“In order to work towards real change and make cycling more inclusive, we call upon the industry, local authorities and central government to welcome and support all people to cycle.</p>
<p>"It is only when we move away from exclusively designing towns and cities for those who already have access to move through spaces with ease, can we really create equitable places to live and work”.</p>
<h4><br />We need to start designing cycling for everyone</h4>
<p>Susan Claris, Global Active Travel Leader, Arup said:</p>
<p>“The health, wellbeing and social benefits of cycling in our towns and cities are clear.</p>
<p>"But these benefits are not equally felt by everyone, and we need to do more to ensure that cycling truly is accessible for all.</p>
<p>“This guidance supports a move away from designing cities for people who already cycle, or have power and privilege.</p>
<p>"Instead, we need to use our collective skills, expertise and ambition as a sector to start designing cycling for everyone.”</p>
<h4><br />Challenging the transport sector to do more</h4>
<p>Jools Walker, Author of 'Back in the Frame' and cycling blogger said:</p>
<p>“If widening participation and improving planning for more marginalised groups to get into cycling is a goal, then all of these voices need to be given the platform to be heard, ensuring that the decisions made are rounded, informed and of course, genuinely representative.</p>
<p>“There has to be a significant shake-up within this sector if we're going to change it.</p>
<p>"It's a huge step to admit that you've 'got it wrong' in the past, but I challenge the transport sector to do more.”</p>
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<h4><a title="Inclusive cycling in cities and towns" href="https://www.sustrans.org.uk/our-blog/research/all-themes/all/inclusive-cycling-in-cities-and-towns/">Find out more about inclusive cycling in cities and towns and download the report.</a></h4>
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</div>Gear Change: A bold vision for cycling and walkinghttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/gear-change-a-bold-vision-for-cycling-and-walking2020-07-30T10:38:12.000Z2020-07-30T10:38:12.000ZAlan Inman-Wardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/AlanInmanWard<div><p>Source: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/904146/gear-change-a-bold-vision-for-cycling-and-walking.pdf">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/904146/gear-change-a-bold-vision-for-cycling-and-walking.pdf</a></p>
<p>27th July 2020</p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7158481258,original{{/staticFileLink}}">gear-change-a-bold-vision-for-cycling-and-walking.pdf</a></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Introduction: The case for a step-change</strong></span></p>
<p>We want – and need – to see a step-change in cycling and walking in the coming years. The challenge is huge, but the ambition is clear. We have a unique opportunity to transform the role cycling and walking can play in our transport system, and get England moving differently.</p>
<p><strong>Because the potential benefits are huge</strong></p>
<p>Increasing cycling and walking can help tackle some of the most challenging issues we face as a society – improving air quality, combatting climate change, improving health and wellbeing, addressing inequalitiesand tackling congestion on our roads.</p>
<p><br />Bold action will help to create places we want to live and work – with better connected, healthier and more sustainable communities. It will help deliver clean growth, by supporting local businesses, as well as helping ensure prosperity can spread across the country and level up our nation.<br /><br /><strong>Many people do not realise the </strong><strong>health benefits from physical activity</strong></p>
<p>Physical activity, like cycling and walking, can help to prevent and manage over 20 chronic conditions and diseases, including some cancers, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and depression.</p>
<p>Physical inactivity is responsible for one in six UK deaths (equal to smoking) and is estimated to cost the UK £7.4 billion annually (including £0.9 billion to the NHS alone).</p>
<p><br /><strong>A once in a generation chance to accelerate active travel</strong></p>
<p>The recent COVID-19 restrictions have profoundly impacted the way people live, work and travel as evidenced by the public’s desire to be more active, and the rise in popularity of cycling and walking (Sport England, 2020). Now, we can embed those changes in people’s travel behaviour, increase active travel, and transform permanently how many people move around, particularly in towns and cities.</p>
<p><br />We do not underestimate the challenge of achieving lasting behaviour changes – and we will need to ensure that understanding of transport users’ needs, motivations and behaviours is central to what we do, in order to maximise our chances of success.</p>
<p> </p></div>New research shows £5.5bn fund needed to level up access to urban green space as part of UK’s green recoveryhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/new-research-shows-5-5bn-fund-needed-to-level-up-access-to-urban2020-07-15T07:35:00.000Z2020-07-15T07:35:00.000ZAlan Inman-Wardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/AlanInmanWard<div><p>Source: <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/press-release/new-research-shows-55bn-fund-needed-to-level-up-access-to-urban-green-space-as-part-of-uks-green-recovery">https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/press-release/new-research-shows-55bn-fund-needed-to-level-up-access-to-urban-green-space-as-part-of-uks-green-recovery</a></p>
<p>5th July 2020</p>
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<p class="nt-introduction"><strong>As the Prime Minister set out his ambition for the country’s recovery in the West Midlands last week, the National Trust, the Mayor of the West Midlands, Sustrans, Create Streets and local council leaders[3] have written to him urging a £5.5billion commitment to an urban green infrastructure fund to level up access to urban green space as part of his “infrastructure revolution”.</strong></p>
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<p>The huge surge in people’s use of parks and green spaces during the coronavirus pandemic - up 25 per cent this May compared to May 2018 and nearly doubling over the last decade from 1.2bn visits in 2009-10 to 2.1bn in 2018-19 and the significant inequality of provision exposed by the crisis, shows a need for urgent investment in greening neighbourhoods, towns and cities.</p>
<p>New research published today, by Vivid Economics and Barton Wilmore, commissioned by the National Trust and partners, makes a powerful economic case for such a significant investment across the UK in greening the country’s most left behind and greyest urban communities over the next five years. </p>
<p>This green infrastructure investment would bring an impressive £200 billion in physical health benefits through disease prevention and mental wellbeing benefits to alleviate some of the strain on local health service providers and to improve people’s quality of life.</p>
<p>Over 20 million people would feel the benefit from this investment, nearly a third of the UK population. Local economies would also benefit from job creation, particularly in those areas of the country facing high levels of unemployment, with an estimated 40,000 jobs in initial construction and over 6,000 created permanently for ongoing maintenance. </p>
<p>The research mapped the most deprived and greyest areas of Great Britain and assessed the costs and benefits of three major interventions to level up access to quality green spaces:</p>
<p>1. Greening urban streets and neighbourhoods, creating street parks and connecting-up local green spaces to enable safe and attractive walking and cycling for everyone, whether that’s to school, work, for leisure or shopping on the high street.</p>
<p>2. Upgrading poor quality parks and green spaces so they are fit for the 21st Century, with more trees and wildlife, cycling routes, and with facilities for communities to significantly boost recreation, play and sport.</p>
<p>3. Creating large regional parks and forests in the urban fringe, on green belt land, connected into the city, to give millions of people the freedom to explore and play in wild natural spaces, without needing a car. </p>
<p>Andy Street, the Mayor of West Midlands says: “We are immensely proud of our green spaces here in the West Midlands, and we have fought tremendously hard to keep them – particularly when it comes to housebuilders eyeing up our greenbelt land.</p>
<p>“The coronavirus pandemic has shown us just how important these spaces are, not just for physical well-being but also for people’s mental health as well. Because of this there is now real potential to achieve bold, green, change in the next few years, and this must be at the forefront of the Government’s mind as it begins to draw up recovery plans for the country.</p>
<p>“Here in the West Midlands we have big ambitions for a new kind of National Park to unite the people of the West Midlands with their landscape and shared heritage. We want to connect our dense grey areas with surrounding green acres, create new urban greenspace, cycle routes, and wildlife-rich areas across all our towns and cities. </p>
<p>“Whether it is getting more people moving to tackle high-levels of obesity, or planting more trees to help us reach our climate change targets, an urban national park is an innovative idea that would make a significant difference to our region.”</p>
<p>Covid19 has exposed deep inequalities in access to green space:</p>
<p>• 295 deprived neighbourhoods of 440,000 people that are grey deserts, with no trees or accessible green space. </p>
<p>• In areas where over 40 per cent of residents are from ethnic minorities, there is 11 times less public green space than in areas where residents are largely white, and it is also likely to be of poorer quality. Meanwhile, black people are four times less likely than white people to have a private garden. </p>
<p>• Black and Asian people visit natural settings 60 per cent less than white people, despite the fact that ethnic minority communities statistically value parks more than their white counterparts.</p>
<p>• In the poorest 20 per cent of households, 46 per cent don’t have a car, so urban parks and green spaces are their only opportunity to have contact with nature, rural beauty spots are beyond reach.</p>
<p>Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, says: “We know how vital parks and urban green spaces have always been to the health and wellbeing of Bristol communities, and especially during the pandemic.</p>
<p>“The use of them has shot up as they have become part of the people’s daily routine for walks and family bike rides, the neighbourhood gym, a place for socialising once lockdown restrictions eased and a therapeutic escape for us all.</p>
<p>“Whilst Bristol prides itself as a green city, not everyone can see a tree from their window, not all of us have easy access to brilliant parks, not every child can experience the joy of the natural world.</p>
<p>“We are changing that inequality through our city’s recovery plan. It will put green and liveable neighbourhoods at the centre, empowering our communities to bring trees, nature and aspiration into their streets and shared spaces. </p>
<p>“We have exciting plans to create new city centre parks and turn some of our car parks into new beautiful green spaces, like in Paris. We also have ambitious plans to transform and connect the city’s network of green spaces, working with business and community partners. But we need investment to unlock this potential and kick start our green recovery.”</p>
<p>Examples of the sort of projects, from micro to macro, that could be created by this scale of investment across the country include:</p>
<p>• Turning an under-used side road into a local street park and 'edible walkway' such as that planned for Freeling Street in Islington, North London, led by the community.</p>
<p>• New green boulevards and public squares to bring people back to high streets and city centres, as proposed for the Millbay area of Plymouth[15].</p>
<p>• Green, traffic-free routes from Manchester city centre to out to wilder countryside sites via Borough towns.</p>
<p>• A new regional park for the West Midlands covering more than seven towns and cities, and creating hundreds of miles of green space, conservation areas and new cycle routes. </p>
<p>Easy access to quality green space has become an essential need for urban dwellers. Nearly two-thirds of people have appreciated local greenspaces more due to Covid-19 and that they want them to be a higher priority for government priority. Some inner-city parks have experienced a close to 300 per cent increase in visits this spring. The National Trust has also experienced unprecedented visitor numbers to its urban fringe sites. </p>
<p>Greening neighbourhoods, towns and cities brings a host of wider benefits to people’s lives, improving air quality, reducing summer temperatures and surface flooding, and making cycling and walking even more attractive. </p>
<p>It will also help make cities and towns resilient to climate change and achieve net zero ambitions, with this scale of investment delivering one in 12 of the UK’s tree planting target. Research on London’s green spaces showed for every £1 Councils spent on looking after parks, £27 in value was generated for people.</p>
<p>The National Trust and the other signatories have offered to assist government in delivering at pace green infrastructure improvements for those urban communities in greatest need, using their collective powers and abilities.</p>
