NICE, the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence have published new guidelines on local measures to promote walking and cycling.

The guidelines set out how people can be encouraged to increase the amount they walk or cycle for travel or recreation purposes. It provides detailed policy recommendations for local authorities, transport planners, NHS practitioners and work places.

NICE highlight the role in which walking and cycling can reduce air pollution emissions as part of local action plans. With regard to risks from walking and cycling, NICE conclude that the pollution exposure during walking and cycling is far outweighed by the overwhelming health benefits arising from increased physical activity.

"Walking and cycling, like any form of transport, involve exposure to a certain level of risk. This includes the risk of injury from falls or from collisions and exposure to air pollution. These risks are not unique to transport involving physical activity. However, evidence shows that the health benefits of being more physically active outweigh these disbenefits. The whole population benefits from less exposure to polluted air and congested streets when there is a general shift away from motorised vehicles."

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Item date 03/12/2012