Making strides towards a mobile future

One of the themes of this year’s Mobility Week is health. Concern over reduced air quality in urban areas may be on the rise, but EU citizens are still reluctant to wrench themselves away from the comfort of their cars to cycle, walk or take public transport to work. The number of vehicles on EU roads keeps on increasing, with negative effects not only for air quality, but also on noise levels and public health.

Sonia Kahlmeier, technical officer at the World Health Organisation (WHO), is keen to convince European citizens that ditching the car is a cheap and convenient way of taking some exercise. "We want to encourage people to include physical activity in their daily lives, making it a normal part of their daily routine. For example, walking to the bus stop, getting off the tram a couple of stops early, cycling to work or even cycling to the sports [centre] can help," she says, pointing out that many people take their car even when heading off for some exercise.

The WHO views Mobility Week as a good opportunity to raise public awareness of the positive impact that increased use of sustainable transport could have on the individual. "There are little things you can build into your life in a very natural way that don’t cost very much," she says. "If we show people solutions that don’t make them feel they have to invest time and effort, they might be encouraged to become more active. That’s why car-free day [22 September] is so important."

Kahlmeier is helping to co-ordinate the European network for the promotion of health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA Europe - www.euro.who. int/hepa), a WHO project which was set up in May last year. Activities organised as part of the project are based on WHO statements and EU policy. A lot of emphasis is placed on network activities involving local and national authorities that encourage the exchange, dissemination and sharing of experience and knowledge.

"We’re doing a collection of case studies from across Europe on experiences of promoting physical activity," she says. "There will be an online inventory with specific examples. Some are infrastructure measures such as building up the cycling network, some are promotional campaigns and some are individual consultations with people, usually carried out by local authorities or national organisations."

WHO is keen to take a holistic approach to promoting exercise, securing the commitment of business, schools, politicians and the media. By showing people how much of a difference simple changes of habit can make, exercise may come to seem like less of an uphill struggle and more like a walk in the park.

One of the themes of this year’s Mobility Week is health. Concern over reduced air quality in urban areas may be on the rise, but EU citizens are still reluctant to wrench themselves away from the comfort of their cars to cycle, walk or take public transport to work. The number of vehicles on EU roads keeps on increasing, with negative effects not only for air quality, but also on noise levels and public health.