WHO’s Toolkit on Walking and Cycling to Support Regular Physical Activity

Physical activities are important for our health. While creating individual habits for regular physical activity is important, proper infrastructure and enabling policies should be present to support and encourage them . In this light, the World Health Organization released a toolkit to promote walking and cycling through policy interventions.

On Regular Physical Activity

From playing sports to exercising, regularly moving our bodies is a staple activity for a healthy life. Besides the obvious benefits to our physical health, regular physical activity also drive a healthy mind. The World Health Organization recommends at least 60 minutes of moving time per day for adolescents and 150-300 minutes per week for adults.

Yet, the organization’s data shows that globally, 31% of adults and 80% of adolescents did not meet the recommended levels of physical activity in 2020. This sedentary lifestyle, where people engage in minimal physical activity, is mainly caused by a lack of spaces for exercise, desk job demands, and increased gadget usage.

Consequently, too little physical activities pose significant health risks, such as increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

WHO’s Toolkit for Walking and Cycling

Making exercising regularly a habit can begin with a simple step. Walking and cycling are simple activities and models of transport that benefit communities’ health, mobility, and liveability. Encouraging walking and cycling as accessible and safe activities also becomes crucial in light of global population growth and decarbonization efforts. However, road safety issues and a lack of connectivity in the transport network become obstacles for people who want to opt for walking and cycling.

In this light, the World Health Organization has released a toolkit on walking and cycling to help countries develop and strengthen policies to support the activities. The toolkit provides seven priority policy action areas, some focusing on integrating walking and cycling into relevant policies, developing safe and accessible streets and infrastructures, and creating an integrated transport system to support the walking and cycling experience.

Furthermore, countries can utilize the toolkit to learn how to collect data, set targets, track progress, and evaluate policies and interventions related to walking and cycling.

Investing in Health and Sustainable Development

Living an active lifestyle with regular physical activity is crucial for our health for years to come as we age. Therefore, building safe, accessible, and healthy living spaces in cities and rural areas is essential and requires robust legislation and regulatory frameworks. Ultimately, governments must translate the vision and commitment for a better future for all through strong governance, with the support and participation from businesses, communities, and the public at large.

Editor: Nazalea Kusuma

Kresentia Madina

Reporter at Green Network Asia | Website | + posts

Madina is the Assistant Manager for Digital Publications at Green Network Asia. She graduated from Universitas Indonesia with a bachelor's degree in English Literature. She has three years of professional experience working on GNA international digital publications, programs, and partnerships particularly on social and cultural issues.