Transport Poverty: A Public Health Issue, One Year On

Transport plays a vital role in our health and wellbeing. It connects us to the building blocks of health in our lives such as education, employment, friends and family, affordable and nutritious food, and leisure activities. Yet, when transport options are unreliable, unaffordable, unavailable, inaccessible, or unsafe, it can create barriers to leading a healthy life. This challenge is known as transport poverty and is discussed in this blog by Theresa Glasgow, Senior Health Improvement Officer in our Healthy Environments Team.

Transport Poverty is one area that is being highlighted during Challenge Poverty Week as the key theme for today. It has serious health and social implications, limiting people's ability to meet daily needs and enjoy a good quality of life.

Public Health Scotland is a key member of the Public Health and Sustainable Transport Partnership - a multiagency group bringing together national and local government, health boards, third sector organisations and academics. The group helps support the development of transport policy and practice that promotes health and equity alongside sustainability and resilient economic growth.

This year, Public Health Scotland has been building on the momentum from the 2023 Challenge Poverty Week and the publication of Transport Poverty a public health issue. The feedback we received from stakeholders has helped to shape efforts to apply the recommendations set out in the briefing. The Public Health and Sustainable Transport Partnership Group is prioritising work to understand the causes of transport poverty, how it impacts on health and health inequalities and ultimately what can be done to address transport poverty.

Support action across sectors

The briefing highlights the need for other sectors including, spatial planning, housing, NHS and bodies working to address the climate emergency to support transport and take action to help reduce transport poverty.

The Public Health and Sustainable Transport Learning Network has been hosting lunchtime learning sessions focusing on one core dimension of transport poverty at a time. The dimensions are available, reliable, affordable, accessible and safe. Sessions involve presentations by people from different sectors, followed by discussions where attendees can ask questions and share their own experiences.

Our first themed session on safe explored how ‘travel conditions must be both safe and healthy’ for everyone. The second session, on accessibility, focused on ensuring ‘transport options meet everybody’s physical, sensory, mobility, cognitive and mental health needs’.

What we have learned so far

Having a transport system which is available, reliable, affordable, accessible, or safe is central to tackling transport poverty. These issues are complex and affect different populations in various ways.
• Cross sector collaboration is essential. Real change requires input from all corners of society.
• Sustainability remains a critical factor, as public health and environmental sustainability go hand in hand.

What’s Next?

We will continue to broaden the scope of learning sessions and plan to cover all transport poverty dimensions. Each dimension will allow participants to share their own experiences and explore potential solutions.

We are keen to expand the Public Health and Sustainable Transport Learning Network, to share ideas and opportunities, new policies, relevant work, ask questions and connections.

The insights gained from our online learning sessions and network discussions are being fed directly into the Public Health and Sustainable Transport Partnership Group, who continue to work collaboratively to influence the development and delivery of national and local policies for sustainable transport, health and equity.

Continuing the Fight Against Transport Poverty

An online conference on the 28th November 2024 will offer a chance to learn, network, and collaborate on improving health, taking climate action, and reducing inequalities showing transport is important for health. Sign up HERE.

Join us

Whether it’s through attending our learning sessions, contributing to our online network, or participating in the upcoming Public Health and Sustainable Transport Conference, there are many ways to get involved.

For more details on how you can participate or contribute, please visit our Transport and Health page.