<p>Hilary McGrady, Director-General of the National Trust says: “We are calling for a major collaborative effort – for national government, local councils, charities, businesses, communities and funders across our cities and towns to work together in new ways to bring nature and beautiful green spaces into everyone’s lives. </p>
<p>“Everyone needs access to natural beauty for their wellbeing. It’s the very foundations on which the Trust was built, and we want to live up to that ambition by supporting partners, projects and innovations that can deliver this humble but inspiring benefit to millions more people.</p>
<p>“Now is the time for Government to be bold and ambitious for the future, investing in the upgrade, extension and connection of the vital green infrastructure of towns and cities, just as it is doing for transport infrastructure. The Prime Minister could lead a transformation that enables all urban dwellers to live with beauty; a gift of renewal and hope comparable to the post-war creation of the nation’s great rural National Parks and its urban green belts.”</p>
<p>ENDS</p>
<p><strong>Editor's and picture editor’s notes:</strong></p>
<p>For a copy of the research report, please click on the link below.</p>
<p>For images of some of the green infrastructure projects which are either in concept stage or already underway, click on the following link. Please credit imagery as indicated. Further details of what the imagery shows follows in the additional notes below. </p>
<p><a href="https://nationaltrustonline.sharepoint.com/:f:/s/MediaAssets/EjZrAEJChBxCp9rNqtvoIigBErrTXzlfl8VI1diwqw1oew?e=SmN002">https://nationaltrustonline.sharepoint.com/:f:/s/MediaAssets/EjZrAEJChBxCp9rNqtvoIigBErrTXzlfl8VI1diwqw1oew?e=SmN002</a></p>
<p><strong>Concept images from Barton Willmore</strong></p>
<p>Full image captions for the Barton Willmore credited imagery of green infrastructure projects for Leeds and Reading:</p>
<p>A new street park for Leeds - This dense urban street in Leeds could be transformed into a Street Park as shown, for a cost of £3.3m per km, (including maintenance). Local communities would reap significant physical health and wellbeing benefits as well as air pollution reduction equating to £3 for every £1 spent. </p>
<p>A transformed dual carriageway for Reading – As proposed in the Reading 2050 Vision, the transformation of Reading’s ring road (IDR) into a new urban park could offer residents of the town, crucial access to extensive, connected green infrastructure. New urban parks like this could offer a 4:1 return on investment due to the huge physical health and wellbeing value to local communities generated, alongside precious carbon capture and air pollution reduction. </p>
<p><strong>Plymouth – project in progress</strong></p>
<p>A green boulevard in Plymouth – The transformation of the main route between Plymouth city centre and the Millbay waterfront which forms the setting for mixed use redevelopment led by 600 new homes, a hotel, leisure and employment uses; the project includes enhanced walking and cycling infrastructure, street tree planting and SUDs (Sustainable drainage systems) in the form of rain gardens and a ground source thermal district heating system. </p>
<p>This £6million project is funded by Plymouth City Council’s Capital Programme, Homes England Land Release Grant, European Regional Development Funding, and local developers contributions targeted by the planning system and is anticipated to be completed by April of 2021.</p>
<p>Images of the Plymouth project should be credited to LDA Design, Exeter. The project includes:</p>
<p>Plymouth City Council, LDA Design, Exeter, AWP (Awcock Ward Partnership) Exeter, South West Highways (SWH), Main Contractor, Mick O’Connor and Gilpin Demolitions Ltd.</p>
<p><strong>Islington in London - concept</strong></p>
<p>Imagery shows plans for a pocket park and edible walkway between two areas of Islington.</p>
<p><strong>Northern gateway – Manchester</strong></p>
<p>A key theme of the Northern Gateway – a partnership between developer Far East Consortium and Manchester City Council - is a unique City River Park, bringing life to the Irk River Valley and connecting seven new and emerging neighbourhoods through high quality open green spaces and public squares. It aims to connect the city with some very deprived communities to the North.</p>
<p>The ambitious green space will stretch from Angel Meadow through to Collyhurst with the intention of providing flood resilience and attracting a wide range of biodiversity, while celebrating the existing architectural features of the valley, including Manchester’s Victorian railway arches. </p>
<p>With much improved connectivity – focusing on green transport, including walking, cycling and public transport – the Northern Gateway has the potential to attract a range of visitors from the city centre and beyond, taking advantage of the green space and leisure amenities, while improving the lifestyle residents. </p>
<p>At its heart, the Northern Gateway is a residential-led development and aims to build a mix of 15,000 new homes over the next 15 years with at least 3,000 affordable homes across a range of tenures.</p>
<p>Website: <a href="http://northerngatewaymanchester.co.uk/development/">http://northerngatewaymanchester.co.uk/development/</a></p>
<p><strong>Northern roots – Oldham, Greater Manchester</strong></p>
<p>Northern Roots is creating the UK’s largest urban farm and eco park on 160-acres of stunning greenspace in the heart of Oldham, Greater Manchester. The Northern Roots site covers 160-acres of moorland, woodland, marsh and wetlands. It is five minutes from the centre of Oldham, with views of the Peak District and Saddleworth from its southern end, delivering lots of green space in an urban setting. </p>
<p>Northern Roots has development funding and the planning and consultation is underway. With initial support from Oldham Council, Northern Roots is a unique investment ready opportunity to deliver economic, health and environmental outcomes and deliver against the levelling up agenda. </p>
<p>Through its award-winning parks and Growing Hubs, Oldham has become a beacon for community growing, local food production, horticulture training, renewable energy, and urban biodiversity. Northern Roots is a unique opportunity to build on this expertise at an unprecedented scale. </p>
<p>Website: <a href="https://northern-roots.uk/">https://northern-roots.uk/</a></p>
<p><strong>Sustrans projects</strong></p>
<p>In Greater Manchester, Sustrans is working alongside charity partners, landowners and local authorities to enhance the greenway network. </p>
<p>While funding has been secured to upgrade some elements of the network, further investment is required to fully unlock the potential of these greenway corridors. </p>
<p>Images of parts of the cycle-ways already built – the Bridgewater way and Trans-Pennine trail.</p>
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</div></div>Comment: Coronavirus and transport – challenges and opportunitieshttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/comment-coronavirus-and-transport-challenges-and-opportunities2020-06-18T08:23:28.000Z2020-06-18T08:23:28.000ZAlan Inman-Wardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/AlanInmanWard<div><p>Source: <a href="https://eciu.net/news-and-events/press-releases/2020/comment-coronavirus-and-transport-challenges-and-opportunities">https://eciu.net/news-and-events/press-releases/2020/comment-coronavirus-and-transport-challenges-and-opportunities</a></p>
<p>3rd June 2020</p>
<p>A <a href="https://eciu.net/news-and-events/events/media-briefing-coronavirus-and-transport-challenges-and-opportunities">media briefing today</a> heard from speakers on options for reshaping the UK’s transport system after the Covid-19 crisis. Commenting, <strong>Andy Street, Conservative Mayor of the West Midlands</strong>, said: <em>“In a dense urban area such as the West Midlands, the key to a greener transport future is getting people out of their cars and onto public transport, alongside a comprehensive cycling and walking network.</em></p>
<p><em>“After the last few years of hard work and major investment to try and overhaul our public transport network, it is gutting to tell people to stay away because of the Coronavirus pandemic. But we must not let this deter us from our long-term goal of creating a 21st century public transport system to rival that of London. The capital has received seven times the transport investment any of the UK’s other major city-regions have received, and it is clear the difference that has made.</em></p>
<p><em>“We must also turn to the role of the automotive industry and its future producing electric and autonomous vehicles as we look to de-carbonise our transport system. Here in the West Midlands, as the automotive heartland of the UK, we are ready to lead the way in this area, with research centres, production plants, and a sophisticated supply chain already in place. But we need the Government to back us to build a Gigafactory, and to also consider how to subsidise the purchase of electric, low-emission vehicles.”</em></p>
<p><strong>Edmund King, AA president</strong>, said: <em>“Transport patterns won’t be the same in life after lockdown according to drivers. [3] Half say they will walk more; four in ten vow to drive less; a quarter will work from home more and one fifth will cycle more. However, in the shorter term some who want to avoid public transport due to social distancing may take the car.</em></p>
<p><em>“We need some more radical thinking in our metropolitan areas with provision for ‘park and pedal’ at the outskirts of cities so drivers can park up and complete their journeys on two wheels or two feet.</em></p>
<p><em>“People have enjoyed quieter streets and cleaner air so more may opt for electric cars, cycles, e-bikes and scooters after lockdown.</em></p>
<p><em>“Given that public money will be tight and that Britain is on the road to net zero emissions target within 30 years, it would be sensible for government to prioritise funding projects that improve health and accelerate decarbonising while at the same time getting Britain moving again.”</em></p>
<p><strong>Scarlett McNally, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and cycling champion</strong>, said: <em>“There is compelling evidence on the health benefits of active travel, such as walking and cycling; these extend to the indirect benefits of lower levels of traffic related air pollution.</em></p>
<p><em>“Air pollution harms every organ in the body, and contributes to a number of conditions - including severe asthma, type 2 diabetes and heart disease - which can increase the risk of serious illness from Covid-19.</em></p>
<p><em>“As the country begins to recover from the pandemic, we are faced with an unprecedented opportunity to rethink the ways in which we travel. Replacing motorised transport with active travel where possible is the best way to improve our own health, and it also improves the health of the environment - building resilience against future crises.</em></p>
<p><em>“The Government should take a number of steps to help people incorporate cycling and walking into their lives. Active travel has accounted for only 5% of the transport budget in recent years.”</em></p>
<p><strong>Tim Hollingsworth, Chief Executive of Sport England</strong>, said: <em>“We know from research undertaken during the pandemic that the number of people who have cycled in the past week has doubled from 8% at the beginning of the lockdown to 16% in the latest stats. The number of people walking regularly has also gone up in recent weeks – to around two thirds of all adults. This is a unique opportunity to support people who are making new habits so that they can lead healthier, happier and more active lives.</em></p>
<p><em>“We welcome investment in active travel that will create accessible connections to reunite friends, communities, economies and local services across towns and cities. For this change to last it is crucial that we promote walking and cycling as an easy, accessible and enjoyable way to get around, especially for the first or last mile of our journeys.</em></p>
<p><em>“Everyone has a responsibility to keep the nation active and Sport England look forward to working with Government and Local Authorities to support England’s least active people to join the nation walking and cycling more. If we collectively get this right, this could be transformative - to our collective wellbeing, easing the pressure on public transport and helping our National Health Service.”</em></p>
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<p><em>A recording of the briefing is <a class="external external--url" href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/sjxgxrb2ej591ya/ECIU%20Coronavirus%20%26%20transport%20briefing%2003.06.20.mp4?dl=0">available here</a> (begins from 9:15).</em></p></div>New powers for councils to keep cyclists safehttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/new-powers-for-councils-to-keep-cyclists-safe2020-06-16T15:02:06.000Z2020-06-16T15:02:06.000ZAlan Inman-Wardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/AlanInmanWard<div><p>Source: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-powers-for-councils-to-keep-cyclists-safe">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-powers-for-councils-to-keep-cyclists-safe</a></p>
<p>10th June 2020</p>
