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.
