Physical activity: walking and cycling

Directors of public health.

Public health portfolio holders in local authorities.

Clinical commissioning groups.

Ensure a senior member of the public health team is responsible for promoting walking and cycling. They should support coordinated, cross-sector working, for example, by ensuring programmes offered by different sectors complement rather than duplicate each other (see recommendation 2). The senior member should also ensure the recommendations in NICE's guideline on physical activity and the environment are implemented.

Ensure the joint strategic needs assessment, the joint health and wellbeing strategy and other local needs assessments and strategies take into account opportunities to increase walking and cycling. They should also consider how impediments to walking and cycling can be addressed.

Ensure walking and cycling are considered, alongside other interventions, when working to achieve specific health outcomes in relation to the local population (such as a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity and diabetes, or the promotion of mental wellbeing). These include outcomes identified through the joint strategic needs assessment process. Descriptions of the links between physical activity and health outcomes can be found in the Department of Health's start active, stay active.

Ensure walking and cycling are included in chronic disease pathways.

Ensure all relevant sectors contribute resources and funding to encourage and support people to walk and cycle.

Where appropriate, ensure walking and cycling are treated as separate activities which may require different approaches.

Ensure walking and cycling projects are rigorously evaluated. This includes evaluating their impact on health inequalities.

Local authorities, in particular, portfolio holders, lead members and directors responsible for:

National parks authorities.

Integrated transport authorities.

Local enterprise partnerships.

Chief constables, police authorities and elected police commissioners.

Agencies with an interest in walking and cycling.

Agencies with an interest in health and wellbeing or that work with population groups such as older people or people with disabilities.

Ensure local, high-level strategic policies and plans support and encourage both walking and cycling. This includes a commitment to invest sufficient resources to ensure more walking and cycling – and a recognition that this will benefit individuals and the wider community. Relevant policies and plans include those on:

Ensure the walking and cycling aspects of these plans are developed in conjunction with relevant voluntary and community organisations.

Ensure strategies to promote walking and cycling address factors which influence activity at various levels – from policy down to the individual. This includes ensuring the recommendations in NICE's guideline on physical activity and the environment are implemented.

Assess the impact of relevant policies and decisions on people's ability to walk and cycle. Where necessary, amend them to ensure support for walking and cycling.

Ensure plans relevant to walking and cycling are implemented and evaluated. Further advice on evaluation can be found in the National Obesity Observatory guide to evaluation.

Local authority directors and portfolio holders for:

Police traffic officers and neighbourhood policing teams.

Develop coordinated, cross-sector programmes to promote walking and cycling for recreation as well as for transport purposes, based on a long-term vision of what is achievable and current best practice. Ensure the needs of all sections of the population are addressed. Incorporate public health goals to increase the prevalence of people cycling and walking, as well as the distance covered by those who already walk and cycle regularly.

Aim to shift attention away from focusing on individual risk factors and isolated, small-scale interventions and ensure programmes comprise an integrated package of measures, implemented by all relevant sectors and stakeholders. Where appropriate, they should link to existing national and local walking and cycling initiatives, and incorporate actions in specific settings, such as workplace or schools (see recommendations 8 and 9).

Ensure walking and cycling programmes form a core part of local transport investment planning, on a continuing basis. In line with the Department for Transport's manual for streets and the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation's manual for streets 2 – wider application of the principles, pedestrians and cyclists should be considered before other user groups in the design process – this helps ensure that they are not provided for as an afterthought.

Draw on data, including the transport and physical activity elements of the joint strategic needs assessment, to ensure programmes are based on an understanding of:

Ensure programmes address the behavioural and environmental factors that encourage or discourage people from walking and cycling. These include measures to reduce road danger or the perception of danger. (Environmental factors can be tackled by implementing NICE's guideline on physical activity and the environment.)

Ensure local expertise is available so that programmes are based on a realistic understanding of the scale of changes needed to encourage the population to change its behaviour.

Ensure programmes take account of recommendations on developing local and regional programmes (recommendations 13–18) in NICE's guideline on preventing cardiovascular disease, in particular those relating to the need for long-term action.

Ensure programmes take account of the geography of the surrounding area (for instance, connections with neighbouring local authority areas), as well as local factors such as major road and rail routes, rivers and hills.

Ensure programmes include communications strategies to publicise the available facilities (such as walking or cycle routes) and to motivate people to use them. Include information that people with impairments will require, such as where dropped kerbs are located, the location and design of barriers at access points to cycle paths, and where public transport links and disabled toilets can be found.

