8 activate your travel

Think of the number of feet that come through your practice front doors. Now imagine what would happen if more and more of those feet were arriving in shoes, on bikes, and in buses, not cars. Imagine the positive impact on patient health; on air quality; on congestion; on the car parking spaces for those who need it. Imagine. Why don't we use our very buildings to encourage and enable staff and patients to get active, get healthier and get climate positive?

Get the right kit

Asking people to do something different will always work better if it actually feels possible. There are lots of ways of getting hold of a little bit of money to get some bike racks, bike signs and storage. Fowey Practice in SE Cornwall is one of many of our practices who have created a wee space for sitting and bikes and plants - an important piece of the jigsaw!

Carry out the right surveys

There are some great templates for surveys you can use already - don't re-invent any type of wheel if you don't have to!

Communicate! The writing - and the routes - are on the wall ...

Nothing will change if we don't make a big deal about this. So make it utterly obvious how easy it will be to make that change. We've been working with a local community artist to create huge posters and displays on all the cycling and walking and bus routes to and from the practice - and the wider area - all under the banner of A Beautiful Day Out!

Connect it to having a great time outside!

There are loads of groups to help with walking and cycling - your social prescriber will be a font of all knowledge! Join the dots between social and clinical prescription - blur the boundaries and help people connect their health, and the planet's health, with how they move around.

E-bike for patient visits

Cornwall now has multiple practices who have one or more ebike for patient visits. They save money, reduce carbon and also provide a way to keep busy staff healthy and able to breathe some fresh air...

Proper job - a bike shed!

Practices across the county are getting rack, sheds and lockers in place as part of the active travel revolution. If you want people to change a habit, you have it make it easy...!

Beef up your knowledge

We have regular sessions on active travel, bike infrastructure and air quality and health issues: check out our Cornwall & SW Greener Practice Online sessions!