Putting independence and freedom at the heart of our health

The lost freedom of the school run

Growing up I was lucky. Walking and cycling wasn’t a hobby or a deliberate lifestyle choice; it was a normal part of life.

It felt like everybody cycled to school and to meet friends. It gave me independence and a sense of freedom.

I didn’t really think about it at the time, assuming it was the same for everyone – but it’s not.

When my own children were growing up, we lived just four miles from their secondary school on a flat route, similar to most of their classmates.

However, the key link between our villages was a road with a 50mph speed limit with no safe walking or cycling infrastructure.

Despite the majority of children wanting to walk or cycle, the lack of safe routes meant that everyone was driven, or dependent on the bus, which is not an option for after-school activities or visits to friends.

The result? A generation of children who didn’t grow up with that independence and freedom and didn’t build those naturally healthy habits for life.

That is not right. Not for my children, nor for the millions of others across the country who face the same constraints.

Travel that works for everyone

A large proportion of discussions around transport focus on the ease of car travel. So it can be easy to forget a large group of people don’t have access to a car at all.

According to the National Travel Survey a quarter of all households in England have no access to a car. Amongst lower income households that figure rises to 37%.

Having no access to a car in a system that’s built around them means you’re at risk of missing out. It’s harder to get to work, access training and healthcare, or meet friends.

And when a neighbourhood is designed around cars, accessibility can be challenging for everyone, especially those with mobility issues.

When my Dad became a wheelchair user it really brought home to me how a badly designed barrier, or missing dropped kerb, can restrict someone’s independence.

The challenges reduced his desire to go out, impacting on his well-being and also that of his family and friends.

Something that has really shocked me since I started this role is how much women and girls are missing out, as their needs are not taken into account properly.

In the UK women and girls cycle half as much as men, with safety one of the main factors holding them back.

That is not the case in other countries, in the Netherlands for example women cycle slightly more than men.

I know from my own life, how much I benefit from being able to walk and cycle for everyday journeys, getting where I need to efficiently, with fresh air, exercise and getting to know my neighbourhood coming as part of the package.

Everyone should have that option, whatever their gender, income and location. And none of us should have to restrict our journeys because we feel unsafe.

We know there is strong support for change. I see it in my own community where the majority of children want to walk or cycle to school.

We see it in nationwide data with 42% of those surveyed saying that they use their car because no other transport was available.

Almost half (49%) wanted to walk or wheel more, 43% would like to cycle more.

It’s time for individuals, communities and our nation to thrive

So it is time to make safe and enjoyable routes for walking, wheeling and cycling a reality in every postcode.

Because when we build communities around walking, wheeling and cycling, the benefits go well beyond getting from A to B.

One in six deaths in the UK are linked to physical inactivity, costing approximately £7.4 billion annually.

Walking and cycling more, for everyday journeys is the easiest and cheapest way for us to build exercise into our lives, with the biggest impacts seen by those who are currently the least active.

Safe routes for everyday journeys connecting people to the places they need to go and to the people they love are essential.

Where these are in place, travelling under our own steam becomes easy and enjoyable, increasing our wellbeing and connecting communities.

I have seen how change can happen.

I was a trustee of the London Cycling Campaign in the 1990s when cycling felt dangerous and impossible to all but a small number of, mainly men, in Lycra.

Now, with safer infrastructure linking the places that people need to go, the availability of hire (e)bikes and a range of community support, cycling is now a cost-effective, effective, healthy option for so many more people.

And more cycling and walking journeys keeps the capital moving smoothly and makes the city more liveable and less polluted, benefitting everyone.

My Journey Begins in Manchester 

My journey as Chief Executive is only just beginning, but I know I’m going to be busy!

The Making Active Places conference in Manchester was one of my first big events.

Having been a student here, I love coming back and seeing how walking and cycling is becoming easier and safer, with improved linkages with public transport.

Inside the conference room, it was reassuring to hear firm commitments from ministers.

We can make the biggest difference by helping the least active to do a little more. And I’m pleased this approach has been enshrined in the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy.

It sets an ambitious target to get 5.3million more people engaged in active travel by 2035.

The strategy recognises the importance of enabling children to be active, with a target that 60% of children aged 5 to 16 will usually walk or cycle to school by 2035.

If the targets in the strategy are met it will save the NHS 1.7 million GP appointments, as well as setting up people with positive travel options and habits for life.

I’m also really pleased there’s a renewed commitment from Active Travel England to the National Cycle Network.

We want everyone to be proud of this vital piece of UK transport infrastructure and the longer term funding is a good step forward in building a safe, accessible and connected Network.

I’m starting at a time with lots of opportunity to keep building on this momentum.

In January 2027, new powers to tackle cars parked on the pavement will come in.

As someone who has struggled to navigate blocked pavements with a double buggy and a wheelchair, I know how important this is.

We will look at how well these powers are used to ensure pavements are for people, not cars.

But perhaps the biggest thing I’d like to achieve is a change in the way we think about walking, wheeling and cycling.

They shouldn’t be an afterthought. After all, they are an essential public good, helping people to live healthier, happier and more independent lives. This will be my mission at Walk Wheel Cycle Trust.