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<dd class="app-c-publisher-metadata__definition"><span class="app-c-publisher-metadata__definition-sentence"><a class="govuk-link" href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport">Department for Transport</a> and <a class="govuk-link" href="https://www.gov.uk/government/people/chris-heaton-harris">Chris Heaton-Harris MP</a></span></dd>
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<li>local authorities given new tools to crack down on misuse of mandatory cycle lanes</li>
<li>increasing numbers of cyclists will continue to enjoy car-free cycle lanes</li>
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<p>Cyclists will have safer journeys thanks to new laws coming into force from 22 June, Cycling Minister Chris Heaton-Harris has announced today (10 June 2020).</p>
<p>Local authorities in England will have new powers to use <abbr title="Closed Circuit Television">CCTV</abbr> to issue penalty charge notices to drivers who park or load illegally in mandatory cycle lanes, putting cyclists at risk of a serious accident.</p>
<p>Cars parked on cycle lanes pose problems for cyclists, often forcing them into the flow of traffic. With approved camera devices, it will be easier for those local authorities with civil parking enforcement powers to take action against cars illegally parked on mandatory cycle lanes, allowing cyclists to complete their journeys without deviating from their path.</p>
<p>Today’s announcement is the latest measure from the government to develop a greener, healthier and more resilient transport network in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>
<div class="gem-c-govspeak__youtube-video"><iframe id="youtube-1" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Fm-mL7-3aqY?enablejsapi=1&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk&rel=0&disablekb=1&modestbranding=1&channel&widgetid=1" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
<p>The move comes as part of Bike Week (6-14 June), which will see a range of organisations – led by Cycling UK – encourage everyone to get pedalling to boost their fitness and protect the environment.</p>
<p>Cycling Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said:</p>
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<p>Across the country there has been a surge in the number of people dusting off their old bike from the back of the shed and cycling, or taking journeys on foot, to get from A to B.</p>
<p>Giving local authorities more powers to stop cycle lanes from becoming blocked will make it safer for cyclists.</p>
<p class="last-child">These new measures also build on our recent £2 billion investment to create a green, healthier legacy and see more people travelling by bicycle or on foot.</p>
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<p>This measure will help get more cyclists on the road and alleviate pressure on public transport infrastructure, giving people the confidence to use their bike for more journeys – perhaps for the first time.</p>
<p>This news follows the Transport Secretary’s announcement of a <a class="govuk-link" href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/2-billion-package-to-create-new-era-for-cycling-and-walking">£2 billion package for cycling and walking</a> last month to help create a greener transport network.</p>
<p>This included £225 million for local authorities in England to create pop up cycle lanes with protected space for cycling, wider pavements, safer junctions, and bike and bus-only corridors.</p>
<p>The public will also be able to benefit from the recently announced bicycle repair scheme, where up to half a million £50 vouchers will be issued to people in England to help get neglected bikes back on the road.</p>
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</div></div>Surge in appreciation of exercise and activity during lockdownhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/surge-in-appreciation-of-exercise-and-activity-during-lockdown2020-05-27T13:16:21.000Z2020-05-27T13:16:21.000ZAlan Inman-Wardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/AlanInmanWard<div><p>Source: <a href="https://www.sportengland.org/news/surge-appreciation-exercise-and-activity-during-lockdown">https://www.sportengland.org/news/surge-appreciation-exercise-and-activity-during-lockdown</a></p>
<p>May 2020</p>
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<h1>Surge in appreciation of exercise and activity during lockdown</h1>
<p class="hero">During Mental Health Awareness Week, our latest figures show the majority of people use exercise to manage their mental health.</p>
<p>22nd May 2020</p>
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<p>People have turned to cycling and walking to keep active outdoors during the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis, with 63% of people across the first six weeks of lockdown saying exercise is important for their mental health.</p>
<p>The latest findings from our weekly survey, commissioned to track the public’s activity levels and attitudes towards exercise during the initial six weeks of lockdown, show new exercise habits have formed as a result of the restrictions on movement.</p>
<p>And whether it be families exercising together, people getting active in nearby green spaces, or walking and cycling to the shops for essentials, our research shows – during Mental Health Awareness Week – the importance people place on exercise to their mental health.</p>
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<p>The figures also show that as the initial phase of lockdown progressed, people’s worries about leaving home to exercise eased, with 47% having reservations in week six, compared to 60% in the first two weeks.</p>
<p>“It has been great to see people finding ways to be active and that more and more people are talking about exercise being part of the approach to managing both their physical and mental health,” said Lisa O’Keefe, our executive director of insight.</p>
<p>“Undoubtedly the current period has been hugely difficult for both the sport and physical activity sector and the general public, yet people are finding a new appreciation for moving more – whether it’s at home or out walking or cycling.</p>
<p>“The pandemic has changed the way we engage with activity and it will continue to do so as we begin the gradual journey towards a new normal as more sport and leisure facilities open up.”</p>
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<div class="w-box-stat-img">Across the first six weeks of lockdown, an average of 63% said they get active to manage their mental health</div>
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<p>Walking and cycling have proved to be the most popular forms of outdoor activity during the initial lockdown phase, with people walking for exercise up from 59% in week one to 63% in week six, and cycling increasing from 8% to 13%.</p>
<p>That's compared to 61.9% of adults walking and 16.3% cycling at least twice a month pre-coronavirus.</p>
<p>Meanwhile an average of 45% of people have been keeping active at home, whether that be with online exercise classes or just dancing around the living room. </p>
<p>And although new habits have formed, getting back into a gym was the most popular activity people said they would do once restrictions lift further.</p>
<p>Our research has also shown, however, that while intentions and attitudes to exercise are positive, inequalities still exist in those who are getting active.</p>
<p>Those from lower socio-economic groups, older people, Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups and women are all less likely to be active, with these results also seen in activity levels prior to the current crisis.</p>
<p>The gender gap remains, with more men doing the recommended 150 minutes of activity a week, than women - 35% compared to 30%. And more women are doing less activity than usual during lockdown - 40% compared to 36%.</p>
<p>While 23% of people with long-term health conditions are doing the recommended amount compared to 35% of those without.</p>
<p>And for people in C2DE groups, who are more likely to be on a lower income, be key workers, be accessing food banks or to have lost their job, only 27% are doing more activity than usual - compared to 39% of those in the ABC1 groups.</p>
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<p class="block-quote-text">Undoubtedly the current period has been hugely difficult for both the sport and physical activity sector and the general public</p>
<p class="block-quote-author">Lisa O'Keefe</p>
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<p>In order to reach groups finding it harder to be active, we’ve launched a £20 million <a href="https://www.sportengland.org/news/community-emergency-fund-boosted-15m">Tackling Inequalities Fund</a> – part of our up to <a href="https://www.sportengland.org/how-we-can-help/coronavirus/coronavirus-funding-and-flexibility">£210m response to help those impacted by coronavirus</a> – supported by National Lottery money.</p>
<p>The fund will work with specific partners and organisations to ensure inequalities don’t worsen, or become entrenched, during this period.</p>
<p>This is in addition to the <a href="https://www.sportengland.org/jointhemovement">Join the Movement campaign</a>, backed by radio and television ads, that offers free workout ideas for in the home and outside, aimed at inspiring people to get or keep active during this period - including the relaunched Couch to 5K app, and the Active 10 walking app.</p>
<p>“It’s important that everyone – from whatever background, age, gender or ability, is able to access those benefits physical activity brings,” added Lisa.</p>
<p>“And at Sport England we’re looking forward to working with the many organisations who share our desire to help the nation move more while ensuring no one gets left behind.”</p>
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</div></div>Coronavirus: Challenge of reshaping UK cities after lockdownhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/coronavirus-challenge-of-reshaping-uk-cities-after-lockdown2020-05-11T07:47:45.000Z2020-05-11T07:47:45.000ZAlan Inman-Wardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/AlanInmanWard<div><p>Source: <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52524807">https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52524807</a></p>
<p>May 2020</p>
<p class="story-body__introduction">The UK government is <a class="story-body__link" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52592421">urging the public to walk and cycle to work</a> instead of using public transport or driving.</p>
<p>It comes as people across the UK have told BBC News they are finding it impossible to stay safe outside because our cities were not built for social distancing.</p>
<p>How we will travel while maintaining social distancing is one of the biggest challenges the government faces as it seeks to start to lift the lockdown.</p>
<p>It has led communities, UK transport groups and public health experts to call for radical changes - some already happening globally - such as wider pavements, traffic restrictions and cycle networks.</p>
<p>Such changes would prevent further waves of infections, improve air quality and public health, and help countries achieve their climate goals, they say.</p>
<p>The decline in road use during the lockdown has seen dramatic falls in air pollution - an unforeseen benefit of the pandemic - as well as quieter roads for cycling.</p>
<p>But social distancing has highlighted the close proximity in which we all live, particularly in urban areas.</p>
<p>In Manchester, Deborah Todd has given up on pavements and now walks in the roads with her children; Carrie-Ann Lightley had an accident because pedestrians did not make space for her wheelchair on the pavement in Cumbria; Julie Taylor has to queue to walk through the narrow alleyway outside her home in Wiltshire. And in London, Anne Bookless has stopped going outside altogether because there is no room for her wheelchair.</p>
<span class="image-and-copyright-container"><img class="responsive-image__img js-image-replace" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/AAF0/production/_112106734_1297ddd7-32f2-4a64-894d-078a7e8ac04f.jpg" alt="Photos sent to BBC News by show obstacles on pavements or queues outside shops" width="920" height="549" /><span class="off-screen">Image copyright</span><span class="story-image-copyright">PETER EDWARDS, MEGAN THOMAS</span></span>
<span class="off-screen">Image caption</span><span class="media-caption__text">Photos sent to BBC News show obstacles on pavements or queues outside shops</span>
<p>Cycling has increased by 22% in places such as Greater Manchester, including those key workers commuting by bike where public transport is closed.</p>
<p>When public transport does reopen, capacity will be severely restricted.</p>
<p>In London, <a class="story-body__link" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-52539585">the Tube will be able to handle less than 15% of its pre-pandemic rush hour peak</a>: 50,000 passengers every 15 minutes, compared with 325,000 before, according to leaked documents seen by the BBC.</p>
<p>And if more people travel by car, instead of public transport, road space - already at a premium - will be under even greater pressure.</p>
<span class="image-and-copyright-container"><img class="responsive-image__img js-image-replace" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/11BD/production/_112214540_a17ae33b-26f2-4d45-8e32-f08cef1862af.jpg" alt="Widened pavements in London this week were welcomed by a walking campaign group and residents" width="976" height="549" /><span class="off-screen">Image copyright</span><span class="story-image-copyright">LIVING STREETS LAMBETH</span></span>
