Travelwise health and environment
Health
Over recent decades many studies have shown that as a nation we are becoming increasingly unhealthy. There are many reasons for this trend, but there are a number of direct and indirect links to transport.
With the rise of the car we have become less willing to walk and cycle, and also less able to, as cars and roads can make cycling and walking physically dangerous. People fear for their safety if they walk or cycle on or near to many of our roads. Previous planning policy gave primary concern to the car and the car user and under prioritised the needs of pedestrians and cyclists. The removal of regular walking and cycling from our travel habits has had a detrimental effect on our general levels of health. Obesity is increasing. The proportion of adults who are obese is approximately twice that in the mid 1980s. Regular cyclists enjoy levels of fitness of a person ten years their junior. It is slightly ironic, that people's fears for their safety and health, have stopped them doing the things that actually improve their health.
The Department for Transport website contains various travel statistics which demonstrate the enormous modal shift and changes in travel behaviour over recent decades
Pollution
Modern vehicles are becoming 'greener', with some models producing one twentieth of the pollutants similar models did in the 1970s. But in absolute terms the proportion of pollution attributable to road transport is increasing. Motor vehicles are the single biggest source of atmospheric pollution (Greenpeace UK ). It is believed that motor vehicles contribute between 14 to 17% of the world's total carbon dioxide emissions.
TravelWise
The National TravelWise Association is a network of local authorities, health organisations, educational institutions and passenger transport executives who are working together to promote healthy and environmentally friendly transport.
The NTWA aims to reduce people's dependency on the car and promote sensible viable alternatives. Many local authorities are now members of TravelWise and have a member of staff who co-ordinates all TravelWise related activities for that authority.
There are currently 114 members of the TravelWise organisation, which are subdivided into 11 Regional areas. The regional area groups hold meetings on a regular basis to exchange ideas and methods of best practice.
As an organisation TravelWise aims to reduce dependence on the car by: -
- Increasing awareness of the environmental, health, economic, and social effects of car use.
- Changing people's attitudes towards car use
- Promoting more sustainable modes of transport, along with lifestyle changes that encourage less use of the car
- Encouraging changes in travel behaviour, to minimise unnecessary car use
Members of TravelWise recognise that the current situation cannot continue unchecked. Participation is needed from all sectors of the community, from individuals, companies, local authorities, health care providers and educational establishments to bring about real change.