Citation

Lingwood P. Br. Med. J. BMJ 2004; 329(7476): 1237.

Affiliation

Oxford OX1 2JQ. Patrick.lingwood@aeat.co.uk.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/bmj.329.7476.1237-b

PMID

15550431

PMCID

PMC529399

Abstract

The article by Ogilvie et al highlights the urgent need to promote cycling and walking as a way of promoting individual health (Ogilvie D, Egan M, Hamilton V, Petticrew M. Promoting walking and cycling as an alternative to using cars: systematic review. BMJ 2004;329: 763-0.). Compared with Europe, not many people in the United Kingdom cycle. For example, in England only 1% of children's journeys are by cycle, compared with 50% in the Netherlands (P Lingwood, unpublished). However, I take issue with the authors' main conclusion that "targeted behaviour change programmes" are more effective than general promotion or physical and economic interventions.

Transport planning and travel behaviour do not allow such easy conclusions. We are dealing with a dynamic environment—a combination of many factors, including the road environment, personal circumstances, national and local policy, travel assumptions, etc. In this environment it is very difficult to prove that any single intervention will have a notable effect.

The weight of evidence, however, shows that the most prominent barrier to cycling is the perception of safety, principally determined by driver behaviour and traffic speeds and volumes. There is no use by itself promoting cycling unless cyclists can make their journeys in a cycle friendly road environment.

The English Regions Cycling Development Team (ERCDT) has highlighted a range of changes necessary by local authorities to increase cycling. The reports are available on the National Cycling Strategy website (www.nationalcyclingstrategy.org.uk) with a 2004 update.

Currently the most important issue is for health professionals to work with local authorities in preparing their second round of local transport plans (2006-11) to ensure that the promotion of walking and cycling (by the whole range of interventions) is central to future policy.

KW: SR2S