Ensure programmes, including specific elements within them, are evaluated. Assess how much walking and cycling people are doing. Also assess the number of trips undertaken, using different modes of transport, by different groups within the local population. Where appropriate, control groups should be used. (See, for example, the National Obesity Observatory's evaluation tool.)

Use an appropriate tool to establish the cost effectiveness of initiatives. For instance, use the World Health Organization's health economic assessment tool (HEAT) for cycling and walking.

Consider providing specific support for people at a 'transition point' in their lives, for instance, when they are changing job, house or school. At these times people may be open to trying a new mode of transport or new types of recreation. Note: some people may be considering motorised transport, instead of walking or cycling – and support may be needed to help them maintain their active travel habits.

Transport planners.

Directors of public health.

Identify those willing to make changes, for example, people at transitional points in their life (such as when moving house, job or school).

Provide people with information and help, such as tickets, maps, timetables and, if required, more support to make different travel choices. This includes people with impairments who may rely on wheelchairs or adapted cycles.

Consider implementing NICE's guideline on physical activity and the environment to create a supportive environment to encourage and sustain walking or cycling.

Adult and child disability services.

Clinical commissioning groups.

Local authority transport leads, transport planners and other transport department staff.

Local education services.

Organisations with an interest in cycling.

Public health practitioners.

Public transport operators.

Address infrastructure and planning issues that may discourage people from wanting to cycle. Take into account NICE's guidelines on physical activity and the environment and unintentional injuries on the road. For example, ensure local facilities and services are easily accessible by bicycle and make changes to existing roads, where necessary, to reduce traffic speeds.

Implement town-wide programmes to promote cycling for both transport and recreational purposes. These should be linked to existing national and local initiatives. (Note: 'town-wide' in this case could include cities or suburban areas.) Programmes could include:

Ensure programmes are based on an accepted theoretical framework for behaviour change and take into account NICE's guideline on behaviour change: general approaches. They should also be based on an understanding of the needs of existing and potential cyclists, including those with impairments (see recommendation 3).

Ensure cycle parking and residential storage issues are addressed.

Ensure travel by cycle and public transport is integrated to support longer journeys. This includes providing secure cycle parking at public transport sites as well as support to transport adapted cycles and tandems for people with disabilities.

Ensure training is available for those who are interested in cycling, either as a form of transport or as a recreational activity. An example of a cycle training programme is the Department for Transport's bikeability.

Ensure all training is sensitive to cultural issues, for instance, by providing women-only groups with female trainers, where appropriate. Also ensure it includes an understanding of the needs of people with impairments

Consider providing free cycle safety checks (such as Dr Bike sessions) and cycle maintenance training.

Use local media to publicise activities and to clarify the links between different elements of the programme (for instance, the programme may include the provision of maps, local cycling classes and local challenges and events). In addition, use local media to raise awareness of any new or improved infrastructure. Also provide success stories from different elements of the programme to create momentum.

Adult and child disability services.

Clinical commissioning groups.

Local transport leads, transport planners and other transport department staff.

Local authority leisure services.

Organisations with an interest in walking.

Public health practitioners.

Address infrastructure issues that may discourage people from walking, for example, motor traffic volume and speed, lack of convenient road crossings, poorly maintained footways or lack of dropped kerbs, where needed. Take into account NICE's guidelines on physical activity and the environment and unintentional injuries on the road.

Develop walking programmes for adults who are not active enough, based on an accepted theoretical framework for behaviour change and taking into account NICE's guideline on behaviour change: general approaches. Ensure groups that are likely to be the least active are encouraged to participate, by addressing issues that may act as a barrier.

Ensure walking programmes for all adults link to existing national and local walking initiatives.

Ensure all programmes address safety, cultural and disability issues.

Ensure all programmes offer a variety of routes, paces and distances at different times of the day (including evenings and on different days of the week or at the weekend). Local people with different preferences, time constraints and physical abilities should all be able to participate. Programmes could include:

Ensure walking routes are integrated with accessible public transport links to support longer journeys. Signage should give details of the distance and/or walking time, in both directions, between public transport facilities and key destinations.

Provide information tailored for individuals who want to go walking without joining a group or club. Offer continued support in line with recommendation 7.

Develop and implement a publicity strategy to let the local community know about the walking routes and events and how accessible they are.

Provide support to help people who have started walking as a leisure activity to also consider walking as a means of transport.

Adult and child disability services.

Clinical commissioning groups.

Directors of public health and public health specialists with responsibility for physical activity.

Local authority leisure services.

Organisations with an interest in walking.

