Cycling Getting Australia Moving Barriers, facilitators and interventions to get more Australians physically active through cycling About the authors Professor Adrian Bauman Adjunct Associate Sesquicentenary Professor of Public Professor Ian Ker Health (Behavioural Epidemiology Research Associate and Health Promotion) Planning and Transport Research Centre University of Sydney Curtin University This report was funded by the Australian Adrian has an active interest in Ian is an economist by training, with Government Department of Health and physical activity, public health, extensive experience in transport Ageing. The views expressed in this health promotion and mental planning. This includes almost 15 report do not necessarily represent the health epidemiology. years with the Western Australian position of the Australian Government. Department of Transport and several Associate Professor with ARRB Consulting. He now runs Chris Rissel his runs his own consulting firm CATALYST. Director Health Promotion Service Sydney South West Area Health Service Ms Rosemarie Speidel University of Sydney Program Director Chris has a health promotion research Cycling Promotion Fund focus directed towards tobacco About this Rosemarie has qualifications and control, sexual health and active experience in community development, transport (walking and cycling). Chris report adult education and public policy. She is currently involved in implementing played an instrumental role in setting and evaluating a three year cycling In August 2007, the Cycling Promotion up the Cycling Promotion Fund in promotion program in western Fund was commissioned by the 2000 which, under her leadership, Sydney on the impact of increases in Commonwealth Department of Health established itself as a credible national cycling on overall population health. and Ageing to develop a report on body in cycling promotion and bicycle participation by Australian adults. advocacy. She has a particular interest Dr Jan Garrard in interventions for women and people The Cycling Promotion Fund was with low physical activity levels. Senior Lecturer specifically asked to investigate the School of Health and Social Development contribution cycling can make to the Deakin University Mr Elliot Fishman health of adult Australians, what barriers exist to increasing participation Jan’s research is primarily concerned Policy and Research and what can be done to overcome with understanding the socio- Cycling Promotion Fund these hurdles. environmental and personal Elliot is a former health professional determinants of physical activity who turned his attention to transport The Cycling Promotion Fund engaged (particularly active transport) planning. He is interested in the four notable academics/practitioners for women and evaluation of health, social, environmental and from the fields of health, transport and interventions aimed at promoting economic benefits of increasing the economics to address these questions. physical activity. role of active transport. He is also Director of the Institute for Sensible Transport. Suggested citation: Bauman A., Rissel C., Garrard J., Ker I., Speidel R., Fishman E., 2008 Cycling: Getting Australia Moving: Barriers, facilitators and interventions to get more Australians physically active through cycling, Cycling Promotion Fund, Melbourne. Designed and printed by Graphyte Media Melbourne, Victoria 2008 CYCLING: Getting Australia Moving January 2008 This page has been deliberately left blank CYCLING: Getting Australia Moving January 2008 Summary Physical inactivity is a major contributor calculated for this report include Recommendations to poor health in Australia – with reduced congestion ($63.1 million) and Establishing a cycling-friendly policy around half the population insufficiently greenhouse gas emissions ($9.2 million). and regulatory environment is a active to protect against sedentary significant challenge and one that is lifestyle diseases, such as diabetes. What barriers exist not entirely within the direct control of to greater cycling the health sector. A multi-faceted, The trend of decreasing rates of whole-of-government approach is physical activity cuts across all ages participation? required. Each of the following and social groups. Modern lifestyles Despite the significant increase in recommendations are largely have engineered physical activity out of cycling over recent years and the dependent upon one another and everyday life. multitude of benefits stemming from increased participation, a number of should be implemented in an Cycling offers significant potential to substantial barriers exist for large integrated, coordinated way to increase physical activity levels in segments of the population. increase bicycle participation: adults. It is already the fourth most " Mass marketing campaigns popular physical activity for adults, it Individual barriers, such as a lack of highlighting the benefits of cycling can be undertaken by a wide variety of skills and confidence have been found ages and fitness levels, it is affordable to prevent many people from cycling. " Bicycle education programs to and can be integrated into people’s increase skills, confidence and daily life and used as a form of Social and cultural factors can also safety transport. influence rates of cycling. For instance, low income areas were found to have " Behaviour change initiatives to This report has been developed to reduced opportunities for cycling and market alternatives to car use assist practitioners, policy makers and their residents make less short trips by " Cycling events to provide planners to increase adult physical either foot or bicycle. incentives for people to ride in a activity levels through bicycle riding. It supportive environment particularly does this by first setting the scene on Environmental factors (urban design for novice riders Australian cycling and then outlines and bicycle infrastructure) were found current barriers and facilitators to to be a major influence on levels of " Urban planning/bicycle infrastructure/funding focused on greater participation. Finally, the report cycling. Higher density development increasing bicycle friendly design. delivers a set of recommendations to reduces trip distance and this provides overcome these barriers and increase a major boost for cycling, as does the As Australians continue to lead bicycle riding among Australian adults. provision of on and off road bicycle increasingly busy lifestyles, cycling is in routes. In fact, the current lack of a unique position for its ability to Cycling is on the increase! bicycle infrastructure in Australia combine physical activity, recreation presents a particularly strong barrier for Over 1.68 million adults cycled in and transport. This provides an women, who comprise only 20% of important health benefit for a 2006; an increase of 244,000 from commuter cyclists. 2001. Australian capital cities have also population failing to meet minimum experienced an average 22% increase Safety concerns were consistently physical activity requirements. Cycling in bicycle journeys to work, with found to be among the most is also a carbon neutral, petrol free Melbourne’s growth rate soaring 42% significant barriers preventing people form of transport, simultaneously between 2001 and 2006. from cycling. It was even found to be a helping Australians fight climate concern for those that cycle regularly. change and reduce fuel costs. For A range of interventions exist to Yet the perception of risk from cycle peak hour journeys in particular, the encourage cycling; from cycling events accidents is often disproportionate to bicycle can reduce congestion and attracting thousands of people, the actual risk. For instance, the increase the efficiency of the transport behaviour change programs targeting hospitalisation rate from cycling is system. trips to work and school, social seven times lower than that of football, marketing campaigns and multifaceted Creating more cycle friendly communities per 100,000 participants. Moreover, can also play an important role in community based programs. Those the evidence clearly points to the fact programs are successful in creating better places to live, work, that the more cyclists there are, the raise a family and grow old. encouraging people to ride more often safer it becomes. but their reach is currently limited and For Australia to fully capitalise on the effectiveness will be enhanced with the Policy and regulatory factors benefits of cycling, a whole-of- development of more supportive governing key influences on cycling, government approach is required, with physical environments, such as bicycle such as congestion charging, urban commitment from the health, transport, lanes and paths. density and motor vehicle speed limits environment, education and planning have been identified as non-health portfolios. Only through a combined Valuing cycling sector issues that nonetheless have approach can the benefits of cycling The value of current cycling to the important outcomes for public health be fully realised. economy is approximately $154.1 through their effect on cycling. million per annum. Other benefits CYCLING: Getting Australia Moving i January 2008 Executive Summary Physical inactivity is a major contributor 1 2 to poor health in Australia. Approximately half the Australian Setting the scene Current barriers population are insufficiently active, and facilitators which significantly increases their risk Cycling is becoming increasingly