<span class="off-screen">Image caption</span><span class="media-caption__text">Widened pavements in London this week were welcomed by a walking campaign group and residents</span>
<p>"The crisis has exposed how little space is allocated to people - it's exposed that everyone wants safe streets," Chris Boardman, Cycling Commissioner for Manchester and former Olympic cyclist, says.</p>
<p>The UK is being urged to follow the lead of cities like Paris, Berlin and New York City and install temporary measures to create space for social distancing.</p>
<p>Using temporary traffic orders, councils can widen pavements, install networks of temporary cycle lanes, and close residential streets to through-traffic.</p>
<p>"If we enable people to travel differently, we will protect them now during the crisis, and afterwards, when the public health benefits of more people exercising and breathing in cleaner air kick in. That's how you protect the NHS," says Mr Boardman.</p>
<ul class="story-body__unordered-list">
<li class="story-body__list-item"><a class="story-body__link" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-52483684">France offers subsidy to tempt lockdown cyclists</a></li>
<li class="story-body__list-item"><a class="story-body__link" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-52313972">How the virus cleared the world's most polluted skies</a></li>
<li class="story-body__list-item"><a class="story-body__link" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52351290">Air pollution linked to raised Covid-19 death risk</a></li>
</ul>
<p>But banning cars ignores the needs of many road users, says Duncan Buchanan, policy director at the Road Haulage Association (RHA): "Selective bans will have detrimental impacts on all other roads, add to congestion and journey times as well as increase pollution and CO2 emissions," he argues.</p>
<p>Scientists warn we will need to practise social distancing for at least the next 12-18 months. Public transport will be severely reduced, meaning commuters will need to find other ways to travel.</p>
<p>There are signs people will turn to their cars in greater numbers than pre-lockdown: <a class="story-body__link-external" href="https://www.autotrader.co.uk/content/news/public-transport-distancing">56% of drivers currently without a car plan to buy one post-lockdown</a>, according to car sales company AutoTrader.</p>
<p>In Wuhan, China, <a class="story-body__link-external" href="https://www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/ct/news/documents/2020-03/impact-of-coronavirus-to-new-car-purchase-in-china-ipsos.pdf">private car usage nearly doubled when lockdown ended</a>, rising from 34% before the outbreak to 66% after lockdown.</p>
<p>"There is an avalanche of private car usage coming if we don't do something about it," says Leo Murray from climate action charity Possible, which campaigns for green transport.</p>
<p>In the UK's most polluted urban areas, where two studies suggest the <a class="story-body__link" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52351290">air quality is putting people at higher risk of dying from Covid-19</a>, there is a heightened sense of urgency.</p>
<ul class="story-body__unordered-list">
<li class="story-body__list-item"><a class="story-body__link" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-52229828">Eight ways the lockdown has changed the UK</a></li>
</ul>
<p>People in cities such as London, Birmingham, and Glasgow are already struggling with <a class="story-body__link" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-47777103">respiratory disease and heart attacks linked to air pollution</a>. If car use soars, it will be catastrophic for public health and well-being, Mr Murray suggests, as well as for the climate change goals that require a 50% decline in private car use in the UK.</p>
<p>"There is a real incentive to keep our respiratory health as good as possible. Walking and cycling is the way to keep London moving in a safe and socially distanced way," says Caroline Russell, London Assembly and Islington councillor for the Green Party.</p>
<p><a class="story-body__link-external" href="https://www.thersa.org/about-us/media/2019/brits-see-cleaner-air-stronger-social-bonds-and-changing-food-habits-amid-lockdown">Just 9% of people want a total return to pre-lockdown life</a>, according to a YouGov survey.</p>
<span class="image-and-copyright-container"><img class="responsive-image__img js-image-replace" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/83E0/production/_112106733_gettyimages-1219093150.jpg" alt="Los Angeles, US, has had its longest stretch of air quality rated as "good" since 1995" width="1024" height="661" /><span class="off-screen">Image copyright</span><span class="story-image-copyright">GETTY IMAGES</span></span>
<span class="off-screen">Image caption</span><span class="media-caption__text">Since lockdown measures were imposed, the US city of Los Angeles has had its longest stretch of air quality rated as "good" since 1995</span>
<p>Most journeys in the UK are short - <a class="story-body__link-external" href="https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmtrans/1487/148705.htm">68% are under five miles</a> - meaning that most people could complete them easily by bike if they felt confident and safe. Habit change is notoriously difficult, according to psychologists, but the crisis has transformed behaviours overnight.</p>
<p>"We've got this really precious moment to change how we live and we can't let it slip between our fingers. Let this tragedy re-define, in a positive way, what living in cities is about," says Will Butler-Adams, the CEO of UK bike manufacturer Brompton.</p>
<span class="image-and-copyright-container"><img class="responsive-image__img js-image-replace" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/1226D/production/_105894347_grey_line-nc.png" alt="Presentational grey line" width="640" height="2" /></span>
<h2 class="story-body__crosshead">A global trend</h2>
<p>British cities are lagging behind their global counterparts in making effective changes.</p>
<ul class="story-body__unordered-list">
<li class="story-body__list-item">In Paris, <a class="story-body__link-external" href="https://twitter.com/TransportsIDF/status/1252654463095054337">650km of cycleways are being built</a>, and subsidies offered to cyclists to prepare for the end of lockdown</li>
<li class="story-body__list-item">After motor traffic dropped 30-75%, Italian city Milan announced plans for a car-free future. Officials hope to avoid a post-lockdown resurgence in traffic by building cycle lanes, widening pavements and introducing 30kph (20mph) speed limits</li>
<li class="story-body__list-item">In the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, <a class="story-body__link-external" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/28/lithuanian-capital-to-be-turned-into-vast-open-air-cafe-vilnius?CMP=share_btn_tw">cafes and bars will be allowed to take over public squares</a> to allow residents to more comfortably enjoy a drink outside</li>
<li class="story-body__list-item">In the US, <a class="story-body__link-external" href="https://council.nyc.gov/press/2020/04/17/1939/">75 miles of streets in New York City</a> will be allocated to pedestrian and cyclists</li>
<li class="story-body__list-item"><a class="story-body__link-external" href="https://www.smartcitiesworld.net/news/news/bogota-expands-bike-lanes-overnight-to-curb-coronavirus-spread-5127">Bogotá, Colombia converted 22km (13 miles) of car lanes</a> into cycle lanes overnight</li>
<li class="story-body__list-item"><a class="story-body__link-external" href="https://www.lesoir.be/295743/article/2020-04-20/pentagone-bruxelles-une-zone-20-avec-pietons-et-cyclistes-prioritaires">Pedestrians in Brussels, Belgium now have priority</a> and can use the entirety of streets in the city centre, where the speed limit is lowered to 20kph</li>
</ul>
<span class="image-and-copyright-container"><img class="responsive-image__img js-image-replace" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/1226D/production/_105894347_grey_line-nc.png" alt="Presentational grey line" width="640" height="2" /></span>
<p>So far, the <a class="story-body__link" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52353942">government has made it easier for councils to close streets to cars</a>, and London has announced its <a class="story-body__link-external" href="https://twitter.com/willnorman/status/1256275121238683650">Streetspace Plan</a> to encourage millions more to cycle and walk.</p>
<p>But councillors and planners say more is needed.</p>
<p>"Local councils are overwhelmed with emergency work and lack funding - the government itself needs to lead," says Adam Tranter, Cycling Mayor for the city of Coventry.</p>
<p>In London, a group of women calling themselves the Tactical Urbanistas took matters into their own hands. Last week they widened the pavement outside a busy high street supermarket, using painted circles on the road surface and makeshift barriers of tyres filled with soil and flowers.</p>
<span class="image-and-copyright-container"><img class="responsive-image__img js-image-replace" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/64C7/production/_112099752_hackneyroad2.jpg" alt="Frustrated at the lack of space to queue, a group of women widened a London pavement themselves" width="1280" height="960" /><span class="off-screen">Image copyright</span><span class="story-image-copyright">TACTICAL URBANISTAS</span></span>
<span class="off-screen">Image caption</span><span class="media-caption__text">Frustrated at the lack of space to queue, a group of women widened a London pavement themselves</span>
<p>Residents in Tower Hamlets welcomed the change and the barriers were applauded on social media, the group say. However, the local council objected and removed the tyres, citing safety reasons.</p>
<p>"London's streets are not safe for social distancing and a disproportionate amount of space is given to cars at the expense of other road users. This is a public health risk and needs to be treated urgently," Tactical Urbanistas told BBC News.</p>
<h2 class="story-body__crosshead">'Quick and cheap'</h2>
<p>Plans for building cycle networks already exist - government and local authorities just need to enact them, say numerous experts including Brian Deegan, a street engineer who helped design the London and Manchester cycle networks. Light segregation of roads for cycle paths and widening pavements would be cheap and quick, he adds.</p>
<p>"It demands an emergency response. If residents don't like the temporary measures, councils can reverse them when the crisis is over. But history shows people prefer the quieter and cleaner streets," he suggests.</p>
<p>Community groups that have long called for greener, sustainable cities hope the pandemic could bring that change.</p>
<p>In Germany, officials concluded that temporary cycle lanes installed in Berlin helped residents observe social distancing measures and had no negative impact on traffic flows.</p>
<p>"So much has been taken away from us, and now people are focussing on the smaller things," says Paul Riley, from Transition Liverpool.</p>
<p>"We've learnt that it is possible to implement change, if we want it."</p></div>Opinion: Sport England Research - Are new habits forming during the crisis?https://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/opinion-sport-england-research-are-new-habits-forming-during-the-2020-04-16T08:23:16.000Z2020-04-16T08:23:16.000ZAlan Inman-Wardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/AlanInmanWard<div><p>Source: <a href="https://www.sportsthinktank.com/blog/2020/04/sport-england-research-are-new-habits-forming-during-the-crisis">https://www.sportsthinktank.com/blog/2020/04/sport-england-research-are-new-habits-forming-during-the-crisis</a></p>
<p>April 2020</p>
<h1 class="heading">Sport England Research - Are new habits forming during the crisis?</h1>
<p class="date"><span class="label">Posted: </span>Wed, 15 Apr 2020 11:56</p>
<div class="image"> </div>
<div class="body">
<p class="text">Sport England's polling research, released today, on coronavirus lockdown exercise habits is interesting <a title="External Link: https://www.sportengland.org/news/new-exercise-habits-forming-during-coronavirus-crisis" href="https://www.sportengland.org/news/new-exercise-habits-forming-during-coronavirus-crisis" target="_blank">reading</a> and presents interesting questions for the future writes Rory Palmer.</p>
<p class="text">The research shows that two thirds of adults now believe exercise to be 'more important than ever'. It will be interesting to see how this figure changes in an extended lockdown and as life returns to some form of normality in the future.</p>
<p class="text">67% of adults also believe exercise is helping with their mental health and wellbeing. Again, it will be interesting to track this measure overtime and whilst it is very welcome that a majority of people are recognising the connection between exercise and mental health, we have to be realistic that more people are actively considering their mental wellbeing during the crisis.</p>
<p class="text">Sport England's survey also explores exercise habits during the lockdown. Predictably, walking is the most popular form of daily exercise (59% of adults saying they are walking for their daily activity) and 25% engaging with 'home fitness workouts'.</p>
<p class="text">It is also shown that a good number of people are opting for cycling; the data shows 22% of those cycling are doing so with their children. A similar inter-generational pattern is shown in relation to the popular online home-based fitness workouts, with 37% of participants taking part with their children.</p>
