🔦 🔍🚲 Sedentary lifestyle, chronic diseases, isolation: walking and cycling are public health levers, not just modes of transport.💡 This note outlines a concrete roadmap to make active mobility a pillar of local and national health policies. #BikeHealth #ActiveMobility
📌 For an ASV coordinator, a direction of ARS or a prevention officer in a community, this document provides a solid argument to place walking and cycling at the heart of local health policies, beyond the sole lens of "transport".For a primary care professional (doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physiotherapist, MSP), it provides guidelines for prescribing and organising physical activity through walking and cycling, in connection with existing sport-health initiatives.For social and medico-social actors (CHRS, social centres, integration, disability), it offers a framework to integrate active mobility into life pathways, taking into account social health inequalities and access barriers.
📜🔗LINK to the source
1. Analytical summary
Context, sedentary lifestyle and mandate issues
The document starts from the observation of a "silent health crisis" of sedentariness in France, responsible for an increasing share of chronic diseases and healthcare expenditures, and insufficiently taken into account by current public policies. It shows that approaches focused on individual accountability and behavioural campaigns quickly reach their limits, particularly in popular, rural or under-equipped areas. Walking and cycling are identified as daily health practices, accessible, effective and still largely under-utilised, even though they produce significant environmental, social and economic co-benefits. In the perspective of the upcoming presidential term, the FUB and its partners call for a national strategy articulating health, mobility, planning and social justice, rather than a stacking of sectoral plans.
Operational contributions for public action and care practices
The position paper proposes a roadmap structured around concrete recommendations: national strategy "health and active mobility", massive securing of walking and cycling trips, integration of cycling and walking into the healthcare system, and national campaign "Move, breathe, pedal". It documents the potential savings for health insurance and society ("every kilometre cycled, one euro saved"), relying on economic evaluations and national cycling/walking plans. The document also provides key advocacy elements for local authorities (investment per inhabitant, articulation with local health plans, child policies, ETP, sport-health), and concrete avenues for cooperation between health, mobility, urban planning and social actors.
2. Key points of the document
Sedentary lifestyle, a structuring public health emergency (p. 8–11)
The report establishes that sedentary lifestyle is today a major determinant of premature mortality and chronic diseases, with a marked social gradient, and that France is lagging behind the physical activity targets recommended by the WHO.
Limits of individual-centred policies (p. 12–13)
It shows that current policies, focused on individual motivation and accountability, are not sufficient to change behaviours when the urban environment, schedules, income, and feelings of insecurity hinder practice.
Walking and cycling as pillars of a modern public health policy (p. 14–18)
The document positions walking and cycling as ‘fundamental treatments’ against sedentary lifestyle, both as physical activities, means of transport, and vectors of social connection, with co-benefits for air quality, climate, and urban cohesion.
Investing in active mobility to save billions (p. 23–26)
Based on studies and international examples, the FUB's quantified note reminds us that every kilometre cycled generates a net economic gain for the community, and that investment in walking/cycling infrastructure and programmes quickly pays off for health and public finances.
Structured recommendations in national health-active mobility strategy (p. 27–32)
The final part presents a foundational recommendation (to create a national strategy for "health and active mobility") and three main operational axes: securing travel, integrating walking and cycling into the healthcare system and prevention, and launching a national prevention campaign focused on "Move, breathe, pedal".
3. Action tracks for local stakeholders
Integrate sedentary behaviour into local health diagnostics (p. 8–11, 25–27)
Use the data and messages from the report to include sedentary behaviour as a priority explicitly identified in local health contracts, PRS, CLSM, territorial mental health projects, systematically crossing health and active mobility in shared diagnostics.
Co-design secure walking/cycling routes with residents (p. 14–18, 30–31)
Organise exploratory walks, mapping workshops or bike rides with residents, associations, community centres and health professionals to identify daily routes, safety black spots and the specific needs of vulnerable groups, then prioritise improvements.
Equip healthcare providers to prescribe walking and cycling (p. 23–26, 31)
Develop, based on the recommendations, simple resources for general practitioners, nurses, midwives, pharmacists and physiotherapists (standard prescriptions, local route sheets, partnerships with Sport-Health Houses) so that walking and cycling become first-line prescriptions in chronic conditions and primary prevention.
Make active mobility a strong focus of social and medico-social projects (p. 12–16, 25–27)
Integrate walking and cycling objectives into establishment and service projects (CHRS, shelters, disability structures, integration), for example through daily support (trips to services, "getting back on the bike" workshops, group outings), by adapting approaches to literacy and material constraints (equipment, childcare).
Carry out a structured local advocacy towards elected officials (p. 27–32)
Rely on the structure in recommendations to engage mayors, intercommunalities, departments and regions: advocate for cycling and walking as health investments (and not expenses), promote a local budget per inhabitant dedicated to active mobility, and systematically link urban planning files to public health issues.
4. Additional references
🔍➕ For more information, see the articles referenced by "Health Practices" on the topic - physical activity ➡️🔗https://pratiquesensante.odoo.com/blog/tag/activites-physiques-24
Ministry of Ecological Transition — "Bike and Walk Plan 2023–2027" (launched in 2023, implemented 2024–2027)
Presents national objectives, funding and levers to develop walking and cycling, with an explicit health component.
Bike & Walk Network / FUB — "For sustainable funding of active modes" (position paper, 2025)
Structuring proposals to secure sustainable funding for active mobility at the national and local levels, methodological complement for advocacy.
