According to a new study by the transport charity Sustrans, more than 13,000 lives and almost £10 billion would be saved over the next decade if the UK Government hits targets for increases in walking and cycling.
In the UK, air pollution contributes to around 40,000 premature deaths a year. Sustrans, in partnership with environmental consultancy Eunomia, found that if targets in England's Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy to double journeys by bike and increase walking by "300 stages per person" were met, this could prevent more than 8,300 premature deaths from air pollution. This would also reduce costs associated with poor air quality, such as NHS treatment for respiratory diseases.
Likewise, if the target of 10 per cent of everyday journeys being taken by bike set out in Scotland's Cycling Action Plan was achieved nearly 4,000 premature deaths could be prevented. Sustran claimed that the gains would be even bigger if wider benefits to health and wellbeing resulting from increased physical activity were included.
Many towns and cities are now failing World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines for the most damaging type of air pollution, known as PM2.5. When solid particles or liquid droplets in the air, primarily from road traffic, are smaller than 2.5 micrometers, they are known as PM2.5. A report last month revealed that every area of London exceeds WHO limits for PM2.5.
Governments at all levels are being urged to provide funding for walking and cycling infrastructure when creating clean air plans. Twenty nine local authorities in England that are breaking legal air quality limits must put together clean air plans by November next year.
CEO for Sustrans, Xavier Brice, said: "The new findings reiterate that walking and cycling have a huge role to play in tackling the air quality crisis that causes tens of thousands of premature deaths every year. If we are to make a major modal shift, we need to provide a network of direct protected cycle routes on roads in addition to quieter routes across the UK."
