Well, actually since the 1890s the basic design has remained fairly similar although many
refinements have been made over the last 100 years.
Health and transport are inextricably linked. Current levels of motorised transport have
major consequences for public health, both in terms of the health impact of sedentary
lifestyles, and the environmental and social effects of traffic.
Interestingly 20 million bikes are owned in the UK, which means that 1 in 3 adults has one -
only 6 million people are regular cycle users. Sedentary lifestyle is a major threat to public
health. Walking and cycling for transport are effective ways for people to engage in regular
exercise with all its commensurate benefits for health. A modal shift towards these forms of
transport should reduce car use, thus further improving road safety, and reducing the
environmental damage caused by current travel patterns. There would also be positive
social and community effects, with greater social cohesion, higher levels of social capital,
and a stronger focus on local communities; all these factors are likely to have a positive
influence on health.
Current transport patterns are an important factor in health inequalities, and the
dominance of the car over other forms of transport is a major factor in this. There are
social class gradients for coronary heart disease and sedentary lifestyle, with the highest
levels in social class V. Encouraging walking and cycling for transport, and reducing car use,
are effective ways of reducing these health inequalities. Cycling is also a safe and effective
way of improving one’s health without causing harm to other road users.