ADEME / Bike & Walk Network — 2025 study on the potential of active mobility for decarbonisation and public health
Quantitative analysis of the environmental and health benefits associated with modal shift to walking and cycling, with scenarios and public policy recommendations.
5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is behind this report and for what purpose? (p. 3–5)
The report is led by FUB, in connection with a committee of experts in public health, mobility, economics, and planning, as well as several partner networks. Its aim is to reposition walking and cycling as major determinants of health and to propose a roadmap for the next presidential term for a national strategy on "health and active mobility".
How is sedentariness qualified as a "public health emergency"? (p. 8–11)
The document reminds us that sedentariness significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, cancers, and mental disorders, with considerable human and financial costs for society. It also highlights that this burden is socially distributed, affecting more vulnerable populations, women, and certain areas.
Why are current health promotion policies considered insufficient? (p. 12–13)
Because they too often rely on individual behavioural messages, without transforming living environments (roads, travel times, infrastructure, safety) that condition the real possibility of moving. The report recommends shifting from a logic of "responsibilisation" to a logic of planning and effective rights to active mobility.
What are the main co-benefits of walking and cycling highlighted? (p. 16–18, 23–25)
In addition to the direct health benefits, the report documents benefits for air quality, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, noise, space occupation, friendliness, and the local economy (businesses, services, attractiveness).
How does the document propose to integrate walking and cycling into the healthcare system? (p. 23–26, 31)
It recommends recognising and equipping the prescription of physical activity related to active mobility (cycling/walking prescriptions, sport-health pathways), better training for caregivers, and coordinating care systems with planning and transport policies.
What are the main structural recommendations for the State and local authorities? (p. 27–32)
The foundational recommendation is the creation of a national strategy for "health and active mobility", complemented by three axes: securing travel, integrating walking and cycling into care and prevention, and launching a national prevention campaign. Local authorities are called to implement these guidelines through local plans and dedicated budgets.
Does the document propose concrete tools for local advocacy? (p. 23–32, glossary p. 33)
Yes: key figures on sedentariness, economic arguments ("every km by bike = €1 saved"), shared vocabulary via the glossary, and structuring into recommendations usable in motions, territorial projects, and exchanges with elected officials.
6. Rewriting in Easy-to-Read Language
Easy-to-Read Title
Health moves with walking and cycling.
Easy-to-Read Summary – Context and Issues
In France, many people move very little.
Staying seated for long periods is bad for health.
This increases heart disease and diabetes.
Poor people are often more affected.
Walking and cycling are simple ways to move every day.
The state must help make walking and cycling possible everywhere.
FALC Summary – Operational Contributions
The document proposes a plan for the coming years.
It calls for a national strategy for health and mobility.
It states that roads must be made safe for pedestrians and cyclists.
It wants doctors to be able to prescribe walking and cycling.
It proposes a large campaign "Move, Breathe, Cycle".
It provides arguments for talking with local elected officials.
FALC Key Points
1. Sedentary Lifestyle
Many people sit for long periods each day.
This makes them ill and costs society a lot.
2. Limited Current Policies
Telling people "move more" is not enough.
If the street is dangerous, people do not walk.
3. Walking and Cycling at the Core of Health
Walking and cycling help to stay healthy.
It also helps with air, noise, and climate.
4. Invest to Save
Building cycle paths costs money at first.
But it saves a lot of health money later.
5. Recommendations for the Future
Create a large health and active mobility strategy.
Make the streets safe for walking and cycling.
Help caregivers to talk about walking and cycling with patients.
Launch a clear and accessible national campaign.
7. Cross-sectional analysis — values of health practices
Literacy: The document remains technical and requires mediation, but it offers a glossary and key messages that can be used to adapt materials to the understanding level of the audiences.
Empowerment: It emphasises the creation of supportive environments so that people can choose walking and cycling, but describes few tools to strengthen individual agency.
Participation: The note values co-construction with experts and associative networks, but describes few concrete mechanisms for resident participation (workshops, citizen juries) in the examples.
Community health: It places walking and cycling within a collective and territorial approach to health, linking mobility, environment, and social cohesion.
Ethics: Social health inequalities and access to active mobility are named, but the discussion of cultural or gender biases remains implicit.
Human rights: The approach advocates for equitable access to a health-promoting environment, linking the right to mobility, clean air, and public space.
Intersectorality: The report recommends crossing health, transport, urban planning, environment, education, sport, and social issues within a single strategy.
Partnership: Models of collaboration are outlined (FUB, Cycling & Walking Network, local authorities, health actors), but are little detailed in the form of operational tools.
Combating discrimination: The text mentions access inequalities and calls not to leave certain groups behind, but it addresses gender, age, disability, or racial discrimination only implicitly.
8. Assessment of the reliability of the resource
Scientific relevance:
The report is based on current knowledge in epidemiology, public health, and health economics regarding sedentary behaviour, physical activity, and active mobility, and is consistent with the 2023–2027 cycling and walking plan and the work of ADEME. The references are not all detailed in a systematic bibliography, but the orders of magnitude and messages are in line with WHO standards and recent studies.
Operational relevance:
The resource is very useful for advocacy, preparing territorial projects, mobilising elected officials, and structuring local plans, but less so for the daily implementation of sessions or directly ready-to-use educational tools. It provides a clear strategic framework and strong messages, but requires practical supplements (planning guides, sport-health action sheets, facilitation tools) for direct use in field interventions.