Active travel: healthy lives

January 2011

Teresa Lavin, Owen Metcalfe & Claire Higgins

Active travel – key facts and figures

Northern Ireland:

• Car travel accounts for 70% of all journeys

• 18% of journeys were made on foot and 1% by bicycle

Republic of Ireland:

• Two-thirds commuters travel to work by car

• 11% walked to work and 2% cycled

Health impacts of active travel

• Increased levels of physical activity

• Less road traffic injuries and deaths

• Better air quality and reduced greenhouse gas emissions

• Less noise

• Greater opportunities for social interaction and community cohesion

Economic benefits of active travel

• A population shift to active travel can bring substantial economic benefits through improved health.

• Savings through:– Reduced healthcare costs– Better productivity– Less time off work due to serious illness or

disability

Key messages for action

• Health should be a central component of active travel planning

• Equity to be considered in all interventions• Intersectoral collaboration • Continued investment in pedestrian and cycle

infrastructure is essential • Develop a culture of walking and cycling• Balanced approach to provision of incentives• Better information on current journeys

• Need a closing slide – website address for all publications??