Skip to Content

This website uses Cookies you can control them from this page: Cookies Page

Functionality Cookies Performance Cookies Targeting Cookies
THE 2022 FESTIVAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE
22 October - 13 November
FoSS and ESRC logos

Fitness, Fun and Functional

How should we talk about active travel?

My local area theme

Professional audiences

What’s on offer?

A 1.5 hour panel discussion discussing the nature of Active Travel and how to communicate it.

What’s it about?

There appears to be a contradiction in what we aspire for as an active travel nation, and the messages we convey. We often hold up the Dutch model of mobility as a utopian vision of how transport systems should operate, that cycling is an activity for getting from A to B in our everyday clothes. But then we often hear messages from government and local authorities that active travel can be used to improve fitness and reduce the need for other physical activity such as gym memberships. This conjures up images of lycra, racing bikes and sweating! Or is cycling simply fun? Therefore, our question is what is Active Travel? Is it fitness, fun or functional? Or is it all of the above, and messaging designed to encourage modal shift should tap into all three aspects of this activity? The event will be available to watch online and viewers are encouraged to engage in the interactive discussion.

Who’s leading the event?

The session is chaired by Ian Cookson of Salford University, with a panel comprising Dr Gemma Bridges (Running Mayor of Leeds), Dr Stephen Parks (Sheffield Hallam University) and Dr Justin Spinney (Cardiff University).

Open to

The general public.

Of particular interest to

Everyone: it will be promoted using the Healthy Active Cities email list and Twitter accounts, both of which reach academics, policy makers, planners, community organisations and businesses.