Someone needs to challenge this BMA report so we do.
'People have always wanted to reach destinations quickly, safely and efficiently. But as the UK transport environment has become increasingly complex, transport's impact on health has become unnecessarily harmful - to the point where it is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality.'
'The most significant change in travel behaviour has been in car use, which is seen by many as their primary means of transportation. Cars have become relatively affordable compared to other transport alternatives and land use policies have prioritised mobility over accessibility.'
Oh so since man took to the horse, waggons, stages, traps, lorries & cars and faster ships, trains,planes longevity hasn't gone up?
Cars are the essential link to all other transport including public & commercial. Without cars society stops and many die. How healthy is that?
'While the expansion in car use has brought many social and economic benefits, increased vehicle numbers and traffic volume has also had negative impacts on health:
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greater risk of road traffic crashes, with pedestrians and cyclists being particularly vulnerable
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long-term exposure to air pollutants decreases life expectancy
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areas of high deprivation suffer most from air-pollution-related morbidity and mortality and the effects of noise pollution
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increased community severance as a result of poor urban planning'
We have already shown that without cars far more would die. Even the NHS would fold without cars.
Road accidents have been on the decline but there is five times more death from NHS failure than from any cause on the road after 300 billion driver miles a year. Why there's even more death from strangulation.
But life expectancy is steadily rising. Most health issues are about diet & sedentary activity. There are many safe options for exercise without a transport dimension in the mix.
'Active forms of travel, such as walking and cycling, are the most sustainable forms of transport and are associated with a number of recognised health benefits including:'
Walking is healthy and unlike cycling, doesn't require humans to mingle or share space with large heavy machinery on the move which certainly isn't healthy. But without walking, society would die immediately; that isn't so with cycling. Walking & cycling are two entirely different scenarios and should never be linked in any respect. In fact, driving and walking are the only essential modes of road travel and indeed complement each other.
'Public transport
Combining active travel and public transport options can help people achieve recommended daily physical activity levels. And public transport is the most sustainable for longer journeys, yet it can be more expensive and less convenient. And in rural areas travel infrastructure and public transport present real problems.'
But public transport depends on private transport to make the connections. That is why Taxis, nothing more than chauffeur driven private cars, are counted as public. Unless of course we all live on railway platforms, airports or bus terminals that is.
Err how does the bus driver get to his bus or the train driver his train? By pedal cycle?
' How can doctors and healthcare bodies help?Healthcare organisations could work with local authorities to ensure that local transport plans and infrastructure take account of active travel. Employers can promote or support policies which encourage staff to walk or cycle to work. Doctors could use their influence as community leaders to promote active travel locally and in interactions with patients could use appropriate messages and advice to improve physical activity levels connected with cycling and walking.'
Well until we see vacant staff parking bays at surgeries and hospitals, this is just don't do as I do isn't it BMA?
We suggest back to the drawing board with this report.
A clue to all this is that BMA worry that 5% of all UK's so called green house gases come from the NHS of which 18% is road transport. But all UK's output of CO2 is only 2% worldwide. So that means this really only amounts to 0.018% globally and that's even if we think Co2 is harmful anyway.
ISummary: There are much safer and more beneficial ways to keep fit than road cycling. Legs were only designed for swimming, walking and running which are all much safer too.