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Australian health and transport experts, led by Dr Ben Beck, from the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash University, have today called on decision makers to enact urgent measures to support safe walking and cycling and social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Australian Government has recognised the importance of remaining physically active during the COVID-19 pandemic and has listed exercise as one of four essential activities. As a result, many Australians have been getting active across the country by walking and cycling, but many areas lack sufficient space required to maintain critical physical separation.

Dr Ben Beck, leading the call health and transport experts, is concerned for safety as our paths and cycleways are inadequate to handle the physical activity requirement during this crisis.

In addition to academics from universities across Australia, support was also provided by many individuals including those from the Heart Foundation, Public Health Association of Australia, the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine, the Australasian College of Road Safety, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Trauma Committee, Kidsafe, the Australasian Injury Prevention Network, The Committee for Sydney and The Committee for Adelaide and We Ride Australia.

Dr Beck notes “physical activity is fundamentally important for mental and physical health, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“However, the current pandemic has demonstrated that the space we give to people walking and cycling on our streets is inadequate, especially given the need for physical distancing.

“In order to provide safe physical activity and social distancing for adults and children to exercise and move about their neighbourhoods, we need decision makers to enable rapid roll-out of social distancing infrastructure to support walking and cycling.

“We have seen numerous examples across the world of governments introducing reduced speed limits, widened footpaths, emergency cycle lanes and the closure of roads. As yet, we have not seen a similar response in Australia, and we need to act now.”

Experts also noted that safe cycling and walking will be imperative in reactivating our economy when social distancing measures are relaxed, enabling people to travel to work and school using transport modes that are both safe and healthy.

Professor Rebecca Ivers, Head of School, Public Health and Community Medicine at the University of New South Wales has a special interest in health and transport and adds “not only do we need Australians to stay active and healthy, we need to consider how they can continue to do this safely during an extended period of physical isolation,

“Keeping active now and as we begin to get back on our feet is hugely important for our mental and physical well-being,

“The continued crowding in popular walking spots could be addressed with simple, temporary changes where we all live.”

The letter calling on decision makers to take urgent steps to enhance walking and cycling during the pandemic was sent today to all State and Territory Transport Ministers and co-signed by over 100 Australian experts.

Image courtesy of City of Sydney

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