Health and economic benefits of active travel in England

The focus of my planned translational research programme is on the role of active travel (walking, cycling and public transport) in increasing physical activity levels in England, spanning epidemiology and policy evaluation. This is an important area of research given the inadequate levels of physical activity in the country and consequent impacts on obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular health. The potential contribution of active travel to improving population health and reducing health inequalities in England has been insufficiently documented using nationally representative data. In addition, information about the personal, household and environmental determinants of active travel in English settings and the impact of cross-sectoral policies on active travel is lacking. Aim To determine optimal strategies for increasing active travel and associated health, economic and carbon reduction benefits in England using nationally representative data Objectives 1. To assess the role of environmental, school, family and individual level influences on active travel in adolescents 2. To determine the impact of active travel on cardiovascular and all-cause mortality 3. To assess the health and economic benefits of providing subsidised bus travel to older people 4. To model the impact of different interventions to increase active travel on health and economic outcomes and carbon emissions 5. To assess the patterns and predictors of active travel and associated health, economic and carbon benefits in India 6. To estimate the impact of policies to increase active travel on health inequalities 7. To work closely with policymakers to maximise translation of my research programme Plan of investigation:- Study Area 1: School, family and individual level influences on active travel and associated health benefits in adolescents. This will involve analyses of longitudinal data using two sources; a national study using data from the Understanding Society Survey and a more detailed local study. Study Area 2: The impact of active travel on premature mortality. Using the Office for National Statistics Longitudinal Survey, this study will examine associations between active travel and mortality in England using a very large (~500,000), nationally representative sample. Study Area 3: Health and economic benefits of providing subsidised bus travel in older people in England. This study will evaluate the impact of providing free travel to older people on a range of outcome measures such as physical activity levels, hospital admissions and mortality. This will involve analysing several waves of two existing national surveys and a novel linked dataset. Study Area 4: Modelling the impact of interventions to increase active travel on health outcomes and carbon emissions. The study will use micro-simulation techniques to model the benefits of different policy options (subsidised public transport, investment in cycling networks) to increase active travel on physical activity levels, mortality and carbon emissions. Study Area 5: Assessing the patterns and predictors of active travel and associated health and carbon benefits in India. This study will use a number of routine and purposefully collected data to determine optimal strategies for increasing active travel and associated health, economic and carbon reduction benefits in India. Summary of potential population health benefits: Increasing physical activity has been described as the 'best buy' in public health. The over-arching translational goal of my research programme is to provide policymakers with robust information to support the implementation of strategies to increase active travel in England up to levels seen in leading European countries, namely the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany, to improve population health, through associated increases in physical activity levels, and contribute to a low carbon future.