The Faculty of Public Health’s Transport Special Interest Group (SIG) works to promote a vision of a Transport system that functions to improve health and reduce health inequalities.
Our objectives are:
- To disseminate knowledge of the relationships between transport and health to health and transport professionals and relevant public bodies
- To promote transport policies which will improve the health of the people and reduce inequalities between groups of people
- To promote actions within the health system that are consistent with such policies
Transport affects health in many ways. Travel is essential to provide access to services, amenities and resources essential to health. Some forms of transport can also provide physical activity and support social interaction. But a car-dominated transport system has adverse effects including pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, injuries, community severance, physical inactivity and creates inequities of gender, disability and transport poverty.
On the basis of current evidence we support a transport system that prioritises active travel modes and provides comprehensive, affordable, accessible and reliable public transport.
The SIG is supported by the Transport and Health Science Group CIO (THSG), an independent registered charity of health and transport professionals and campaigners dedicated to understanding and addressing the links between transport policies and health, and promoting a healthy transport system. It has produced the reference e-book Health on the Move 2, a clear and comprehensive account of what would constitute a healthy transport system, and is now working on Health on the Move 3.
Members of the Transport SIG may participate in THSG activities but must join THSG itself (membership fee £10) to obtain personal benefits such as conference discounts, discounts on the Journal of Transport & Health, and a licence to use Health on the Move 2.
FPH Transport SIG and THSG endorse the Declaration of the 5th International Conference on Transport and Health (Melbourne, Australia, 2019).
Contact
The SIG reports to the Faculty's Climate and Health Committee.
You can contact the chair at: Margaret.douglas3@phs.scot.
Join the Transport SIG
FPH members can join this SIG by logging into their FPH members’ portal account, selecting the ‘Committees/SIGs’ button and choosing the correct SIG. You will then be asked to provide a few details, following which your application will be automatically approved. Further details on FPH membership are available here.
