1. The main health benefit of active travel is that the act of exercise reduces the risk of many health problems; particularly cardiovascular disease. For instance, Physical inactivity directly contributes to 1 in 6 deaths in the UK and costs £7.4 billion a year to business and wider society. More figures collected by the organisation WHO show that physical inactivity accounts for an estimated 9% of premature mortality, or more than 5.3 million of the 57 million deaths that occurred worldwide in 2008.

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     2. Active travel reduces the risk of these

          health problems by helping to combat

          obesity. Obesity rates have been

          increasing  over the past 30 years-

          The World Health Organization

          estimates that more than 300

          million adults are obese, putting them at

          increased risk for diseases such as

          diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular

          disease, gout, gallstones, fatty liver, and

          some cancers

          (Pucher et al., 1986-1992). There is

          also evidence that obesity levels are

          increasing in countries where active

          travel is decreasing, which means encouraging more people to travel actively is crucial for a healthier population.

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     3. A benefit of active transport is that unlike motor vehicles, it doesn't release any pollutants. This means that Greater                       vehicle use also causes higher levels of air pollution, which may increase cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, and                 contributes to global climate change. So by more people switching to active modes of travel, there will be less emissions               and so fewer health problems, as well as protecting the environment through being more sustainable.