Workshop H 1,  Monday 19 June 16.00 - 17.30

Cycling and health policies

Mr Aginus Kalis, Director of the Directorate of Health Policy of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, The Netherlands Cycling and Health Policies People who take regular exercise are less likely to suffer cardiovascular disease, a stroke, obesity, osteoporosis, diabetes mellitus and certain forms of cancer. Exercise also has a positive effect in cases of loneliness and depression. Alongside such aspects as not smoking, moderate intake of alcohol and a healthy diet, exercise is therefore to be seen as an essential element of a healthy lifestyle. One relatively simple and enjoyable way of achieving sufficient exercise is through regular cycling. However, some sixty per cent of the Dutch population do not achieve sufficient exercise. The presentation will examine the mission of public health policy. The Ministry develops various activities enabling people to lead a healthy life. Its policy is based on a two-pronged approach: one aspect addresses the individual and his or her lifestyle. This not only seeks to promote exercise, but also to prevent (head) injuries as the result of cycling accidents. The other avenue of approach is through a healthy physical, social and economic environment. This falls outside the Ministry of Health's specific portfolio and therefore calls for co-operation with other departments. We term this 'intersectoral action'. In their choice of measures, other ministries do not always consider the effects on public health. Our ministry aims to place 'health' on the agenda of the other parties through intersectoral action. The presentation will examine the possibilities for intersectoral action and the relevant preconditions in order to encourage cycling.

Hans de Man, secretary, Dutch Doctors for Sustainable Development, The Netherlands Piet van der Linden, chair Alkmaar chapter Dutch Cyclists' Union , the Netherlands WHO Euroregio Charter on Transport, Environment and Health, discussion on its actual impact on transport policy WHO's Charter on Transport aims to reduce the need for motorized transport in favour of walking and cycling. It was raised into two Dutch transport policy processes. At local level (city of Alkmaar, transport sector), aiming at shorter distances to be cycled unless special circumstances occur. At national level (Public Health sector), aiming at Sustainable Development directed to much more eco-effiency (in a size of a factor 20), to be reached in a 50-years period. Cycling seems to evolve as a part of the mobility-hurry. There is a big threat for a further shift from cycle to car, and for longer cycle-distances in consequence of society wide scaling up. Cycling gradually becomes diminished into a simple link in the mobility-chain, and put aside for leisure time only. The -very welcome- Charter had no perceptible impact. An erroneous health-concept seems to be part of the problem. For the human body is mainly regarded as a machine, to be repaired and maintained 'evidence based', with predominant medical and health educational intervention. Admitting this error could give a change: the body as an organism, to be managed with precautionary intervention. This is on mobility-linked physical inactivity (to be considered as a non-personal, structural, component of behavior), infrastructural and economic intervention. Working this out for Charter's 'D 1-4' (internalize external costs), there  seems to be a need for the principle of the 'diseaser pays'(which is in a direct line with the principle of the 'polluter pays'), resulting in a health tax to be imposed on every motorized km. Internalizing the tax could mean: lowering the premiums for health care and labeling to climate change linked foreign health aid.