Ensure individual support is available for anyone who is walking on their own, walking informally with others in a group, or participating in local walking programmes. This includes helping to assess their activity levels and to set goals which build on this. The aim should be to increase the distance walked gradually, rather than providing them with a set target to aim for.

Ensure additional, one-to-one support is offered at regular intervals to help people develop a long-term walking habit. This could be provided face-to-face, via the telephone or by using print-based materials, email, the Internet or text messaging. The support could include:

Provide general information including:

Only use pedometers as part of a package which includes support to set realistic goals (whereby the number of steps taken is gradually increased), monitoring and feedback.

Pupils, siblings, their parents and carers.

School staff.

Visitors to schools.

Head teachers and school governors.

Local authority PHSE coordinators, school travel advisers and transport planners.

Police traffic officers and neighbourhood policing teams.

Road danger reduction and/or road safety officers.

Foster a culture that supports physically active travel for journeys to school (for all staff, parents and students) and during the school day. For example, promote the health benefits of cycling and walking and provide sufficient, secure cycle parking. Also ensure it is easy to get into the school grounds by foot or by bike. In addition, schools should provide suitable cycle and road safety training for all pupils.

Develop and implement school travel plans that encourage children to walk or cycle all or part of the way to school, including children with limited mobility. Integrate these plans with those produced by other local schools and other travel plans available for the local community. Involve pupils in the development and implementation of plans.

Map safe routes to school and to local play and leisure facilities, taking into account the views of pupils, parents and carers. Also consult with the local community, including people with expertise in accessibility issues (such as those with mobility difficulties or community groups that work with them).

Develop programmes to ensure the local environment around schools and the nearby catchment area provide opportunities for all children to cycle or walk. This should include addressing motor vehicle speed, parking and dangerous driving practices.

Introduce regular 'walking buses' and other activities, such as 'Walk once a week' projects, which support and encourage walking and cycling to school.

Set performance targets for school travel plans which are audited annually and which form part of delivery plans. Remedial action should be taken when agreed targets are not reached.

Ensure all children can take part in Department for Transport's bikeability training. Ensure cycle training is age-appropriate and timed to allow cycling to school to become a habit. In addition, ensure it is appropriate for those with limited mobility who may need additional support.

Schools should develop parents' and carers' awareness of the wider benefits of walking and cycling and other physically active modes of travel. For example, they should explain how it can improve children and young people's movement skills, social wellbeing, self-confidence and independence. They should also explain how it can help children to explore and become more familiar (and at ease) with their local environment while, at the same time, being physically active.

Head teachers should identify a walking or cycling champion (or champions) with sufficient senior support to coordinate activities. The champion/s should liaise with the local authority and other potential partners to address any environmental or organisational barriers to walking and cycling to school.

Employers, including the NHS and local authorities.

Directors and senior staff including managers, health and safety staff, estates managers and human resources professionals.

Active travel champions.

Develop strategies in consultation with staff (and other relevant stakeholders, for example, students in universities and colleges) to promote walking and cycling in and around the workplace. Ensure activities are developed in line with wider local activities (see recommendations 2, 3 and 4) and are linked to existing national and local initiatives.

Liaise with local authority transport departments, neighbouring businesses and other partners to improve walking and cycling access to workplace sites. (Also see NICE's guidelines on physical activity and the environment and physical activity in the workplace.)

Identify an 'active travel champion' (or champions) within the workplace, at a sufficiently senior level. They should coordinate activities such as led and informal walking groups, workplace 'challenges' and promotional competitions (for example, using pedometers), bicycle user groups and walking interest groups. The active travel champion/s should also develop (or promote) schemes that give staff access to a pool of bicycles for short-distance business travel, or access to discounted cycle purchases (such as cycle to work schemes).

Ensure workplace walking and cycling programmes are developed using an evidence-based theoretical model of behaviour change (see NICE's guideline on behaviour change: general approaches).

Provide information tailored for the specific workplace on walking and cycling routes and circuits. This should include details on the distances involved, maps, routes and safety information.

Clinical commissioning groups.

National commissioning board.

Primary and secondary healthcare professionals.

Incorporate information on walking and cycling into all physical activity advice given by health professionals. (See also NICE's guidelines on physical activity: brief advice for adults in primary care and exercise referral schemes to promote physical activity.)

Ensure walking and cycling are among the options provided by the Let's get moving physical activity care pathway.

Ensure people who express an interest in walking or cycling as a way of being more physically active are given information about appropriate national and local initiatives. Also provide individual support and follow-up (see recommendation 7).

Direct people with limited mobility to specialist centres where adapted equipment, assessment and training are available for walking and cycling.

Ensure walking and cycling programmes link to existing national and local initiatives.