UCL INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR SOCIETY & HEALTH
International Institute for Society and Health 2010 Public Seminar Series
You are invited to attend on:
Tuesday, 8th June, 5pm-6pm
Health on the Move
Speakers: Dr Stephen Watkins, Dr Jennifer Mindell
Abstract:
Transport affects health in a range of both positive and negative ways. It provides access to many healthbeneficial facilities, from health centres to swimming pools, from meetings with families and friends to tranquil
enjoyment of the countryside, from work to opportunities to buying healthy food. Walking and cycling offer an
excellent way to build physical activity into everyday life. But transport also causes stress, disruption of
communities, injuries, noise and air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. Transport’s effects also
exacerbate inequalities, with the benefits of motorised transport accruing particularly to the better off, while the
adverse effects fall disproportionately on the already disadvantaged. Health on the Move, first published over
a decade and a half ago by the Transport & Health Study Group (THSG), seeks to describe the links between
transport and health. THSG is now about to publish a fully updated and greatly expanded edition.
In this lecture, Jenny Mindell and Steve Watkins present the main themes of the new edition. In a thorough
review of evidence on cycle safety they conclude that cycling is an inherently safe activity with major positive
benefits for life expectancy, but exaggerated perceptions of its dangers lead to a poor take up. In a review of
congestion they argue that this can be tackled only by a combination of road pricing, comprehensive and
universal public transport systems, more homeworking and more walking and cycling. Joshua Hart’s findings
that traffic in streets diminish social support and community spirit raises far reaching spatial planning
questions about how we perceive streets. Climate change demands less use of the car and plane and more
use of the cycle and train. Transport is a public health challenge comparable to sewers in the 19th and clean
air in the 20th century in its difficulty, its financial implications and its consequences.
Information about the two speakers
Lancashire born and bred, railway enthusiast, rambler and lover of the Pennines, Dr Stephen Watkins
qualified in medicine in 1974. After junior hospital jobs and general practice, he entered public health in 1979;
he has been Director of Public Health for Stockport since 1990. He is a member of the Council of the British
Medical Association; a former President of the Medical Practitioners Union (the medical organisation of the
social movements of the people); and is a member of the NICE PDG on Spatial Planning. He was one of the
founder members of the Transport & Health Study Group when it was established by Steve Morton in 1998
and he took over as chairman when Dr Morton stood down.
Dr Jennifer Mindell, a Londoner who wasn’t allowed to cycle as a child, also entered public health after training
in general practice. Her portfolio career also includes a research post and running a cancer prevention project
in Oxford, and being Deputy Director of the London Health Observatory. She is currently a clinical senior
lecturer in the Department of Epidemiology & Public Health at UCL, where she leads the UCL team working
on the Health Survey for England and similar surveys, and an Honorary Consultant at Stockport PCT, for her
role as vice-chair (health) of the THSG.
Venue: UCL Basement Lecture Theatre, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E
7HB. Entrance opposite Planet Organic. Refreshments at 6pm after the seminar.
This seminar is free and open to all, but seats cannot be reserved and are allocated on a first come first
served basis only. Prompt arrival is therefore advised in order to secure a place. Please contact us at
iish@ucl.ac.uk if you have any special needs. Please bring this invitation with you.