Bob Doyle, Head of Economic Development at Enfield Council, outlines how the Healthy Streets programme has enabled residents to become more active in the borough and paving the way for future generations to follow suit.
What are Healthy Streets and why are they important?
London is facing an inactivity crisis. As cars and technology have taken over, many of the tasks that used to require physical effort has ceased. As a result, over 30% of Londoners do not achieve the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity a week.
The Enfield landscape – size of the local issue
In Enfield, only 55.5% of adults meet the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity a week and as many as 27.8% of Enfield residents are inactive.
As a result, Enfield Council has launched the Healthy Streets Programme, which aims to increase the levels of active travel across the Borough.
Adopting a Healthy Streets approach is our borough’s response to Enfield’s increasing traffic congestion.
It’s an initiative aimed at providing safe walking & cycling routes for residents and commuters across Enfield. It encourages more people to walk and cycle, particularly for short journeys. Enfield also suffers from one of the highest rates of childhood obesity in London and this scheme will further help tackle this problem.
The Healthy Streets programme aims to:
- create accessible and vibrant town centres
- create a network of walking & cycling routes to connect the Borough
- improve the health and wellbeing of our communities
Justin’s story
‘’I am new to cycling and have started commuting to work a few times a week from Bush Hill Park to Farringdon. I was never a cyclist, but my dad has always loved it and my daughter now loves it too.’
The programme is funded by a series of grants from the Mayor of London and Transport for London.