People in some parts of the region are more physically active than those in others. Physical activity is a key aspect of health improvement, but levels of physical activity are actually falling. Given the relationship between poor health and social exclusion, and the opportunities to promote health as well as sustainable travel, enabling and encouraging greater levels of walking and cycling in the region is beneficial and cost-effective.
Creating the right environment to encourage more walking and cycling has been shown to lead to benefit to cost ratios of the order of twenty to one.
As identified in research for the Scottish Executive by Steer Davies Gleave on health and transport, it is crucial that HITRANS and its local authority members link with other bodies to promote active travel fully, due to the number of bodies and sectors with an interest and role related to active travel. Of particular importance is engaging with the land use planning process, particularly development control policy and staff in local authorities. |
