Investment in walking and cycling really can save lives

SO the PM is going to ban junk food meal deals in an “assault on obesity”. This, just days after the Chancellor announced his 50% meal deal, “eat out to help out” initiative!

It would be more sensible to invest in new walking and cycling routes. Then people can build in daily exercise into their everyday lives, if they want to.

We know from repeated surveys that the main factor putting noncycling people off cycling, both men and women, is fear of motor traffic. Manchester and London have built networks of safe, separated cycling routes. Bristol should do this too. Combined with the lower and safer 20mph speed limits (which are proven to increase walking and cycling), we can then have a far safer city-wide system.

This will be better than Nanny State interventions stopping people rom eating what they want. Of course, we should do what we can to encourage healthy eating too as part of a healthy life. Bristol is a walking and cycling city which may help explain why our infection and death rates from this virus are lower than other major UK cities. So as part of healthy intervention, let’s create healthy travel networks!

This will reduce air pollution, reduce inequalities created by immobility, help people get and stay fit, and save people money. More and more people are taking up everyday exercise including walking and cycling, so the demand and need is there. It can all be done – so let’s get on and do it. There’s really no excuse now. A healthier population will be better able to resist any future viruses. Walking nd cycling can help save people’s lives, and that’s got to be worth it.

John Wood Bristol