TACKLING OBESITY IN ENGLANDPerformance targets for healthy transport4.10 The policy commitment is supported with<strong>in</strong> theDepartment of the Environment, Transport and theRegions by a target to quadruple the level of cycl<strong>in</strong>g,aga<strong>in</strong>st a 1996 base, by the year 2012.4.11 At the operational level, the Highways Agency, withresponsibility for motorways and trunk roads, has anobjective to improve conditions on the roads for cyclists,pedestrians and equestrians. Whilst the Agency has notset a quantified performance target for access forcyclists, its management plan <strong>in</strong>cludes operationaltargets for four accessibility schemes cost<strong>in</strong>g over£100,000, and a further 15 cost<strong>in</strong>g under £100,000.Sett<strong>in</strong>g a strategic performance target to measure itssuccess <strong>in</strong> deliver<strong>in</strong>g accessibility would provide theAgency with a further <strong>in</strong>centive to work closely with theDepartment of the Environment, Transport and theRegions to improve access and safety for cyclists.Integrat<strong>in</strong>g health and transport plans locally4.12 Health authorities and local authorities provide thema<strong>in</strong> l<strong>in</strong>ks <strong>in</strong> translat<strong>in</strong>g Government policy on health,transport and the environment <strong>in</strong>to local action: healthauthorities are responsible for identify<strong>in</strong>g the healthneeds of the local population and for seek<strong>in</strong>g to addressthem through co-ord<strong>in</strong>at<strong>in</strong>g the local HealthImprovement Programme; and local authorities makethe plann<strong>in</strong>g decisions which affect the localenvironment and transport <strong>in</strong>frastructure. Jo<strong>in</strong>t work<strong>in</strong>gon these issues at departmental level needs to bemirrored by collaboration at the local level todevelop and implement <strong>in</strong>tegrated health andtransport strategies.4.13 To develop these l<strong>in</strong>ks, the Department of theEnvironment, Transport and the Regions and theDepartment of Health jo<strong>in</strong>tly sponsored a report called'Mak<strong>in</strong>g The L<strong>in</strong>ks: Integrat<strong>in</strong>g Susta<strong>in</strong>able Transport,Health and Environmental Policies', published <strong>in</strong> 1999by the Health Education Authority 33 . The report aimedto promote jo<strong>in</strong>t work<strong>in</strong>g between local authorities andhealth authorities by identify<strong>in</strong>g common themes <strong>in</strong>national transport, health and environmental policies,by provid<strong>in</strong>g guidance on the development of <strong>in</strong>tegratedstrategies, and by dissem<strong>in</strong>at<strong>in</strong>g good practice.Case Study 5 illustrates what can be done.4.14 Local Transport Plans will provide an opportunity toapply this <strong>in</strong>tegrated approach more widely. They were<strong>in</strong>troduced by the 'New Deal for Transport' WhitePaper 32 as a centre piece for local action and key to thedelivery of <strong>in</strong>tegrated transport. They are five-year planson which local authorities are required to consultwidely, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g with health care providers. Some localauthorities have set their own targets to <strong>in</strong>crease cycl<strong>in</strong>g,<strong>in</strong> l<strong>in</strong>e with the Department of the Environment,Transport and the Regions' national objective, and arework<strong>in</strong>g with local user groups to achieve them.4.15 In develop<strong>in</strong>g their policies on walk<strong>in</strong>g and cycl<strong>in</strong>g, anumber of local authorities have designated 'Walk<strong>in</strong>g'and 'Cycl<strong>in</strong>g' <strong>Office</strong>rs <strong>in</strong> order to develop plans andimplement schemes on the ground. Walk<strong>in</strong>g and cycl<strong>in</strong>gare also be<strong>in</strong>g promoted through Green Transport Plans,which were <strong>in</strong>troduced by the 'New Deal for Transport'White Paper as a means of deliver<strong>in</strong>g changes <strong>in</strong> travelmodes to and dur<strong>in</strong>g the course of work. Through suchplans, employers are encouraged to promote the use ofwalk<strong>in</strong>g and cycl<strong>in</strong>g by offer<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>centives andprovid<strong>in</strong>g the equipment and facilities to make thesemore attractive options. As part of the <strong>National</strong> ServiceFramework for coronary heart disease 6 , NHS and localauthority employers are required to develop GreenTransport Plans by April 2002.4.16 As a sister publication to 'Mak<strong>in</strong>g The L<strong>in</strong>ks', the HealthEducation Authority published a further report <strong>in</strong> 1999called 'Active Transport' 27 , designed to helpprofessionals work<strong>in</strong>g at community level to developlocal <strong>in</strong>itiatives to promote walk<strong>in</strong>g and cycl<strong>in</strong>g. This isa practical document which makes extensive use of casestudies to dissem<strong>in</strong>ate good practice <strong>in</strong> develop<strong>in</strong>ghealthy transport <strong>in</strong>itiatives. Some