The SWITCH project supports cities with health and transport experts to deliver campaigns promoting travel behaviour change.

SWITCH was presented in Istanbul at the 11th Annual Meeting and 6th Conference of HEPA Europe by Dr William Bird, CEO of Intelligent Health, one of the project partners. The conference brought together scientists, researchers, public institutions, NGO and private sector representatives on the theme “Promoting Active Living: The Collaborative Perspective”. Five SWITCH cities each have recruited 2000 individuals who committed to making the switch from the car to active transport. The five, Antwerp, Gdansk, Vienna, Donostia/San Sebastián, & London/Hounslow, have invested in both active travel infrastructure and promoting walking and cycling and they serve as models for 26 follower cities. Key components of the project are the use of health arguments, ICT, and Personalized Travel Planning.

These are delivered to individuals at times when they are most likely to be receptive; these critical life transitions include the birth of a child, moving house or worksite, starting or ending school, retirement, etc. ECF used these also in the  LIFECYCLE project (2008-2011), co-funded by the EU’s DG Health. ECF thanks Dr BIRD for presenting the work of ECF’s project managers Benedicte Swennen & Randy Rzewnicki who were not able to attend the HEPA conference. 

Bird also presented “Beat the Street in Reading: A City-Wide Physical Activity Intervention” which is also a component of the SWITCH project. The HEPA (Health Enhancing Physical Activity) 2015 Conference Abstract Book is downloadable here.