Design Element – Active Transport

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Last updated 29 April 2009

This project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing

Active Transport Definition Active transport includes non-motorised forms of transport involving physical activity, such as walking and cycling. It also includes the use of public transport as many of these trips include walking or cycling which can increase levels of physical activity (Villanueva et al, 2008). Overview Active transport provides an alternative to car based journeys and can provide health benefits by increasing daily physical activity levels and improving social well being. There are also a range of other benefits from walking and cycling such as less cars on the road and a greater sense of community (Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, 2009).

Perth Cycle Path Source: Planning Institute of Australia

Why? The National Physical Activity Guidelines for adults in Australia recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity (including brisk walking) on most days of the week. Active forms of transport can support these physical activity requirements by providing opportunities for incorporating physical activity into daily activities such as traveling to work, or going to the shop or school. Walking is an accessible and acceptable form of physical activity for many Australians. In 2004-05, walking was the most common form of exercise for those aged 15 years and over, with nearly half (49%) reporting walking as a form of exercise in the previous two weeks (ABS, 2004-05). Given that, in most cities, 10% of all car trips are within 1km, 30% are within 3km and 50% are within 5km of home there is considerable scope for these trips to be walking and cycling trips instead as these distances are easily walked or cycled (Brisbane City Council, 2006).

Design Element – Active Transport

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Last updated 29 April 2009

This project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing

How to achieve To encourage active transport, the urban structure needs to ensure that trips are direct and pleasant as possible. The movement network must be legible and permeable and provide safe, convenient routes, with a high level of amenity especially to key destinations such as work places, schools and shops. The urban structure must also be conducive to walking by having key facilities such as shops and schools within walking distances of homes and mixed uses and densities to support public transport and choices of destinations (WA Planning Commission, 2004)

Health & Planning Fact A review of Australian evidence has shown that people who live in neighborhoods that have shops and schools within walking distance of their homes are more physically active (Papas et al., 2007). Other Australian research has shown that people who walk, cycle or use public transport to get to work have a lower incidence of overweight and obesity than those who drive to work (Wen et al., 2006).

Encourage To facilitate active transport the urban environment needs to incorporate the needs of people who walk and cycle or use other non motorised means of travel. The provision of public transport also needs to support active transport as an alternative to the private car. Walking, cycling and other non motorised means of travel.

• Integrate active transport into the transport planning process at the regional and local level to ensure active transport is an essential part of the access and movement strategy

• Ensure new growth areas have a variety of destinations (such as schools and shops) within walking or cycling distance, and incorporate a variety of residential densities and uses to support these

• Develop a movement network with a highly-interconnected street network and a coordinated network of shared paths and bike lanes

• Pay special attention to the design of major roads and intersections to ensure active transport paths are not severed or made unsafe.

• Resist overpasses that may create additional travel distance and effort and avoid underpasses where visual surveillance will be limited.

• Ensure a wide range of local destinations are within convenient active transport access distance.

Design Element – Active Transport

3

Last updated 29 April 2009

This project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing

On street cycle parking and pedestrians, Melbourne City. Source: Planning Institute of Australia

Public Transport

• Integrate public transport into the transport planning process to develop a sustainable transport framework that caters to all users

• Support public transport provision by density and mixed land use provisions for example Transit Oriented Developments

• Ensure major public transport nodes or interchanges are co-located with activity centres

• Encourage bicycle storage racks on public transport which will enable users to access public transport via active transport options or partially ride the route and complete it on public transport

• Ensure public transport stops: o link with the pedestrian and cycling network o are located conveniently for the walkable catchment (served at an average

spacing of 300-400 m, or 5 minutes walk, for bus stops and 800m, or a 10 minute walk, for train stations)

o are located adjacent to safe crossing points to improve accessibility o and their access routes, have some surveillance from surrounding

development o provide shelter, seating, clear signage and service information and lighting o provide adequate cycle facilities for bicycle storage at major public transport

stops

Design Element – Active Transport

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Last updated 29 April 2009

This project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing

Rule of thumb Encourage active transport by planning for appropriate urban form (densities, mixed land use and key destinations), providing for active transport options within the regional and local transport planning process, and investing in required infrastructure.

Avoid

• Not properly planning or funding active transport options within new growth areas, such as providing key destinations, having appropriate densities and building networks of pathways.

• Not including active transport considerations in renewal or existing areas • Funding or approving major projects before impact on active transport has been

assessed. REFERENCES AUSTROADS 2005, The Australian National Cycling Strategy 2005-2010, Department of Transport and Regional Services, Canberra, viewed 4 February 2009, http://www.austroads.com.au/documents/TheAustralianNationalCyclingStrategy2005-2010 Australian Bureau of Statistics 2005, Physical Activity in Australia: A Snapshot, 2004-05 http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4835.0.55.001 accessed on 22nd April 2009 Department of Health and Ageing 2004, Australia’s Physical Activity Recommendations for 5-12 year olds, Australian Government, Canberra. Brisbane City Council, 2006, Brisbane Active Transport Strategy: Walking and Cycling Plan 2005-2010, Brisbane City Council, Brisbane, accessed 28 January 2009, http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC:BASE::pc=PC_2307 Frank LD, Andersen MA, Schmid TL 2004, ‘Obesity relationships with community design, physical activity, and time spent in cars’, American Journal of Prevenatative Medicine, Vol. 27(2):87-96. Murdoch Children’s Research Institute 2009, Stride and Ride Background Paper accessed on line at http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/hav/admin.nsf/Images/Stride_ride_background_paper.pdf/$File/Stride_ride_background_paper.pdf accessed on 22 April 2009

Design Element – Active Transport

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Last updated 29 April 2009

This project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing

National Public Health Partnership 2001, Promoting active transport: An intervention portfolio to increase physical activity as a means of transport, National Public Health Partnership, Melbourne. Newman, P & Kenworthy, J 1999, Sustainability and Cities: overcoming automobile dependence, Island Press, Washington DC. Newman, PWG & Kenworthy, JR 2000, ‘Sustainable urban form: The big Picture’ in Williams, K, Burton, E & Jenks, M (Eds.) Achieving Sustainable Urban Form. E and FN Spon, London. Papas, MA, Alberg, AJ, Ewing, R, Helzlsouer, KJ, Gary, TL & Klassen, AC 2007, ‘The Built Environment and Obesity’. Epidemiologic Reviews,Vol. 29, 129–143. Pucher, John and Dijkstra, Lewis, 2003, Promoting Safe Walking and Cycling toImprove Public Health: Lessons from The Netherlands and Germany, FINAL Revised Version, Rutgers University, New Jersey, accessed 11 February 2009, http://www.vtpi.org Transportation Research Board 2005, Does the built environment influence physical activity? Examining the evidence. Transportation Research Board, Washington DC. VicHealth 2009, Information on Walking School Bus http://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/wsb#Benefits%20of%20a%20Walking%20School%20Bus accessed 22nd April 2009. Villanueva, K, Giles-Corti, B & Mccormack, G 2008, ‘Achieving 10,000 steps: a comparison of public transport users and drivers in a university setting’. Preventative Medicine, Vol.47, pp.338-41. Wen, LM, Orr, N, Millett, C & Rissel, C 2006, ‘Driving to work and overweight and obesity: findings from the 2003 New South Wales Health Survey Australia,’ International Journal of Obesity (London), Vol.30, 782-6. Western Australian Planning Commission, Oct 2007, Liveable Neighbourhoods:, Western Australian Planning Commission, Perth.