International Institute for Society and Health 2010 Public Seminar Series: Speakers: Dr Stephen Watkins, Dr Jennifer Mindell
Transport affects health in a range of both positive and negative ways. It provides access to many health-beneficial facilities, from health centres to swimming pools, from meetings with families and friends to tranquil enjoyment of the countryside, from work to opportunities to buying healthy food. Walking and cycling offer an excellent way to build physical activity into everyday life. But transport also causes stress, disruption of communities, injuries, noise and air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. Transport’s effects also exacerbate inequalities, with the benefits of motorised transport accruing particularly to the better off, while the adverse effects fall disproportionately on the already disadvantaged. Health on the Move, first published over a decade and a half ago by the Transport & Health Study Group (THSG), seeks to describe the links between transport and health. THSG is now about to publish a fully updated and greatly expanded edition.
In this lecture, Jenny Mindell and Steve Watkins present the main themes of the new edition. In a thorough review of evidence on cycle safety they conclude that cycling is an inherently safe activity with major positive benefits for life expectancy, but exaggerated perceptions of its dangers lead to a poor take up. In a review of congestion they argue that this can be tackled only by a combination of road pricing, comprehensive and universal public transport systems, more homeworking and more walking and cycling. Joshua Hart’s findings that traffic in streets diminish social support and community spirit raises far reaching spatial planning questions about how we perceive streets. Climate change demands less use of the car and plane and more use of the cycle and train. Transport is a public health challenge comparable to sewers in the 19th and clean air in the 20th century in its difficulty, its financial implications and its consequences.
This seminar is free and open to all, but seats cannot be reserved and are allocated on a first come first served basis only. Prompt arrival is therefore advised in order to secure a place. Please contact us at iish@ucl.ac.uk if you have any special needs.