1. Physical Activity and Active Transportation Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute - www.cflri.ca -

2.  Physical activity and health  The role of active transportation  Active transportation research & resources  Promoting and advocating for active transportation

3.  Cost of inactivity  Benefits of Activity  Recommended Amounts  Participation Rates Physical Activity and Health

4. Cost of Physical Inactivity Direct costs include medical costs to treat coronary heart disease, hypertension, stroke, breast cancer, colon cancer, type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis. Indirect costs include the value of economic output lost because of illness, injury-related work disability, or premature death. $1.6 billion $3.7 billion Total: $5.3 billion Katzmarzyk & Janssen. Can J Appl Physiol 2004;29:90-115.

5. Physical Activity and Health Benefits  All cause mortality  Cardiovascular disease  Some cancers  Hypertension  Osteoporosis  Musculoskeletal fitness and health  Mental health  Functioning and independent living in later life

6. How much is enough?  30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise (e.g., brisk walking) on most days of the week: significant reductions in all-cause and cardiovascular related mortality lower risk of hypertension  Even higher durations: lower risks of colon and breast cancer maintenance of body mass / prevention of weight gain  Resistance and flexibility improvement: improved musculoskeletal fitness reduced risk of osteoporosis helps control of hypertension  Limit television watching to less than 10 hours per week.

7.  49% Canadian adults are at least moderately active  35% are overweight and 16% are obese  about 60% report very good overall health  8% report Type 2 diabetes  nearly 3 in 10 report high blood pressure  1 in 10 report heart disease Physical Activity and Health

8.  Fits into everyday life  Environmental benefits  Social benefits  Economic benefits Active Transportation as a source of Physical Activity

9.  Walking and cycling accessible, prevalent popular  Along with public transport environmentally friendly sustainable The Role of Active Transportation

10. Environmental Impact of Motorized Transportation Dependency Green house Gas Emissions Urban Sprawl

11. Social Capital

12. Economic Benefits

13.  Active Transportation Bulletins  Research File & Lifestyle Tips  National Population Surveys  Active Living Potential Measurement  Publication in Peer Reviewed Journals Active Transportation Research and Resources at CFLRI

14.  “Elevator Speech” documents  Facts, and quotes for professionals and community members who want to build a case for active transportation in their community  Intended to increase knowledge on the link with each topic and active transportation  Share with: municipal council members municipal staff responsible for land-use planning, transportation, public utilities, social services, parks, recreation and building codes Active Transportation Bulletins

15.  N o 1: Health Benefits  N o 2: Barriers  N o 3: Economic Benefits  N o 4: Environmental Benefits  N o 5: Built Infrastructure  N o 6: Safety  N o 7: Increasing Social Capital  N o 8: Role for Municipal Decision Makers Active Transportation Bulletins

16.  Recent research in physical activity and healthy living  The Research File practitioners  Lifestyle Tips general public Research File and Lifestyle Tips

17.  Sedentary Behaviours / Simple Steps to an Active New Year (January 2009)  Active Transportation (April 2009)  Policy Advocacy (July 2009)  Health Benefits of Physical Activity for Adults (August 2009)  Public Transit and Physical Activity (September 2009) Recent Topics of Interest

18.  Current situation and a system for tracking change  Assess overall change and potential impact of policies and strategies  Incorporates findings and recommendations from the published literature Population Surveys Physical Activity Monitor

19.  Prevalence of walking and cycling  Supportive physical environments Proximity to amenities Places to walk and bicycle Crime rates Traffic  Community infrastructure Walking trails Designated bike lanes, trails, paths Recreation trails Designated facilities  Commuting Active choices for children and for adults Physical Activity Monitor

20. 26% of children use active modes of transportation to get to school, 13% use mixed modes Physical Activity Monitor Walking and cycling

23.  walking as a leisure or recreational activity  proportion of people who live within a reasonable walking distance (2.5 km) of at least one routine destination  walking to a routine destination at least sometimes, but decrease in doing so at least half the time  cycling for leisure and recreation, and for utilitarian travel National Transportation Survey Changes from 1998 to 2004:

24.  Would like to walk and cycle more  Feel that governments have a role to play in supporting active transportation  Agree that they have pleasant places to walk near their home  Are uneasy about traffic safety when it comes to cycling National Transportation Survey Adult Canadians

25.  Half do not walk to school  Three-quarters do not cycle to school  Parents say the school is too far  Safety is somewhat of a concern an improvement in safety would not change the likelihood that child would travel to school using an active mode National Transportation Survey Children

26. Walking or Wheeling to Routine Destinations in the previous twelve months

27. Reasons to Walk or Cycle for Transportation

28. Facilitating Walking

29. Facilitating Cycling

30. Scientifically valid and reliable tool that measures: Activity friendliness Safety Density of destinations Numerous studies published in peer reviewed Journals Neighbourhood Active Living Assessment Potential Score

31.  Political  Media  Professional mobilization  Community mobilization  Mobilization from within Advocacy

32.  Build relationships with key policy makers  Identify a political champion  Construct arguments around a government’s existing policy priorities  Focus arguments for physical inactivity interventions on relevance across government sectors  Develop presentations  Invite and involve politicians Political Advocacy

33.  Develop and strengthen links with media contacts  Identify and use high profile champions  Frame media physical activity messages across a diversity of public issues  Use a variety of media  Develop message consistency and ‘sound bites’  Conduct research to support media stories  Identify human interest angles  Seek and present photo opportunities Media Advocacy

34.  Strengthen links with professional allies  Lead networks development  Use conferences/meetings/symposia  Conduct targeted workforce development and training  Encourage and support workforce advocates  Equip professionals with arguments regarding current issues, new evidence and breaking news to ensure that the messages are consistent and well informed. Professional Mobilization

35.  Mobilize participants in programs  Establish and strengthen ongoing links with local government  Engage and support NGOs  Encourage and support community members as advocates  Recognize/reward successful individuals and programs  Attempt to ‘shift norms’  Build into community events Community Mobilization

36.  Prioritise physical activity in strategic plans  Recruit sympathetic board and committee members  Set an example to other organisations  Run programs in your workplace and engage the leaders  Internal promotion through newsletters, e- news, e-mail  Arrange praise from outside organizations Advocacy from Within

37.  Links from other websites  Newsletters  Workshops  Handouts Uses of CFLRI Resources

38. “I often have the need to promote active transportation to other manager colleagues and the need for flexibility and barrier removal for their staff. Being able to provide credible concise documents from CFLRI will strengthen my arguments.” “I guess I see the fact sheets as a credible source of information that almost anybody can use to create and reinforce arguments for what I see as a very important opportunity to get people more active.”

39. Summary  Active transportation contributes to our physical, social and economic well being  Active transportation infrastructure make it the easy choice  There are opportunities to increase active transportation supports  Advocacy can help make this happen

40. Thank You! - www.cflri.ca -