Professionals call for healthy transport options to be 'the easiest, natural choice for most everyday journeys'

The Faculty of Public Health (FPH), the Royal Society of Public Health and partners are supporting the Bristol Declaration - calling for the transformation of the UK to a place where healthy transport options are the easiest, natural choice for most everyday journeys, without relying on a car.

The Bristol Declaration was organised by Scarlett McNally, a keynote speaker at the Landor LINKS' organised Transport and Health event in Bristol in October 2025, and was signed by event speakers working in the transport, public health, planning and road danger reduction sectors– many thanks to those who contributed.

The Declaration can be downloaded from the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) website.

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Transport and Health 2026 will take place at Leicester City Hall on 8 October 2026: email Juliana if you're interested in speaking, exhibiting or sponsoring

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Why we need healthy transport choices

Transport shapes how we live, move and connect with each other. But the way the UK currently designs and uses its transport system is having serious consequences for public healthPoor transport systems harm the health of hundreds of thousands of UK residents every year through pollution, congestion, road traffic collisions and the fear of them, injuries, noise, social isolation and reduced feelings of safety. Road transport is a major source of air, noise and water pollution (from exhaust emissions), brake and tyre wear and road surface degradation.

These pollutants contribute to strokes, heart disease, diabetes, dementia and cancer.  

The Bristol Declaration sets out actions to address these issues and to shift the UK towards healthier, more sustainable transport. It calls for recognising car dependency as a public health issue, enabling a real shift and towards walking, cycling and public transport, and significantly increasing investment in active travel.

It urges governments and organisations to prioritise safety and accessibility - particularly for vulnerable groups, lower speed limits to 20mph in built?up areas, reform planning and highway design, and ensure new developments allow safe, convenient access to key amenities without a car.

The Faculty of Public Health, alongside more than 30 health and transport professionals, are calling for national and local action to deliver healthier, safer transport for all.