Dr Davis, one of the UK’s leading experts in the field of transport and health spoke at Labour Cycle’s inaugural event in Manchester this month.
Dr Davis outlined the incontrovertible evidence that active travel, particularly cycling, has a profound impact on health outcomes at a population-wide level.
From reductions in cardiovascular and diabetic diseases so dramatic they would be labelled a ‘Wonder-drug’ if sold by big pharma, to the imperative of removing kinetic energy from our roads and thinking about system-level approaches to danger reduction, the talk was eye-opening.
Drawing on decades of research, statements from the Chief Medical Officer and clear NICE recommendations – the core question remaining was why have local and national politicians been so slow to take action?
Dr Davis shared how ‘pluralistic ignorance’ was a driver of political cowardice despite overwhelming scientific evidence of the need to change our spatial and road network planning.
Dr Davis shared his own work on nudging politicians using simple briefing papers.
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Dr Adrian Davis – Is one of the UK’s leading experts in the interdisciplinary field of transport and health. His work is focused on the importance of health within transport planning. Landmark publications include: the British Medical Association’s first policy statement on Road Transport and Health (1997) and the Transport Paper to the Acheson Inquiry into Inequalities in Health (1998) for the then new Labour Government. Adrian was the lead author for Public Health Englands’ 2016 Briefing for Local Authorities Working together for active travel.
Dr Rachel Aldred is a Senior Lecturer in Transport, University of Westminster, Rachel’s research includes the Near Miss Project, the Cycling Cultures project, the Modelling on the Move project, and most recently a project on adults’ views on cycling with or by children. Rachel is passionate about improving everyday cycling for all ages and abilities.