Active travel and healthy workplaces Rachel Bromley, Sustrans

In the UK, 25 million people travel to work every day and most – around 71% - choose to do so by car. Travel to Work factsheet, Department for Transport, 2007 Travel to work contributes to decline in physical activity levels

over 10 miles 2-5 miles 1-2 miles under 1 mile 20% 7% 18% 34 % 5-10 miles 22% Source: NTS 1999/2001 Update, Department for Transport (July 2002 ) A quarter of all car trips are under 2 miles So most car trips could be walked or cycled

Inactive lifestyles contribute to a huge range of diseases Obesity Coronary Heart Disease Diabetes Cancer Osteoporosis Mental health problems Arthritis

Predicted growth in obesity-related disease by 2030 From Our health, our care, our say white paper 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% StrokeAnginaHeart AttackHypertensionType 2 diabetes +5% +12% +18% +28% +54% Source: Living in Britain 2004: Results from the 2002 General Household Survey; National Food Survey 2000 Table B1

Absenteeism 172 million working days lost to the British economy costs £20 billion to the business and public sector and £100 billion to the wider economy. Source: CBI/AXA 2008 Absence and labour turnover survey, and Black, 2008 Working for a healthier tomorrow: Dame Carol Blacks review of the health of Britains working age population

The CMOs recommendations For most people, the easiest and most acceptable forms of physical activity are those that can be incorporated into everyday life. Examples include walking or cycling instead of travelling by car….. At least five a week; the Chief Medical Officers report on physical activity, 2004

The top five policy responses assessed as having the greatest average impact on levels of obesity [include]: -increasing walkability / cyclability of the built environment….. Foresight Tackling Obesities report, Government Office for Science 2007 Making healthy living possible

Healthy employees benefit the employer reduced absenteeism lower turnover rates improved productivity and employee morale lower health care costs Source: Sustrans, 2008 Active travel and healthy workplaces information sheet

; NICE Guidelines: Promoting Physical Activity in the Workplace NICE guidelines call on employers to invest in strategies that encourage all staff to be more active, with active travel to work playing a crucial role.

NICE Guidelines: Promoting Physical Activity in the Workplace encourage employees to walk and cycle provide information about walking and cycling routes introduce and monitor an organisation-wide programme to increase physical activity set organisation goals for physical activity levels

Active travel and healthy workplaces information sheet Addresses the role of walking, cycling and other forms of physical activity in reducing levels of sickness absence from work. Download from

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