Active travel

Public Health seeks to promote a greener more resilient future for Norfolk and its residents. We want to create a healthier Norfolk by enabling people to walk, wheel and cycle more often as the natural choice for shorter journeys or as part of a longer journey.   

Physical activity helps to improve physical and mental health. It is well documented that increased physical activity can help prevent and manage over 20 chronic conditions and diseases. It also reduces stress and anxiety.

The World Health Organisation in 2022 estimated that walking for 30 minutes or cycling for 20 minutes on most days reduces mortality risk by at least 10%. Cancer-related mortality is 30% lower among bike commuters.  

Enabling more walking, wheeling and cycling also provides an opportunity for clinicians to prescribe active travel to appropriate patients. Active travel social prescribing schemes are being piloted across the country. A similar project is in development in Norfolk.  

Helping enable people to switch to walking and cycling also helps to reduce transport-related emissions, congestion, noise and air pollution.

This not only helps to mitigate climate change but support cleaner air too. This helps us to meet national and local decarbonisation and air quality targets and make our county a more pleasant place to live.     

Public Health has helped to develop Norfolk's ambitious Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Strategy. This was alongside the County Council's transport planners and environment team.