".. children in Year 8 use more calories walking to and from school for a week than in two hours of PE"
That's a good one!
And probably true if you assess the amount of time/effort involved - as opposed to standing around waiting for your turn! Even in team games some people contrive to do as little as possible (and I don't just mean the goalie!)
SO
More evidence that inactivity costs the Government (taxpayers) money.
Another attempt to quantify it and come up with the biggest number possible.
Sensible suggested remedies - 'active travel'.
So what happens next...
For years the Education part of CEC said 'how children get to school is the responsibility of the parents'. Cycle racks on school premises were supplied/installed by City Development.
Currently CEC is going around its schools assessing walls for wobble. I'm not trivialising the tragedy that has caused this to happen, but it illustrates the 'status quo/business as usual' way things work - hope for the best, react to problems. No doubt due to 'human nature' more than any 'political/economic system'.
Recent smog won't result in instant car bans (in spite of EU air pollution rules). The fact that 'Saharan dust' was involved is helpful because it shows that 'we can't control things'.
So, evidence doesn't lead to action because it's too difficult/people (voters) might not like it.
Things CAN happen. It seems that all young schoolchildren in England are to get free school meals because a politician thinks it's a good idea. There is evidence. (There may be practical problems delivering this new policy, but that's a different issue.)
'We' to a greater or lesser extent want 'cycling' to be 'normalised' but the reality is that is a small part in a world where car use is normal and (most) politicians are too scared to challenge that normality.
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