Walking and cycling can contribute to some of the wider determinants of health including improved air quality and tackling climate change through reducing emissions and improving air quality:
- Air pollution contributes to 40,000 premature deaths each year.
- In 2019, transport accounted for a third (34%) of all carbon dioxide emissions, the majority arising from road travel. In England, 56% of car journeys are under 5 miles, a distance most people could manage by bike.
North Staffordshire Local Air Quality Plan (NSLAQP)
Newcastle Borough Council have a legal duty to monitor and assess local air quality and to find out whether they will be able to meet national air quality targets.
Air pollution is linked with cancer, heart disease and respiratory disease. New research also suggests that people who live in areas with high levels of pollution may be more at risk of developing dementia.
Evidence from the World Health Organisation shows that poor air quality is particularly dangerous for children, older people and those already living with long-term health conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The effects on our health build over time.
- By delivering infrastructure that is high quality, safe and continuous then this can provide a legitimate alternative for users wishing to access Newcastle town centre and other facilities in the surrounding areas.