In London, the health sector accounts for around one million daily trips or nearly 5% of all trips and there are many ways in which health and transport are linked. Sustainable transport modes such as walking and cycling have positive health benefits and facilities can be planned to maximise the use of sustainable travel. Access to facilities and services can be improved through effective planning around public transport.
Other health impacts of travel include traffic accidents, noise and air pollution and access arrangements for emergency services.
Useful information packs on the health aspects of transport have been prepared by Transport for London (TfL) – see Transport and health. These include:
- Healthy Streets for London, Feb 2017
- Transport planning for healthier lifestyles – a best practice guide, March 2013
The best practice guide has been developed in conjunction with the NHS to help with:
- integrating the planning of healthcare with transport provision through use of tools to consider access to healthcare facilities, transport assessments for new developments and bus route planning
- encouraging a shift towards sustainable transport modes through facilities, promotion, travel planning information and infrastructure for electric and other ultra-low-emission vehicles
The Healthy Streets approach is intended to help improve air quality, reduce congestion and make London’s diverse communities become greener, healthier and more attractive places in which to live, play and do business. It provides a framework for policies and strategies to achieve this, including ten key indicators for judging success.
For help in identifying and applying good practice in line with the approaches set out in the guides see Our Services – Information & Analysis.