<p class="text">This data presents some interesting questions for policy-makers in public health, active travel and in the physical activity, exercise and sports communities.</p>
<p class="text">1. Sport England's polling doesn't appear to gauge whether those now walking or cycling regularly did so before the lockdown. Understanding both quantitatively and qualitatively how peoples' exercise habits have changed and are changing will be key in identifying opportunities to more firmly embed some of this behaviour change.</p>
<p class="text"><strong>I hope that Sport England or other bodies seek to build on this survey and the data published today by delving further, on a more qualitative basis, into how peoples' habits, opinions and understanding of exercise and physical activity might be changing.</strong></p>
<p class="text">2. If it is the case that some adults are walking and cycling more regularly and are appreciating the health benefits in a more prominent way - both physically and mentally - there is a clear and important opportunity here for active travel policy-makers. Both of these activities are more appealing at the moment due to the spell of nice weather but also because the roads are quieter. Particularly for those who don't usually cycle, it will be feel a more pleasant and safer pursuit in the current circumstances.</p>
<p class="text">It will be interesting to see if people continue to build walking or cycling into their daily lives as society returns to normal, and whether this leads to stronger public support for new cycling infrastructure investment in our local communities. If it does, this could be a genuine game-changer for active travel.</p>
<p class="text"><strong>Again, it will be interesting to explore further how people see the prospect of them doing more walking or cycling in the future and how their current patterns compare to before the lockdown restrictions, and questions should be asked particularly about what would help them shift towards more walking or cycling in their daily lives.</strong></p>
<p class="text">3. With over two-thirds of adults stating that they believe exercise is helping with their mental health and wellbeing, there is a real opportunity here to take social prescribing and Exercise on Prescription to the next level.</p>
<p class="text">Taking this forward needs to draw on the new popularity of online at-home exercise programmes; this is particularly important in recognising that Sport England's data shows that daily exercise in the lockdown remains a particular challenge for those living alone and who might be socially isolated.</p>
<p class="text">There's potentially a big opportunity here for the NHS iPrescribe Exercise app but it will require fairly prompt moves to secure the longterm benefits of these new trends.</p>
<p class="text"><strong>As with the other areas of data captured by Sport England's survey, more detailed exploration into how people are using online at-home programmes is needed; as is more work on understanding the apparent shift in understanding the positive connection between physical exercise and mental wellbeing.</strong></p>
<p class="text">To conclude, today's Sport England survey data shows interesting findings on how people are engaging in exercise within the limits of current social distancing rules and suggests there's a possibly growing stronger appreciation of the importance of exercising. More detailed work is needed to understand how far peoples' behaviour has changed from their usual patterns, and to gauge what the likelihood is of new habits forming into a new normal for individuals and families.</p>
<p class="text">The crucial question policy-makers need to be asking is what might prevent people from building more regular exercise or opting for more walking or cycling into their usual travel habits in the longterm. There's already busy and interesting debates taking place on how society and day-to-day life may change longterm because of the current crisis. Embedding practical measures to support higher levels of regular exercise uptake and securing a stronger appreciation of active travel must feature prominently in these debates.</p>
<p class="text"><em>Sport England's research, carried out by Savanta ComRes, can be read in full </em><a title="External Link: https://www.sportengland.org/news/new-exercise-habits-forming-during-coronavirus-crisis" href="https://www.sportengland.org/news/new-exercise-habits-forming-during-coronavirus-crisis" target="_blank"><em>here</em></a><em>, together with the full datasets.</em></p>
<p class="text"><strong><em>Rory Palmer is one of our Advisory Board. A former MEP and previously Deputy City Mayor and Health & Wellbeing Chair at Leicester City Council</em></strong></p>
</div></div>What happens to your body when you swap your car for a bike?https://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/what-happens-to-your-body-when-you-swap-your-car-for-a-bike2020-02-28T09:02:45.000Z2020-02-28T09:02:45.000ZAlan Inman-Wardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/AlanInmanWard<div><p>Source: <a href="https://www.merlincycles.com/blog/infographic-swap-car-for-bike/">https://www.merlincycles.com/blog/infographic-swap-car-for-bike/</a></p>
<p>(February 2019)</p>
<p>The UK is a nation of hardcore commuters. The average worker in the UK today will spend <a href="https://www.totaljobs.com/insidejob/uk-workers-will-spend-over-a-year-of-their-lives-commuting/">over a year of their life commuting to and from work</a> — and it’s taking its toll on us mentally and physically.</p>
<p>At <a href="https://www.merlincycles.com/">Merlin Cycles</a>, we want to challenge the commuting status quo and propose a better alternative. So we asked the question: what would happen to your body if you swapped your car for a bike for 12 months?</p>
<p>The answers might surprise you.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-25601" src="https://www.merlincycles.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Merlin-Infographic-V2-1.jpg" alt="Merlin-Infographic-V2-1.jpg" />https://www.merlincycles.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Merlin-Infographic-V2-1-294x768.jpg 294w, <a href="https://www.merlincycles.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Merlin-Infographic-V2-1-768x2005.jpg">https://www.merlincycles.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Merlin-Infographic-V2-1-768x2005.jpg</a> 768w, <a href="https://www.merlincycles.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Merlin-Infographic-V2-1-392x1024.jpg">https://www.merlincycles.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Merlin-Infographic-V2-1-392x1024.jpg</a> 392w" alt="Infographic for Merlin Cycles that shows what happens to your body when you swap your car for a bike" width="362" height="945" /></p>
<h2><strong>The problem with today’s commute</strong></h2>
<p>Today’s average commute is <a href="https://www.rsph.org.uk/our-work/policy/wellbeing/commuter-health.html">56 minutes a day</a> — an awfully long time to be sitting still listening to that radio host you can’t really stand.</p>
<p>Cycling can help alleviate the three key side effects of commuting:</p>
<ul>
<li>Stress</li>
<li>Lack of exercise</li>
<li>Expenses</li>
</ul>
<p>Here’s how.</p>
<h2>1. Stress</h2>
<h3><strong>Your commute now</strong></h3>
<p>In <a href="https://www.rsph.org.uk/our-work/policy/wellbeing/commuter-health.html">a study by the Royal Society for Public Health</a> (RSPH), over half of respondents said that commuting increased their stress levels.</p>
<p>Another study from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) found that those who have to travel over half an hour each way <a href="https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20160131203938/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/wellbeing/measuring-national-well-being/commuting-and-personal-well-being--2014/art-commuting-and-personal-well-being.html#tab-2--Key-Points">report higher levels of anxiety</a> than those who don’t endure long commutes.</p>
<p>That means that the majority of UK workers are already stressed by the time they get to work. That’s bad news when <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/karenhigginbottom/2014/09/11/workplace-stress-leads-to-less-productive-employees/#756aa27631d1">stress has such a detrimental impact on productivity</a>.</p>
<h3><strong>On the bike</strong></h3>
<p>As with any form of cardiovascular exercise, cycling directly counters the effects of stress.</p>
<p>Even on your first ride, that pedal power gets you pumping more oxygen into your bloodstream. When all that extra oxygen reaches your brain, it encourages the release of endorphins — the ‘happiness’ hormone.</p>
<p>Better still, it suppresses the release of the ‘stress’ hormone, cortisol.</p>
<p>All that works to put you in a better mood for the rest of the day. In fact, just 20 minutes of cycling could make you <a href="https://www.totaljobs.com/insidejob/uk-workers-will-spend-over-a-year-of-their-lives-commuting/">happier for up to 12 hours</a>!</p>
<p>Of course, one of the cons of cycling is that it can be stressful dealing with rush-hour motorists. But with <a href="https://www.sustrans.org.uk/blog/bike-life-2017-public-support-protected-bike-lanes">so much public support for more protected cycling lanes in the UK</a>, future funding will make the commute safer for cyclists going forward.</p>
<h2>2. Lack of physical activity</h2>
<h3><strong>Your commute now</strong></h3>
<p>In the RSPH study, more than 40% of respondents said that their commute to work decreases the time they spend being physically active.</p>
<p>The responses align with <a href="http://time.com/9912/10-things-your-commute-does-to-your-body/">research conducted in Texas</a>, which found that longer commutes correlate with poorer cardiovascular fitness, increasing the likelihood of heart disease.</p>
<p>With the average commute to work in the UK taking 56 minutes, it’s no wonder that physical activity is taking a sideline. Between a demanding job and a family to provide for, there’s little time left to hit the gym for many people, especially when their car ride to work is carving out 5 or 6 hours of their week.</p>
<h3><strong>On the bike</strong></h3>
<p>Cycling is a fairly obvious solution to the problem of the sedentary commute. If the average commuter spent the same amount of time cycling as they currently do commuting, they would burn 560 calories a day. That’s 2,800 calories a week!</p>
<p>And there are more physical benefits than just losing that belly fat. Cycling regularly improves your lung capacity, meaning you get more oxygen to your muscles to alleviate those aches and pains you get from sitting at your desk or in the driver’s seat for hours on end.</p>
<p>Plus, you’ll sleep better as a result, making you more focused and energised the next day.</p>
<h2>3. Expenses</h2>
<h3><strong>Your commute now</strong></h3>
<p>Most of us don’t think twice about how much of our finances we sink into getting to work every day — but how much is it actually costing us?</p>
<p><a href="https://www.totaljobs.com/insidejob/uk-commuters-will-spend-over-135000-by-the-time-they-retire/">Total Jobs found</a> that the average person spends £146 a month commuting to and from work. That’s over £1,750 a year.</p>
<p>To make matters worse, it’s getting more expensive all the time. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2018/nov/30/uk-rail-fares-to-rise-31-in-new-year">Train fares went up 3.1% in January</a>, and regular increases to UK petrol prices are having a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/jan/14/average-uk-car-mileage-falls-again-on-back-of-higher-petrol-prices">negative impact on car mileage</a>.</p>
<p>That all adds up to some deep cuts into your net pay.</p>
<h3><strong>On the bike</strong></h3>
<p>One thing that puts people off cycling to work is the fact that they don’t want to make that first purchase: the bike itself.</p>
<p>But when you put things into perspective, buying a bike costs very little in the long run.</p>
<p>You should be able to find a decent <a href="https://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-pr7-claris-alloy-road-bike-2019-114781.html">bike for commuting</a> for around £400. That might sound a lot, but if you spend the same as the average commuter, you’ll make that up in a couple of months.</p>
<p>And if you’re driving a car on a lease, the monthly cost of finance plus petrol and insurance might even be the <em>same</em> as purchasing that bike!</p>
<p>In the course of your first year cycling to work, you could to save as much as £1,500 on travel costs alone. <a href="https://www.merlincycles.com/blog/economics-cycling-work/">When we crunched the numbers</a> to include the maintenance required for a car, that saving goes up to a whopping £3,743 a year!</p>
<p>You could save even more by <a href="https://www.merlincycles.com/cycle-to-work-scheme.html">taking part in our Cycle to Work scheme</a>, which lets you get a bike for commuting tax-free.</p>
<h2><strong>Better on two wheels</strong></h2>
<p>You don’t need to be a victim to your daily commute. Cycling lets you take it back and use it for good.</p>
<p>It means you get regular exercise without taking time away from your home life. It cuts down your stress and leaves you feeling happier. And finally, it means you can easily top up your rainy-day fund with all the savings you’re making on monthly travel expenses.</p>
