The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has released a report recommending measures to increase levels of walking and cycling, to enable more healthy lifestyles.
Brake welcomes the calls, and urges policy makers to make our streets safer for walking and cycling, given that traffic danger is a major barrier in enabling people to walk and cycle more.
Last week Brake launched the GO 20 campaign alongside a coalition of charities, calling for 20mph limits to be introduced across built-up areas, so people can walk and cycle for their health and enjoyment, and for cheap and sustainable travel, without being or feeling endangered.
The NICE report recommends:
- Integrating walking and cycling routes with public transport links
- Implementing town-wide programmes to promote cycling
- Developing and implementing school travel plans that encourage children to walk or cycle all or part of the way to school
The report also urges practitioners to address infrastructure issues that may discourage people from walking, for example, traffic volume and speed, and poor safety facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. It encourages practitioners to take into account NICE's recommendations on physical activity and the environment and on road design.
Julie Townsend, Brake deputy chief executive, said: “Brake welcomes these recommendations to make it easier and more appealing for people to walk and cycle. Boosting walking and cycling is good for people’s health and enjoyment, the environment and communities. However, research shows danger from fast traffic is a major barrier to getting more children and adults walking and cycling. Hence it’s crucial we make roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists, to enable more of us to choose active travel and feel able to get out and enjoy our neighbourhoods. Implementing widespread 20mph limits in towns, cities and villages makes a huge difference, because slowing down gives drivers far greater chance to react and stop in time in an emergency. That’s why we’re calling on more local authorities to GO 20 – and the government to work towards 20mph being the norm in all our communities – to prevent needless casualties, and enable everyone to walk and cycle without fear.”
GrumpyOldMen - 29/11/2012 11:22
Totally disagree with this analysis. I used to cycle a lot back in the Seventies. It was 30mph limit and it wasn't a problem. It's still a 30mph limit so what's the problem? Traffic density, not speed. You just can't fall off safely these days. Saw a chap knocked off his bike 2 nights ago at 10mph (car exiting side road in mass traffic). Don't keep having a go at 30mph, it's generally fine. Do we need more space? There are cycle lanes all the way down the road past our offices. If more than a couple of cyclists a day use them it's highly unusual. Also on the East Lancs is a well signed cycle lane. Nobody uses it. Cyclists (proper ones in Lycra who think cycle lanes and for cissies) ride on the road and take a lane out at rush hour. I'm only in favour of cycle lanes if cycles and banned from using the rest of the road otherwise it's a complete waste of planning effort and space. Get real. Or move to China if that's what your trying to turn us into. GO20 is not the answer. We all need to do our bit to reduce journeys per se. Not just make all the traffic go slower.