Active transportation for the future
Translation: Colin Fisher
Many things are clever in this world, but few as much as active modes of transportation. Everyone is familiar with being stuck in traffic and questioning their lives. Perhaps some people like being trapped in their car: What would be a better use of time? Biking or walking to work, school, or another place instead of driving is however better for mental health and for the environment. On top of that, driving makes us spend more time sitting, which we could be using for exercise. Active travel kills two birds with one stone, as it is a wonderful way to combat both climate change and sedentary lifestyles.
The benefits of exercise
Gabríel Már Elvarsson og Marinó Þór Pálmason
Sedentary lifestyles are a dangerous epidemic. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), it is estimated that about 80% of adults in the United States and more than half of people in the European Union are not active enough (Toner et. al, 2021). Iceland is unfortunately no exception, as, according to a 2017 health survey, only 69.6% of Icelanders engaged in moderately strenuous activity for thirty minutes or more during four days or less, in the course of the last seven days (Embætti landlæknis, 2017). The WHO advises that all adults should engage in moderately strenuous activity for at least 150 minutes a week (World Health Organization, 2022). Additionally, according to a survey carried out by the Directorate of Health in 2022, only 17.3% of Icelanders biked or walked to work or school three times or more a week (Embætti landlæknis, 2022). But by moving more and reducing sedentary behavior, people can improve their health, and increased physical activity is said to reduce the likelihood of cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, respiratory disease, certain cancers, and mental illness (Xu et al, 2013.)
Effects on the environment
As if the great effects on health and well-being were not enough, we can have a great impact on the environment with active travel. A 2021 study based on data from seven European cities showed that walking or biking instead of driving reduced individuals’ carbon emissions. A significant decrease in carbon emissions was noted even if car journeys were only partially replaced with active travel (Brand et al, 2021). The study demonstrated that in Copenhagen, limiting the frequency of car journeys had a massive positive impact on the environment by appreciably decreasing air and noise pollution. Cities such as Barcelona have begun to set up so-called “superblocks” that delineate smaller residential areas and to construct larger green spaces inside them. This has resulted in less vehicular traffic. The use of more active modes of travel have reduced carbon footprints, improved air quality, and increased the health effects mentioned above (Toner et al, 2021).
What can we do?
What should be done to get people to leave the car behind and to walk or bike instead? It is necessary to educate people about both the physical and environmental benefits of using active transportation, as people often do not know how this can change and improve health. It is therefore important to talk to people and spread the message. By walking or cycling, talking about their importance, and advocating for more people to do the same, we put pressure on authorities to improve conditions for walking and biking paths, green spaces, and playgrounds. Studies have shown that if these infrastructures are in good condition, they have a positive effect on the activity levels of both children and adults (Smith et al, 2017). In the year 2022, the Directorate of Health conducted a study on how many people biked or walked to work or school three times or more a week in several communities. The results are on the accompanying table (Embætti landlæknis, 2022). It is clear that, in the communities that have a significantly lower proportion of people who walk or bike often, it is necessary to look inward to determine whether there are any possibilities to either improve education about the benefits of active transportation or to improve the conditions for doing so, as it is clear that we as a nation ought to encourage more people to walk or cycle between places.
At the same time, it is not sufficient that the government looks inward. Rather, we as individuals need to do so as well. We need to cultivate a desire for active transportation and come up with solutions. It will pay off exponentially, as we will not spend so much time in cars. Exercise both improves health and protects the environment along the way by reducing one’s carbon footprint, and helps society as a whole.