<p>What’s stopping you</p></div>Cycling to work: major new study suggests health benefits are staggering (April 2017)https://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/cycling-to-work-major-new-study-suggests-health-benefits-are-stag2020-02-21T07:02:56.000Z2020-02-21T07:02:56.000ZAlan Inman-Wardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/AlanInmanWard<div><h1 class="legacy"><span style="font-size:8pt;">Source: <a href="https://theconversation.com/cycling-to-work-major-new-study-suggests-health-benefits-are-staggering-76292">https://theconversation.com/cycling-to-work-major-new-study-suggests-health-benefits-are-staggering-76292</a></span></h1>
<p><span style="font-size:8pt;">(April 2017)</span></p>
<h1 class="legacy">Cycling to work: major new study suggests health benefits are staggering</h1>
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/165477/original/image-20170417-12909-1ezk4ah.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="image-20170417-12909-1ezk4ah.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" />
Pump action. <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/man-on-bike-traffic-sunflare-219272440?src=Xf5c7ezJYicz7zIMF8P-Gw-1-11">Csaba Peterdi</a></span>
<p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jason-gill-364025">Jason Gill</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-glasgow-1269">University of Glasgow</a></em> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/carlos-celis-morales-364026">Carlos Celis-Morales</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-glasgow-1269">University of Glasgow</a></em></p>
<p>Research has consistently shown that people who are less physically active are both more likely to develop health problems like heart disease and type 2 diabetes, and to die younger. Yet there is <a href="https://www.bhf.org.uk/news-from-the-bhf/news-archive/2017/april/new-report-assesses-impact-of-physical-inactivity-on-uk-heart-health-and-economy">increasing evidence</a> that physical activity levels are on the decline.</p>
<p>The problem is that when there are many demands on our time, many people find prioritising exercise difficult. One answer is to multi-task by cycling or walking to work. We’ve just completed the largest ever study into how this affects your health.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/357/bmj.j1456">Published</a> in the British Medical Journal today, the results for cycling in particular have important implications. They suggest that councils and governments need to make it a top priority to encourage as many commuters to get on their bikes as possible.</p>
<h2>The findings</h2>
<p>Cycling or walking to work, sometimes referred to as active commuting, is not very common in the UK. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23990990?access_num=23990990&link_type=MED&dopt=Abstract">Only</a> 3% of commuters cycle to work and 11% walk, one of the lowest rates in Europe. At the <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_406_en.pdf">other end</a> of the scale, 43% of the Dutch and 30% of Danes cycle daily.</p>
<p>To get a better understanding of what the UK could be missing, we looked at 263,450 people with an average age of 53 who were either in paid employment or self-employed, and didn’t always work at home. Participants were asked whether they usually travelled to work by car, public transport, walking, cycling or a combination.</p>
<p>We then grouped our commuters into five categories: non-active (car/public transport); walking only; cycling (including some who also walked); mixed-mode walking (walking plus non-active); and mixed-mode cycling (cycling plus non-active, including some who also walked).</p>
<p>We followed people for around five years, counting the incidences of heart disease, cancers and death. Importantly, we adjusted for other health influences including sex, age, deprivation, ethnicity, smoking, body mass index, other types of physical activity, time spent sitting down and diet. Any potential differences in risk associated with road accidents is also accounted for in our analysis, while we excluded participants who had heart disease or cancer already.</p>
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/165479/original/image-20170417-12909-1exz14h.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/165479/original/image-20170417-12909-1exz14h.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" alt="" /></a>
<span class="caption">Death by bus?</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/serious-woman-on-bus-computer-88940911?src=-VQQmRbFAWwnS75pvzZgrQ-1-48">Genemecom</a></span>
<p>We found that cycling to work was associated with a 41% lower risk of dying overall compared to commuting by car or public transport. Cycle commuters had a 52% lower risk of dying from heart disease and a 40% lower risk of dying from cancer. They also had 46% lower risk of developing heart disease and a 45% lower risk of developing cancer at all.</p>
<p>Walking to work was not associated with a lower risk of dying from all causes. Walkers did, however, have a 27% lower risk of heart disease and a 36% lower risk of dying from it.</p>
<p>The mixed-mode cyclists enjoyed a 24% lower risk of death from all causes, a 32% lower risk of developing cancer and a 36% lower risk of dying from cancer. They did not have a significantly lower risk of heart disease, however, while mixed-mode walkers did not have a significantly lower risk of any of the health outcomes we analysed.</p>
<p>For both cyclists and walkers, there was a trend for a greater lowering of risk in those who commuted longer distances. In addition, those who cycled part of the way to work still saw benefits – this is important as many people live too far from work to cycle the entire distance.</p>
<p>As for walkers, the fact that their health benefits were more modest may be related to distance, since they commute fewer miles on average in the UK – six per week compared to 30 for cyclists. They may therefore need to walk longer distances to elicit meaningful benefits. Equally, however, it may be that the lower benefits from walking are related to the fact that it’s a less intense activity.</p>
<h2>What now?</h2>
<p>Our work builds on the <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091743507000989">evidence</a> from <a href="https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/165/12/1343/125702/Influence-of-Exercise-Walking-Cycling-and-Overall">previous studies</a> in a number of important ways. Our quarter of a million participants was larger than all previous studies combined, which enabled us to show the associations between cycling/walking to work and health outcomes more clearly than before.</p>
<p>In particular, the findings resolve previous uncertainties about the association with cancer, and also with heart attacks and related fatalities. We also had enough participants to separately evaluate cycling, walking and mixed-mode commuting for the first time, which helped us confirm that cycling to work is more beneficial than walking.</p>
<p>In addition, much of the previous research was undertaken in places like China and the Nordic countries where cycling to work is common and the supporting infrastructure is good. We now know that the same benefits apply in a country where active commuting is not part of the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23990990?access_num=23990990&link_type=MED&dopt=Abstract">established culture</a>.</p>
<p>It is important to stress that while we did our best to eliminate other potential factors which might influence the findings, it is never possible to do this completely. This means we cannot conclusively say active commuting is the cause of the health outcomes that we measured. Nevertheless, the findings suggest policymakers can make a big difference to public health by encouraging cycling to work in particular. And we should not forget other benefits such as reducing congestion and motor emissions.</p>
<p>Some countries are well ahead of the UK in encouraging cyclists. In Copenhagen and Amsterdam, for instance, people cycle because it is the easiest way to get around town.</p>
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/165492/original/image-20170417-10077-1k2dt50.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/165492/original/image-20170417-10077-1k2dt50.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a>
<span class="caption">Dutch courage.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/amsterdam-netherlands-june-16-2016-people-524928991?src=nYdrFLZy8dDewt0fZx9WAw-1-4">S-F</a></span>
<p>It was not always this way – both cities pursued clear strategies to improve cycle infrastructure first. Ways to achieve this include increasing provision for cycle lanes, city bike hire schemes, subsidised bike purchase schemes, secure cycle parking and more facilities for bicycles on public transport.</p>
<p>For the UK and other countries that have lagged behind, the new findings suggest there is a clear opportunity. If decision makers are bold enough to rise to the challenge, the long-term benefits are potentially transformative.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border:none;margin:0;max-height:1px;max-width:1px;min-height:1px;min-width:1px;opacity:0;padding:0;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/76292/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: <a href="http://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines">http://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines</a> --></p>
<p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jason-gill-364025">Jason Gill</a>, Reader, Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-glasgow-1269">University of Glasgow</a></em> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/carlos-celis-morales-364026">Carlos Celis-Morales</a>, Research Associate, Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-glasgow-1269">University of Glasgow</a></em></p>
<p>This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/cycling-to-work-major-new-study-suggests-health-benefits-are-staggering-76292">original article</a>.</p></div>Press release: Major boost for bus services as PM outlines new vision for local transporthttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/press-release-major-boost-for-bus-services-as-pm-outlines-new-vis2020-02-18T15:06:13.000Z2020-02-18T15:06:13.000ZAlan Inman-Wardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/AlanInmanWard<div><p>Source: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/major-boost-for-bus-services-as-pm-outlines-new-vision-for-local-transport">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/major-boost-for-bus-services-as-pm-outlines-new-vision-for-local-transport</a></p>
<p>(February 2020)</p>
<p>Bus services across the country will be transformed with simpler fares, thousands of new buses, improved routes and higher frequencies.</p>
<p>Bus services across the country will be transformed with simpler fares, thousands of new buses, improved routes and higher frequencies, the PM will announce today.</p>
<p>In a statement to Parliament, the PM will announce £5 billion of new funding to overhaul bus and cycle links for every region outside London.</p>
<p>He will set out a new vision to level up local transport connections throughout the country, making every day journeys easier, greener and more convenient.</p>
<p>The package of investment will boost bus services by focusing on a range of priorities, set to include:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Higher frequency services, including evenings and weekends, to make it easier and less restrictive for people to get around at any time of day</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>More ‘turn up and go’ routes where, thanks to higher frequency, people won’t have to rely on timetables to plan journeys</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>New priority schemes will make routes more efficient, so that buses avoid congested routes and can speed passengers through traffic</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>More affordable, simpler fares</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>At least 4,000 new Zero Emission Buses to make greener travel the convenient option, driving forward the UK’s progress on its net zero ambitions</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Today’s new 5-year funding package builds on the Government’s determination to make buses work better for their passengers. The details of these programmes will be announced in the upcoming National Bus Strategy, to be published later this year at the Comprehensive Spending Review, and follows the allocation of £170 million last week to support more electric buses, increase rural mobility and trial new ‘Superbus’ services.</p>
<p>Cycle routes will also see a major boost across the country with over 250 miles of new, high-quality separated cycle routes and safe junctions in towns and cities to be constructed across England, as part of the multi billion pound package announced today.</p>
<p>Dozens of new ‘Mini-Holland’ schemes will be taken forward to transform town centres across the country to make them safer to get around. These pilots of low-traffic neighbourhoods, will see government working closely with local councils to reduce lorry traffic, making side streets safer to walk, cycle and play in while maintaining the vehicle access people need to get around.</p>
<p>As a core part of the Government’s work to create a long-term cycling programme and budget, all new routes will be built to tough new design standards, ensuring more people can cycle safely and making getting around by bike a more convenient option.</p>
<p>Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Local transport connections have a truly transformative role to play in levelling up infrastructure across the country.</p>
