Bicycle Network has made a submission to the Tasmanian Government’s 20-year preventive health strategy, calling for a greater focus on environmental factors in promoting physical activity.
A discussion paper was released in October last year and the government has been undertaking lengthy public consultation since, with submissions closing on 25 May.
One of the strategy’s six focus areas is improving Tasmanian’s physical activity levels.
Only 22.9% of Tasmanian adults met the recommended physical activity levels in the 2022 national health survey.
Not getting enough exercise causes multiple health problems in daily life and puts people at risk of developing diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.
Many people find it difficult to fit exercise into their day, especially if they think that means having to go to a gym class or join a sporting team.
By changing our streetscapes and open spaces, the government can help people exercise regularly without having to make time in the day for it.
Walking and riding to get from A to B is an easy way to get the necessary exercise people need every day to stay healthy.
But most of our streets, parks and reserves are not set up with safe, connected pathways and lanes to move the majority of our population.
Bicycle Network has recommended the government reconsider our streets as essential infrastructure for health in its submission to the strategy. Some of the actions the government could adopt to turn around our inadequate street designs include:
- Changing the balance of the road infrastructure budget by increasing spending on AAA cycling and walking infrastructure to 20% of overall spend, as the UN recommends.
- Dropping traffic speed limits to safer levels, especially in built-up areas where people are walking and riding. 30km speed limits should be the norm in the hearts of our cities and towns and around schools and aged care facilities.
- Providing separated cycling infrastructure on streets with speeds above 30km with high traffic flows.
- Ensuring governments account for health impacts in all infrastructure builds. Providing safe pedestrian and cycling infrastructure in all road projects should be the norm and not something added on at the end, or left out completely.
- A planning system that mandates safe, comfortable AAA rated cycling and walking infrastructure and end of trip facilities in all new developments and street upgrades.
- Providing recurrent funding to behaviour change programs which are shown to have positive results for long-term physical activity levels, such as our Ride2School and Back on your Bike programs.
You can make a written or verbal submission or fill out the online survey before 25 May via www.health.tas.gov.au/20-year-preventive-health-strategy
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