Author of the report
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)
Date of the report
November 2012
Purpose of the report
This guidance sets out how people can be encouraged to increase the amount they walk or cycle for travel or recreation purposes. This will help meet public health and other goals (for instance, to reduce traffic congestion, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions). This guidance is for commissioners, managers and practitioners involved in physical activity promotion or who work in the environment, parks and leisure or transport planning sectors. They could be working in local authorities, the NHS and other organisations in the public, private, voluntary and community sectors. This report sets out that walking and cycling should become the norm for short journeys and should be encouraged throughout local communities.
Relevance to the region
Walking is the most common recreational and sporting activity undertaken by adults in Britain, with cycling the fourth most common. This is the first time that NICE has published guidance which will be relevant for organisations and institutions here in the West Midlands.
What SWM liked
SWM like that the importance and benefits of walking and cycling are clearly documented and that this report also offers proactive recommendations for local programmes, policy and planning, schools, workplaces and the NHS.
Links and Contact information
For more information please visit the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence website.
