Top line: Public funding enabling free bus travel for older persons may confer significant population health benefits through increased incidental physical activity. These potential benefits appear to be equitably distributed across socio-economic groups and this fact may make the intervention attractive in terms of public policy goals to reduce inequalities.

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Top line: Employing multiple strategies is important in promoting walking and cycling. However, a series of misconceptions on what works, need addressing.

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Top line: As societies confront the economic, social and environmental effects of climate change, population growth, traffic congestion and the burden of chronic disease, there is a unique opportunity to view the benefits of active transportation through a multi-sector lens.

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Top line: Collaboration is generally recognised as a logical and welcomed approach to both policy development and delivery. However, there are many barriers to effective collaboration. Being aware of these may help more collaborative ventures to succeed.

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Top line: In tobacco control, doctors did not emphasise the benefits of non-smoking, but the harms of smoking. Similarly, armed with credible global and national data, we should emphasise the harms of inactivity and not merely the benefits of activity.

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Physical inactivity is pandemic, a leading cause of death in the world, and clearly one of the top four pillars of a non-communicable disease strategy. However, the role of physical activity continues to be undervalued despite evidence of its protective effects and the cost burden posed by present levels of physical inactivity globally. There is an urgent need to build global capacity. Although progress has been made in policy and planning, leadership and advocacy, workforce training, and surveillance, much needs to be done to fully address this global issue.

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