Why attend?

WHY ATTEND?

Transport networks in the UK contribute to a number of health hazards and health inequalities in both urban and rural areas. Poverty and disadvantage is strongly correlated with air pollution, noise and road collisions. Vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, people with mental disability or long-term illnesses are also more exposed to the health-related externalities of the transport system.

However, transport and spatial planning can be powerful tools for improving the conditions that influence health. Using these tools effectively requires engagement with the public health evidence base, the technical aspects of planning and integrated community development approaches that promote active travel and well-connected places.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Environmental pollution and physical inactivity are key health risks, yet recent research outcomes remain hopeful. Studies show that the evidence for positive impacts related to increasing physical activity is encouraging, especially for town and city-wide interventions.

Addressing health in communities means ensuring that all professionals involved in shaping the built environment, and the embedded transport options that help people go about their daily activities, are working towards promoting healthy lifestyles.

This event is for:

Transport and urban planners
Population and public health professionals
Public transport professionals
Highways and transport engineers
Active travel professionals
Data and modelling experts
Marketing and behaviour change professionals
Directors of strategy and services
Academics and researchers
Community groups and campaigners
Transport technologists
New mobility pioneers

The programme

Programme

Please note the programme is currently in development

09.00

Registration

Tea & coffee served in the exhibition

10.00

COUNCIL CHAMBER

OPENING PLENARY:
Missions and visions – tackling the social and commercial determinants of health

Many underlying causes of unhealthy urban development could be relieved by more thoughtful transport and planning policy.

What happens when transport and planning policy is shaped by shared visions – easy access for all to health, housing, employment, education, amenities and leisure? And when improving public health is prioritised across policy and delivery.

This session will look at the integration of transport, planning, and health policies to solve public health and transport issues.

Speakers include:

Scarlett McNally, Surgeon, East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust and President, Medical Women’s Federation
Ed Plowden, Portfolio Holder for Transport, Bristol City Council
Speaker from Tackling Root Causes Upstream of Unhealthy Urban Development (TRUUD)
Peter Jones, University College London and the Healthy Low-carbon Transport Hub

11.00

Morning break

Tea & coffee served in the exhibition

11.30

Delegates choose to attend 1 of 3 breakout sessions

COUNCIL CHAMBER

1

BREAKOUT SESSION 1:

Leading by example: how health professionals and elected members can boost rates of active travel

Chair: Jo Maher, GP Partner and Physical Activity Clinical Champion, Move More Sheffield

Panellists include:

Ian Walker, Professor and Head of School of Psychology, University of Swansea and author of Motonormativity: how social norms hide a major public health hazard

Pete Dyson, behavioural scientist, University of Bath and Bicycle Mayor of Bath and co-author of Transport for Humans

Ed Plowden, Portfolio Holder for Transport, Bristol City Council

Paulo Anciaes, Principal Researcher in Transport and Health, UCL Centre for Transport Studies

BORDEAUX

2

BREAKOUT SESSION 2:

Bridging the gap: understanding transport models for healthier city planning

Led by: James Woodcock, Lead, Public Health Modelling Group, MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge

Building on our experience with the Propensity to Cycle Tool and health impact assessment in AMAT and the WHO HEAT tool, we introduce a new approach: an agent-based transport and health model designed to better reflect the complex, real-world interactions between land use, transport systems, and population health. The model simulates how different kinds of people—varying in age, gender, location, and travel needs—respond to scenarios of change over time and space. Crucially, it allows us to evaluate not just changes in transport behaviours, but the health and environmental consequences of these changes.

We will showcase how the model has been applied in Greater Manchester to understand potential impacts of cycling infrastructure improvements, urban greening and ambitious active transport mode shares (Go Dutch). Outcomes include changes in transport mode share, physical activity, exposure to pollution and noise, risk of injury, mortality and major disease.

The workshop is designed for urban and transport planners and modellers, public health practitioners, policymakers, and advocates who are interested in quantifying the behavioural, environmental and health impacts of urban and transport decision-making. You do not need a technical background in modelling to attend.

Followed by panel discussion

PUERTO MORAZÁN

3

BREAKOUT SESSION 3:

Fit for the future? Using insights from data and engagement to deliver healthy neighbourhoods

The Government’s recent NHS Fit for the Future strategy makes a compelling case for bold preventative action, better use of data, and joined-up planning between health, transport, and local authorities. But what does that look like in practice?

What is a healthy neighbourhood? Insights from engagement with local transport users in Greater Manchester
Dom Smith, UK Active Travel Lead, Steer and Dr Graeme Sherriff: Associate Professor, School of Health and Society, University of Salford

Connecting public health and transport through data and incentives
Jack Windle, Chief Sustainable Transport Officer, Better Points

Using rider-generated data in Bristol to support healthier, more resilient communities

Sam Robinson, CEO, Love to Ride

How AI-powered data is enabling Bristol’s journey to transform transport and improve public health

Charn Aujla, Business Development Manager, Vivacity Labs

Pedalling health: data‑driven active travel

Charlie Wilson, Business Development Manager, SeeSense

13.00

Lunch break

Refreshments served in the exhibition

14.00

Delegates choose to attend 1 of 3 breakout sessions

COUNCIL CHAMBER

1

BREAKOUT SESSION 4:

Using the planning process to deliver healthy and active environments

Vision-led transport, spatial planning and delivering better health outcomes

Nicola Lodge, Associate, Integrated Transport Planning

Localised living for better health outcomes

Andrew Archer, Projects Director, Systra

Devolution and planning reforms: opportunities for healthy transport

Roger Geffen, Campaigner, Low Traffic Future

Integrating active travel ambition into devolution
Ralph Smyth, consultant for Transport Action Network (TAN)

Using the DfT Connectivity Tool to improve active travel

Robert Singleton, Head of Planning, Housing and Transport, Department for Transport

BORDEAUX

2

BREAKOUT SESSION 5:

Improving wider health and social outcomes

East Gateshead: An emerging delivery model of integrated health and transport behaviour change

Emma Allan, Active Travel Manager, Public Health and Wellbeing, Gateshead Council

Delivering healthier journeys on the Strategic Road Network - National Highways’ new framework for active travel investment

Alistair Ryder, Team Leader – Active Travel and Travel Demand Management, National Highways and Rob Goodall, Associate Director, Global Active Travel Lead, Arup

PUERTO MORAZÁN

3

BREAKOUT SESSION 6:

Reducing transport inequalities for children

Led by: Eleanor Roaf, Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health and Trustee, UK Health Alliance on Climate Change & Ruth Gelletlie, Chair, UK Partnership for Active Travel, Transport and Health (PATTH)

Independent travel for children has health, social and educational benefits, but most research focuses on the (urban) school journey.

This session will explore children’s journeys more widely including:

Influences on children’s independent travel;
children as experts on their local areas,
reducing inequalities in opportunities for independent travel

15.30

Afternoon break

Tea & coffee served in the exhibition

16.00

COUNCIL CHAMBER

CLOSING PLENARY:
Tackling polarisation and populism. Prioritising health in planning policies in a win-win for everyone, so why is it so difficult to communicate and deliver?

Panellists incluce:

Kate Gray, Public Health Registrar working with the Yorkshire and the Humber Association of Directors of Public Health

Ralph Smyth, Transport Action Network and Trustee, Foundation for Integrated Transport

Sophia Brown, Founder/Director, Bristol Steppin Sistas

17.15

Event close