Develop a collaborative research programme to examine the effects of transport policy and planning on the health of the people of Wales and on NHS Wales

End of project summary

Main Messages 

This project was developed in 2017. It aimed to improve understanding of the links between transport and health in Wales and across the world. When the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in December 2019 there were huge changes in travel behaviours because of lockdowns and home working and people started walking and cycling more as a way to exercise. This has meant that one of the main effects of the COVID-19 has been to change the way people travel and think about travelling. 

• Transport, and how we choose to travel, is affected by, and affects our health. But, very little of the work about transport decisions considers health and relatively little public health work and research considers transport and how health affects this. As an example, all road traffic injuries and two-thirds of air pollution, causing respiratory and cardiovascular disease, among others, are caused by transport. Some people are also more able to access different types of transport than others. 
• Across the world, November 2021 saw COP-26 in Glasgow, the latest global event to address the climate emergency. Cars are one of the main producers of greenhouse gases (GHGs) that contribute to climate change. Emissions are highest for cars making very short journeys because the engine is cold. It is these short car trips that also discourage people from walking or cycling to local shops or schools because of “traffic danger”; so they encourage people not to be active and increase health harms from pollution, as well as contributing to the climate emergency 
• In February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. Along with many other effects, this lead to concerns about access to fuel and then increased fuel costs. Governments across the world were asked to take action. The difference in approaches was important; some cut fuel duty (UK), others offered fuel cards (California). In New Zealand, the cost of public transport was cut. The effects on the climate and the ‘message’ this sends to people is important to consider. 
• In Wales, efforts are being made to change the way we travel and to change the way we think about who is ‘most’ important when travelling. Walking and cycling are being seen as more important than cars, active travel is being developed and public transport improved. The introduction of a default 20mph speed limit is potentially the most important public health intervention since the smoking ban; longer term it may exceed the benefits of the smoking ban.