Page 2193 - Week 07 - Thursday, 7 August 2014
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ride combined with a bus connection at the Cohen Street bus station in Belconnen presents an easier combination of active travel and public transport, as opposed to a 16-kilometre bike ride that would present, in itself, quite a difficult commute.
The bike cages and lockers at bike-and-ride sites allow people to ride to the sites and secure their bikes without fear of theft. That aids the combination of active travel and public transport.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Berry.
MS BERRY: Minister, what are the broader benefits of promoting active travel throughout the community? The last question talked about travel objectives; this is about the broader community.
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Ms Berry for her supplementary. Cost-benefit assessments have determined that 80 per cent of the benefits of active travel are health related. Active travel is therefore recognised as an important component of the government’s healthy weight initiative—towards zero growth, which seeks to stem the increase in the proportion of the community that is overweight or obese. We talked about that yesterday.
The promotion of active travel through the incorporation of bike paths, bus routes and bike-and-ride facilities presents many benefits to Canberrans. Physical inactivity is a major driver of the increase in obesity, as stated by the Moving People 2013 Task Force, which was set up by various health and industry groups. The rate of overweight and obese Australians has increased from 56 per cent in 1995 to 63 per cent as of 2013. This includes three-quarters of Australians aged between 65 and 74.
Including active travel in your daily commute to work or school can have great health benefits. The Heart Foundation recommends that adults include at least 30 minutes of physical activity into their routines each day. That helps to prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes and also reduces the risk of injury and promotes mental wellbeing.
Mr Hanson: Mental wellbeing as a planning minister?
MR GENTLEMAN: It does, yes. The support of active travel through the use of bike-and-ride facilities allows people to incorporate a healthy amount of exercise into their day while being able to also incorporate public transport into their commute. The promotion of active travel through bike-and-ride facilities also provides the benefit of reducing congestion on our roads, as I mentioned in my previous answer. It also reduces pressure on parking facilities in the city and town centres.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Wall.
MR WALL: Minister, when will work on park-and-ride in your suburb, Calwell, be completed, such as the installation of signage and bus shelters?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Mr Wall for his question. I think the park-and-ride facility at Calwell has been a great success. It was very well pushed by the community
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