Encouraging active transport and active environments
Te Mana Ora | Community and Public Health works collaboratively with key stakeholders to ensure our urban areas across the region are active environments designed to promote physical activity, by having:
- sufficient green space;
- recreational areas and other open spaces (such as skate board parks and walking trails); and
- access to active transport such as walking, cycling, jogging, using a scooter or public transport.
We actively contribute to local and regional planning strategies and decisions on open and recreational spaces, urban planning, transport, walking and cycling strategies and sustainability issues.
One of the easiest ways to incorporate physical activity into your life is to walk or cycle for everyday transport. Te Mana Ora | Community and Public Health staff promote active transport within the community and in education settings and workplaces, in the following ways:
- supporting School Travel Plans (South Canterbury only);
- promoting and developing strategies to encourage safe and user friendly facilities for active transport within the community;
- ensuring disadvantaged populations have access to safe active transport opportunities; and
- supporting the development of new recreational cycle trails and commuter cycle ways.
- Find out about work to support active transport and physical activity in workplaces.
- Find out about the Healthy Streets approach in New Zealand.
Addressing active transport concerns and issues
Apart from being opportunities for physical activity, active transport also contributes to the health of the population and other benefits to society through:
- Reduced air pollution – including toxic gases and particulates from vehicle brakes and tyres.
- Safer roads and less congestion.
- Higher street security and crime prevention through more ”eyes on the street”.
- Enhanced mental wellbeing by greater social capital and incidental social interaction.
- Greater personal resilience and less dependency on fossil fuels.
- A more productive workforce with less absenteeism.
Te Mana Ora | Community and Public Health works with a number of partner agencies or is a member of several networks to address active transport concerns:
- Cycling Advocates Network aims to get more people to cycle more often, and Te Mana Ora | Community and Public Health works closely with each of their regional branches.
- Disabled Persons Assembly works with us towards a transport network that is accessible to all including people with disabilities, the very young and the elderly.
- Living Streets Aotearoa aims to promote walking as viable, affordable and easy transport, and make Christchurch streets a safer place to walk.
- Recycle a Dunger (RAD) runs not-for-profit community bike workshops in Ōtautahi Christchurch where you can help recycle and fix bikes for yourself or others.
- Aranui Bike Fixup is a local bike maintenance group where you can learn to fix or restore your bike.
The BuyCycles project supports people from Corrections and the Mental Health Services to buy a bicycle. This collaborative project with Community Focus Trust and Mental Health Services was developed and continues to be supported by Te Mana Ora | Community and Public Health.
- Download the referral form for the BuyCycles project (Community Focus Trust).
Making sure children have safer and healthier streets
School Travel Plans provide safe options for children travelling to and from school. These are developed in collaboration with school communities and the local council, and have the following benefits:
- Children are healthier through increased opportunities for physical activity.
- Increased awareness among parents on the importance of physical exercise for their children.
- Less cars on the road at peak times and less congestion at the school gate.
- Children are more aware of the effect of their actions on their environment (pollution reduced, and energy saved).
- Parental concerns about real and perceived road traffic dangers get addressed.
Staff in the South Canterbury office develop these plans in collaboration with school communities and the Timaru District Council.
Documents
- Safer Cities By Design: How better urban form can lead to safer and more vibrant city centres in Aotearoa New Zealand (Helen Clark Foundation and WSP 2022 – accessible version).
- Te Ara Matatika | A Fair Charge for Better Cities: The potential for congestion charging to help unlock our transport system (Helen Clark Foundation 2022 – accessible version).
- Understanding attitudes and perceptions of cycling and walking (Waka Kotahi 2021).
- The Shared Path: People not cars at the heart of communities (Helen Clark Foundation 2020). An accessible version is also available.
- Park It: How-to-guide for turning a grey space green.
- BuyCycles: Evaluation of a novel approach towards alleviating transport disadvantage (Community and Public Health 2018).
- Active and public transport infrastructure: a public health perspective (Community and Public Health 2016).
- Workplace Travel Plan Toolkit (NZTA 2011).
- Walking School Bus Coordinators’ Guide (NZTA 2009).
Downloads
Download or order resources from the Community Health Information Centre.
- Starting out Safely – available to download in Māori, and Pacific and Asian languages.
- Hike it, bike it, scoot it skate it – available to download in Māori and Pacific languages.
Links
- Ministry of Health.
- Aotearoa Urban Street Planning and Design Guide (Waka Kotahi).
- School Transport Resources (Environment Canterbury).
- Canterbury Journey Planner.
- Christchurch Cycling (CCC).
- New Zealand Transport Agency Education Portal.
For further information, contact:
CANTERBURY
Meg Christie
Ph: +64 3 378 6817
SOUTH CANTERBURY
Jane Sullivan
Ph: +64 3 687 2600
WEST COAST
Rosie McGrath
Ph: +64 3 768 1160
Learn to ride with Bike Bridge
Bike Bridge is a FREE programme for former refugee and migrant women to learn to ride a bicycle – based at Addington School | Te Kura Taumatua.
The sessions are fun and you can also meet new people. Children welcome!
Bikes and helmets provided. No special clothes are required to participate.
The next course starts on Wednesday 16th October 2024.
This programme usually runs during the spring and summer months (Daylight Saving time).
Participants will also have the opportunity to get a free or heavily discounted bicycle – as well as a lock and helmet.
The project welcomes female volunteers.
Contact Coordinator Lois Hill for more information (bikebridge[at]radbikes.co.nz).
Bike Bridge is supported by Te Mana Ora | Community and Public Health.
Campaign encouraging safe e-scooting
Waka Kotahi | NZ Transport Agency is encouraging the safe use of increasingly popular e-scooters.
The key messages for e-scooter users from the campaign are:
- Give way to pedestrians and other footpath users.
- You must not ride at a speed that’s a hazard to themselves or other footpath users.
- You should always wear a helmet.
- Be aware that other footpath users can’t see or hear you coming.
- Keep left if riding on the road – when it is safe to do so.
Get assistance to plan your journey
The Waka Kotahi Transport Planner website lets urban and long-distance travellers know about major road works and closures – no matter what your mode of transport (car, bus, motorcycle, cycling or walking).
Navigate around the interactive map to identify where road works are located and how they may affect your journey around the city, region or country. The interactive map also provides real-time traffic flow information on arterial roads within urban areas.
You can plan your Canterbury bus journey on the MetroInfo website, or find out about detours and timetables.