<p>Our daily journeys for work or leisure are about so much more than just getting from A to B – they are the key to accessing skilled jobs and opportunities, boosting businesses and unlocking economic growth for towns, cities and regions across this country.</p>
<p class="last-child">That’s why improving connectivity by overhauling bus services and making cycling easier than ever is such an important step forward, to make sure every community has the foundations it needs to thrive.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>We want everyone across this country to have the transport services they need to improve their lives and opportunities – to do that, we must invest in the here and now.</p>
<p>Through today’s buses funding we’ll be bringing about a transformation in bus services to every community, speeding up journeys and capping fares to make high-quality services the norm.</p>
<p class="last-child">Our long-term commitment to cycling could not be clearer, with money for new routes, more cyclist support and new ‘Mini-Holland’ schemes, set to make our streets the safest they have been for cyclists.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Chancellor Sajid Javid said:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>We want to level up transport services in every region of the UK. As part of the plan, we are investing £5 billion in bus and cycle links.</p>
<p class="last-child">The extra funding will improve people’s everyday journeys, making them quicker and easier.</p>
</blockquote></div>Cycling to work might just help you live longer, according to new studyhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/cycling-to-work-might-just-help-you-live-longer-according-to-new-2020-02-18T09:19:37.000Z2020-02-18T09:19:37.000ZAlan Inman-Wardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/AlanInmanWard<div><p>Source: <a href="https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/latest-news/cycling-to-work-might-just-help-you-live-longer-according-to-new-study-449253">https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/latest-news/cycling-to-work-might-just-help-you-live-longer-according-to-new-study-449253</a></p>
<p>(February 2020)</p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}3870434964,original{{/staticFileLink}}">Report: IEA - Is mode of transport to work associated with mortality in the working-age population?</a></p>
<p>Researchers explored data from 3.5 million people</p>
<p>People who opt to cycle to work reduce their risk of dying, according to new research.</p>
<p>The study, carried out by experts in New Zealand and Australia, found that people who cycled to work had a 13 per cent reduction in mortality, compared to those driving, walking or taking public transport.</p>
<p>Researchers took data from 3.5million people in New Zealand, making it one of the largest ever studies of its kind.</p>
<p>Dr Caroline Shaw, from the Department of Public Health at the University of Otago in New Zealand, said that the “highly representative study” shows the need for an increase in support for people commuting by bike.</p>
<p>The researchers, from the University of Otago, the University of Melbourne and the University of Auckland, took data from the New Zealand Census-Mortality Study to carry out their investigations.</p>
<p>Looking at the 1996, 2001 and 2006 censuses, the experts found that more than 80 per cent of people travelled to work by car, with only five per cent walking and three per cent cycling.</p>
<p>Results from the study, <a href="https://academic.oup.com/ije/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ije/dyz257/5701524?guestAccessKey=6263261e-19bf-4ca2-92bf-337dea6cef2c" target="_blank">published in the </a><em>International Journal of Epidemiology,</em> revealed that those who cycle had a 13 per cent reduction in mortality during the study, mostly likely as the result of the health benefits of physical activity.</p>
<p>There was no reduction in mortality for people who walked or took public transport to work.</p>
<p>Dr Shaw said: “Increasing cycling for commuting to work in a country with low levels of cycling like New Zealand will require policies directed at both transport and urban planning, such as increasing housing density and implementing cycling networks.”</p>
<p>“We saw no increase in road traffic injury deaths associated with walking and cycling, although the New Zealand transport system at the time of these studies was heavily car-dominated and roads seldom made allowances for pedestrians and cyclists.”</p>
<p>The study also revealed the gender differences in travelling to work, with two per cent of women cycling compared with four per cent of men, while seven per cent of women walked or jogged compared with five per cent of men.</p>
<p>A higher proportion of younger people cycled, walked or took public transport compared with older people.</p></div>Change a region to change a nation Greater Manchester’s walking and cycling investment planhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/change-a-region-to-change-a-nation-greater-manchester-s-walking-a2020-02-17T08:40:40.000Z2020-02-17T08:40:40.000ZAlan Inman-Wardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/AlanInmanWard<div><p>Source: <a href="https://theconversation.com/greater-manchesters-cycling-plan-is-a-radical-much-needed-approach-now-it-needs-funding-131419">https://theconversation.com/greater-manchesters-cycling-plan-is-a-radical-much-needed-approach-now-it-needs-funding-131419</a></p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}3866036812,original{{/staticFileLink}}">Change_a_Region_to_Change_a_Nation_Report.pdf</a></p>
<p>The advantages of switching from cars to bikes in cities are well known – for health, urban air quality and the climate. Now, the <a href="http://www.hedgehogcycling.co.uk/Change_a_Region_to_Change_a_Nation_Report.pdf">“Change a region to change a nation”</a> report, which outlines Greater Manchester’s walking and cycling plan, proposes a radical investment in cycling infrastructure.</p>
<p>The plan would see £1.5bn invested in the <a href="https://tfgm.com/bee-network/">Bee Network</a>, 1,800 miles of cycling and walking routes over the region. The goal is to create a model which could be replicated across the country. This network is something that even London, with all its cycling advances under the pro-bike (now former) mayor Boris Johnson and his cycling commissioner Andrew Gilligan, did not manage to accomplish in its time.</p>
<p>The Greater Manchester plan contains many, if not all, the vital elements necessary for a region to make real advances in transport politics. These are political resolve, reformed governance and open communication channels, a network plan and a budgeted work programme. The plan is rooted in a history of cycle campaigning that seeks to make travel by bike accessible for all, and – according to the plan’s authors – it has local backing. Above all, it offers a revolutionary alternative to a car-focused society.</p>
<p>The plan is led by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and Chris Boardman, former professional cyclist and now Manchester’s cycling and walking commissioner. In the plan’s foreword, Boardman dives right into the heart of the matter: we must address our society’s <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965856499000063">dependency on cars</a>, <a href="http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/data/files/publications/fairness_car_dependant.pdf">built into our cities</a> by decades of urban planning. This is a brave step and very timely indeed, after decades of administrative inactivity on transport matters.</p>
<p>According to Boardman, discussions held in Manchester over the last year mean that the public are “now more aware than ever that the way we travel, using cars for even for the shortest of journeys, is one of the biggest contributors to the problem [of the climate crisis]”.</p>
<p><strong>The economic case</strong></p>
<p>The Greater Manchester network is priced at £1.5 billion over 10 years. In a region of 2.8 million inhabitants, this equals a spend of about £50 per person per year. This is by no means outlandish. In the Netherlands, €30 (£25) per person per year is spent on <a href="https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/transport/cycling-health-and-safety_9789282105955-en">cycling infrastructure alone</a>.</p>
<p>The finances presented in the plan show a benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 4. This means that every £1 invested is projected to return £4. The benefits consist of improvements in health and productivity such as increased physical activity, neighbourhood connectivity, boost to local business, congestion relief, and noise and air quality. The economic case is overwhelming.</p>
<p>A typical UK road scheme is classed as having “very high” value for money when it is calculated to yield a <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/411417/ris-economic-analysis.pdf">BCR of 4</a>. In overall terms, a reliance on cars <a href="https://stopclimatechange.net/fileadmin/content/documents/move-green/The_true_costs_of_cars_EN.pdf">costs society dearly</a>, while cycling has consistently shown to <a href="https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/zuvvi/media/bc_files/campaigning/BENEFITS_OF_INVESTING_IN_CYCLING_DIGI_FINAL.pdf">bring societal benefits</a> at a typical <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/348943/vfm-assessment-of-cycling-grants.pdf">BCR of 5</a>.</p>
<p>The numbers add up. But here is the catch. All the benefits aside, where is the seed money supposed to come from for such a radical transformation? To invest in cycling and reap the rewards, Greater Manchester is appealing to the national coffers of the UK Treasury.</p>
<p><strong>Rooted in activism</strong></p>
<p>The foundation of the “Change a region to change a nation” report and the Bee Network is a new approach to campaigning for active travel. My PhD research looked at campaigning tactics to capture the shift that took place in the last decade.</p>
<p>In the past, cycling campaigners favoured on-road solutions: cycling mixed with motor traffic. From 2011 onwards, however, led by the <a href="https://lcc.org.uk/?ref=nav">London Cycling Campaign</a> under environmental campaigner Ashok Sinha, cycling organisations began to concentrate on the arrangement of urban space as the <a href="https://lcc.org.uk/pages/go-dutch">main obstacle to everyday cycling</a>.</p>
<p>A focus on urban space put cycling in direct and concrete conflict with a car-first society that single-mindedly prioritises motor vehicles’ use of city space. This conflict politicised cycling and <a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/1113912/bike-nation/9781911214946.html">put cycling firmly on the political agenda</a>.</p>
<p>Road space must be given over to cycling if we want to construct cycling conditions where short journeys are habitually made by bike, where shopping by bike becomes a possibility, older people have stress-free and calm cycle environments for their free participation in public life, parents can cycle with children and <a href="https://journals.open.tudelft.nl/index.php/ejtir/article/view/3064">children can cycle by themselves</a>. This approach has a particular focus on <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/24461671?seq=1">journeys of care</a> such as visiting friends and relatives, shopping and child minding, and many of these claims were made by women activists.</p>
<p>Looking at the names on the report, and wider cycling politics, it feels as if current culture still requires men to press through change. Thankfully, for one thing, the imagery used in the Greater Manchester plan is inclusive and diverse.</p>
<p>But there remains an ingrained car-first approach in national politics. For the Bee Network to fully succeed, regionally and UK-wide, that now needs to be challenged.</p>
<p> </p></div>The Health of the Nation strategy for longevity: Longer life 'not a problem to be tackled but a goal to be pursued'https://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/longer-life-not-a-problem-to-be-tackled-but-a-goal-to-be-pursued-2020-02-17T08:32:01.000Z2020-02-17T08:32:01.000ZAlan Inman-Wardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/AlanInmanWard<div><p>Source: <a href="https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/63446/longer-life-not-a-problem-to-be-tackled-but-a-goal-to-be-pursued-via-healthy-lifestyles">https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/63446/longer-life-not-a-problem-to-be-tackled-but-a-goal-to-be-pursued-via-healthy-lifestyles</a></p>
<p>(February 2020)</p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}3866032702,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}3866032702,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="3866032702?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="224" /></a></p>
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<p><a href="https://indd.adobe.com/view/85a7129f-f900-41fa-9a9d-024d13f0aaf5">https://indd.adobe.com/view/85a7129f-f900-41fa-9a9d-024d13f0aaf5</a></p>
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<h3>We need more urban design that supports healthy living, opportunities for walking and cycling – bearing down on the 40% of car journeys that are less than 2 miles – low-crime neighbourhoods, action on the environment and cross-governmental work on air quality</h3>
<div class="thedate">14 February 2020</div>
<div class="images">
<div class="image"><a href="https://www.transportxtra.com/files/73132-l.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-left" src="https://www.transportxtra.com/files/73132-l.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" alt="73132-l.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="564" /></a></div>