examples from thereport are described <strong>in</strong> Case Studies 6, 7 and 8.ii. Promot<strong>in</strong>g more active recreation <strong>in</strong>society4.17 Another way <strong>in</strong> which Government can encourage morepeople to take more exercise is by promot<strong>in</strong>g physicalrecreation. The Department for Culture, Media andSport has a lead role <strong>in</strong> promot<strong>in</strong>g participation <strong>in</strong> sportand <strong>in</strong> ensur<strong>in</strong>g that adequate opportunities for activeleisure and play are provided for the whole population,<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g the socially disadvantaged. The Department'sPublic Service Agreement with the Treasury published <strong>in</strong>2000 <strong>in</strong>cludes a strategic objective to raise significantly,year on year, the average time spent on sport andphysical activity by those aged 5 to 16.part four34
TACKLING OBESITY IN ENGLANDCase Study 5: Integrated health and transport strategies <strong>in</strong> LiverpoolLiverpool Health Authority identified action areas on "transport, air, plann<strong>in</strong>g and landuse" <strong>in</strong> its Health Improvement Programme (1999). These <strong>in</strong>cluded:nnnnnnThe health impact assessment of new transport plansImplement<strong>in</strong>g a cycle users' programmeDevelop<strong>in</strong>g a targeted and cohesive transport strategy, l<strong>in</strong>ked to the cycl<strong>in</strong>g strategyIncorporat<strong>in</strong>g health and susta<strong>in</strong>ability <strong>in</strong>to local plann<strong>in</strong>g guidanceReduc<strong>in</strong>g the amount of long-stay car park<strong>in</strong>g and promot<strong>in</strong>g the health benefits ofthe car park<strong>in</strong>g strategySecur<strong>in</strong>g organisational commitment for implement<strong>in</strong>g green commuter plans,<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>centives to use public transport and walk<strong>in</strong>g.Merseyside local authority's transport strategy had a section devoted to transport andhealth, and a health impact assessment of the regional transport strategy was conducted.Projects <strong>in</strong>cluded:nnnnnHealthy transport plans at NHS sitesGreen commuter plans for NHS staff and l<strong>in</strong>ks to "health at work" programmesA TravelWise regional campaign, with transport/health promotionsCycl<strong>in</strong>g and walk<strong>in</strong>g route development and promotion, l<strong>in</strong>ked to physical activity programmes"Safer routes to school" and l<strong>in</strong>ks to children's health.Source: Mak<strong>in</strong>g The L<strong>in</strong>ks 33Case Study 6: Health promotion by encourag<strong>in</strong>g the use of stairsA study was undertaken by researchers at Glasgow University and Glasgow Health Board to encourage the use of stairs ratherthan an escalator at a city centre underground station. The aim was to test whether <strong>in</strong>cidental physical activity could be<strong>in</strong>corporated <strong>in</strong>to the daily rout<strong>in</strong>es of members of the public.Posters with the slogan " Stay Healthy, Save Time, Use the Stairs" were placed <strong>in</strong> prom<strong>in</strong>ent positions at the po<strong>in</strong>t of choicewhere an escalator and two flights of fifteen steps ran side by side.Prior to the erection of the posters, stair use was around eight per cent. Dur<strong>in</strong>g the three week period when the sign waspresent, stair use went up to between 15-17 per cent. Twelve weeks after the removal of the posters, stair use rema<strong>in</strong>edsignificantly above the level recorded prior to the erection of the posters. The Health Education Board for Scotlandsubsequently distributed motivational stair walk<strong>in</strong>g posters throughout Scottish workplaces.Source: Active Transport 27Case Study 7: Promot<strong>in</strong>g Walk<strong>in</strong>g and Cycl<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> StockportA unique NHS project has been established <strong>in</strong> Stockport to promote walk<strong>in</strong>g and cycl<strong>in</strong>gthroughout the borough. A Project <strong>Office</strong>r is employed to promote walk<strong>in</strong>g and cycl<strong>in</strong>gas part of every day liv<strong>in</strong>g.A range of programmes has been established <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g adult cycl<strong>in</strong>g classes, a resourcepack to support school talks, a cycl<strong>in</strong>g festival and a cycle leas<strong>in</strong>g scheme whichencourages NHS Trust staff to cycle to work. This scheme enables staff to rent one of 85bicycles purchased by the Trust. It aims to <strong>in</strong>crease fitness and activity levels among staff,as well as alleviate park<strong>in</strong>g problems at hospital sites.The scheme has proved to be extremely popular, with far more staff cycl<strong>in</strong>g to work thanpreviously as all the bikes have been rented out. It is part of a broader susta<strong>in</strong>abletransport plan produced by the local Transport Work<strong>in</strong>g Group- an alliance betweenStockport NHS and Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council.part four35Source: Active Transport 27