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<p>The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care addressed the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Longevity at the launch of their longer, healthier lives strategy.</p>
<p>A new report, <a href="https://appg-longevity.org/events-publications" target="_blank">The Health of the Nation: A Strategy for Healthier Longer Lives</a>, was published by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Longevity. It found that women in the UK are living for 29 years in poor health and men for 23 years: an increase of 50% for women and 42% for men on previous estimates based on self-reported data.</p>
<p>The APPG for Longevity has spent nine months working with a range of cross-party politicians, the government’s Behavioural Insight Team and Public Health England, as well as experts including the King’s Fund and the Health Foundation on how to improve the nation’s health.</p>
<p>Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, speaking at the report’s launch, noted that among policymakers – especially in government – our ageing society has traditionally been framed as a problem, a liability. Longer life is not a problem to be tackled but a goal to be pursued.</p>
<p>‘The first is place and its relationship to people,’ he said: ‘Because however you choose to measure the evidence is clear: your chance of a healthy old age is closely tied to where you live.</p>
<p>‘A man born in Blackpool can expect only 53 years of healthy life, while a man born in Buckingham gets 68.</p>
<p>‘That’s wrong.’</p>
<p>Tackling this postcode inequality matters to this government. It’s what we mean when we talk about ‘levelling up’.</p>
<p>Tina Woods, joint APPG lead and co-author of the report, said: ‘If the number of working age people with limiting long-term health conditions were reduced by 10%, it would increase the economic activity rate by 3% in the ‘northern powerhouse.’</p>
<p>'Levelling up' is also about about the kind of urban design that supports healthy living, more opportunities for walking and cycling – bearing down on the 40% of car journeys that are less than 2 miles, low-crime neighbourhoods, and action on the environment like our cross-government work on air quality.</p>
<p>This is something that the Prime Minister is strongly personally committed to, and our announcement yesterday of 250 miles of new cycling routes is another milestone on that journey, said Hancock.</p>
<p>The report also found that up to 75% of new cases of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes, 40% of cancer incidence and dementia risks could be reduced if we cut smoking, unhealthy diet, harmful consumption of alcohol and insufficient physical activity.</p></div>DfT Cycle City Ambition Programme Interim Report - Extended Summaryhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/dft-cycle-city-ambition-programme-interim-report-extended-summary2020-02-12T10:17:22.000Z2020-02-12T10:17:22.000ZAlan Inman-Wardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/AlanInmanWard<div><p>Source: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/851558/Cycle_City_Ambition_Programme_interim_report_extended_summary.pdf">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/851558/Cycle_City_Ambition_Programme_interim_report_extended_summary.pdf</a></p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}3858642009,original{{/staticFileLink}}">Cycle_City_Ambition_Programme_interim_report_extended_summary.pdf</a></p>
<p><strong>ABOUT THIS REPORT</strong><br />The Department for Transport (DfT) commissioned Transport for Quality of Life, Sustrans and Technopolis to evaluate the Cycle City Ambition (CCA) Programme.</p>
<p><br /> <strong>This Interim Report is the fifth of seven reports as part of the evaluation. It covers:</strong><br /> The interim impact (up to the end of 2017) of investment in cycling infrastructure in the eight CCA cities, including the increase in cycling along routes that benefitted from capital investment.<br /> City-wide and programme-level cycling trends.<br /> Propensity to cycle by gender, age and ethnicity and corroborating evidence on the demographic profile of new and existing cyclists.<br /> Cyclists’ and public perceptions about the safety and quality of cycling facilities in their cities.<br /> Wider impacts on physical activity, carbon emissions and emissions of local pollutants.</p>
<p><br /> <strong>Previous reports were:</strong><br /> Sustrans (2016) Cycle City Ambition Stage 1a Report: Outlined the cities’ planned CCA-funded schemes and monitoring plans, and assessed evaluation options.<br /> Taylor I and Hiblin B (2016) Typical Costs of Cycling Interventions: Interim analysis of Cycle City Ambition schemes: Summarised typical costs of cycling interventions and the factors that affected them, during Phase 1 of the CCA programme.</p>
<p>Sloman L, Goodman A, Maia J, Riley R, Dennis S and Farla K (2017) Cycle City Ambition Programme<br /> Evaluation Design: Stage 1b / 1c Report: Recommended suitable infrastructure schemes and comparison sites for evaluation; identified comparison local authority areas for city-wide and<br /> programme-level evaluation; proposed baselines; and included power calculations to show the magnitude of change in cycling participation that would be detectable.<br /> Sloman L, Goodman A, Taylor I, Maia J, Riley R, Dennis S, Farla K, Hopkinson L and Hiblin B (2017)<br /> Cycle City Ambition Programme: Baseline and Interim Report: Reported baseline cycling volumes and initial cycling trends at the infrastructure schemes and comparison sites; reported city-wide trends in cycling volumes, and trends in cycling participation at city and programme level; analysed the propensity of different demographic groups to cycle at baseline; looked at whether increases in cycling led to more physical activity.</p>
<p>The remaining two reports will be:<br /> An update of the 2016 report on typical costs of cycling interventions: expected to be publishedin 2020.<br /> A final evaluation, looking at the outcomes and impacts of the CCA programme up to the end of 2019: expected to be published in 2021.</p></div>Investing in cycling pays off, but ministers are ignoring the evidencehttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/investing-in-cycling-pays-off-but-ministers-are-ignoring-the-evid2020-02-12T10:12:11.000Z2020-02-12T10:12:11.000ZAlan Inman-Wardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/AlanInmanWard<div><p>Source: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2020/feb/12/investing-in-cycling-pays-off-but-ministers-are-ignoring-the-evidence?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Tweet">https://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2020/feb/12/investing-in-cycling-pays-off-but-ministers-are-ignoring-the-evidence?</a></p>
<p><strong>A report shows that when bike lanes are built, people cycle more and drive less</strong></p>
<p>If you took a time machine back to John Dobson Street in central Newcastle in 2013, you’d be struck by its transformation in the years since.</p>
<p>An inhospitable dual carriageway has been replaced by a single carriageway with wider pavements and a 400m bike lane. The result: a fourfold increase in people cycling along the route.</p>
<p>Initial findings from a <a class="u-underline" href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/851558/Cycle_City_Ambition_Programme_interim_report_extended_summary.pdf">government report</a> reveal how just 14 disconnected cycle schemes in eight English cities, part of the government’s Cycle City Ambition Fund programme (CCAF), have cut 440,000 car trips per year, replaced 2m kilometres of driving with cycling trips and made cycling attractive for a broader demographic.</p>
<p>This week the government announced £5bn over five years for cycling and buses, including 250 miles of cycle routes, which they say will be built to tough new design standards. Although Boris Johnson said on Tuesday <a class="u-underline" href="https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/61828604-7403-4c31-a36f-61b9fdb1fd86">in the Commons</a> that just £350m of that would be for cycling, this appeared to be a mistake. The DfT says there will not be any clarification on how much money will go where until the spending review</p>
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<p>The transport announcement was met with derision from the opposition for its piecemeal nature, though Johnson said more money was coming in this month’s budget. However, the new CCAF report highlights how important it is for the government to build quality cycle routes that are more than just white paint.</p>
<p>A quick history: it is a peculiar quirk that cycling has <a class="u-underline" href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/416826/cycling-and-walking-business-case-summary.pdf">one of the best returns on investment</a> of all transport, £5.50 per £1 spent, and yet it suffers the most myopic planning. So it was that in 2013, just eight English cities and regions received money to spend, sharpish, on cycling infrastructure and “softer measures” such as training and promotion.</p>
<p>The lucky few sprang into action. They were: Birmingham, Cambridge, Greater Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich, Oxford, Bristol, Bath and north-east Somerset and south Gloucestershire, and West Yorkshire Combined Authority (Leeds, Bradford and neighbouring areas).</p>
<p>They came up with a mixed bag of cycle superhighways, shorter segregated routes, “mixed routes” of quiet roads, green space and segregated paths, city centre schemes, canal towpaths and junction treatments. Some were very good; others were not.</p>
<p>The initial findings were city-wide increases in cycling in all eight areas and, in some places, a decrease in car journeys. But their success varied.</p>
<p>These are interim figures, with work on the final report just starting. Their lessons are:</p>
<p><span class="bullet">•</span> <strong>Build it and they will cycle more – and drive less</strong>. The report’s authors note a very clear cycling uptick in cities that invested in cycling infrastructure, many with a similar magnitude of reduction in car use. At least 440,000 car trips per year have switched to cycle trips because of the new routes, or roughly 2m kilometres of driving. Some of the increase was a continuation of an upward trend in cycling before investment, which means many cities were “pushing at an open door”.</p>
<p><span class="bullet">•</span> <strong>All cycle lanes are not created equal</strong>. Consistent, kerb-protected routes are a better investment than the less ambitious white-paint-on-the-road routes, if you want more people using them. The most successful routes were away from motor traffic entirely, including improved towpaths in Birmingham, where cycling increased by 157%. In Manchester, a decent-quality protected cycle route on Wilmslow Road has prompted increases of between 85% and 176% since completion – and numbers are still climbing. On Manchester’s Broughton cycleway, a lower-quality route “protected” by plastic wands and “armadillos” (little rubber blocks bolted to the road), there was, however, little change.</p>
<p><span class="bullet">•</span> <strong>Better cycle routes mean greater diversity</strong>. The new infrastructure seems to attract people who are more representative of the general population. Surveys found 18% of new riders were from ethnic minority groups compared with 8% of existing cyclists and 14% of the general population. About 43% of new cyclists were women, compared with 33% of existing riders. The findings also suggest more new cyclists were from households with lower than average earnings than existing riders.</p>
<p><strong><span class="bullet">•</span> A bike lane here and there isn’t enough to improve safety, or perceptions of safety</strong>. For that, you need a network. Surveys from the eight areas showed little improvement in how safe people felt cycling there – particularly where children were concerned. This is hardly surprising, as most changes were only to a road or two in each location.</p>
<p><span class="bullet">•</span><strong> <a class="u-underline" href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/cycling">Cycling</a> investment brings health benefits</strong>. Half of people who already cycled and four-fifths of new cyclists say they noticed improvements in their wellbeing because of the new cycle routes.</p>
<p>The government <a class="u-underline" href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/863723/cycling-and-walking-investment-strategy-report-to-parliament.pdf">has admitted that</a> it is just 40% of the way to its target of doubling cycling by 2025, and that “substantial further investment” is needed.</p>
<p>The charity Cycling UK says that to meet the target, the government must invest a further £6-8bn by 2025 on top of the £2.4bn the government <a class="u-underline" href="https://twitter.com/transportgovuk/status/1225860188328120322">believes will be spent by 2021</a>, as well as decent new design standards for cycle infrastructure.</p>
<p>If our time machine could travel seven years into the future, we should expect to see similar people-friendly transformations in town and city centres up and down the country. Boris Johnson told the Commons yesterday that he wanted a new generation of cyclists to “pedal safely and happily to school and work in tree-dappled sunlight on their own network of segregated paths”. The excuses for not building that network are getting harder to make.</p></div>