Moving Urban Trips From Cars to Bicycles: Impact on Health and Emissions

The aim of this research was to estimate the effects on health, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions if short trips (≤7 km) were undertaken by bicycle rather than automobile. Existing data sources were used to model effects, in the urban setting in New Zealand, of varying the proportion of vehicle kilometers traveled by bicycle instead of light motor vehicle. Shifting 5% of vehicle kilometers to cycling would reduce vehicle travel by approximately 223 million km/year, save about 22 million liters of fuel, and reduce transport-related greenhouse emissions by 0.4%. The health effects would include about 116 deaths avoided annually as a result of increased physical activity, 6 fewer deaths due to local air pollution from vehicle emissions, and an additional 5 cyclist fatalities from road crashes. In economic terms, including only fatalities and using the NZ Ministry of Transport Value of a Statistical Life, the health effects of a 5% shift represent net savings of about $200 million/year. It is concluded that the health benefits of moving from cars to bikes heavily outweigh the costs of injury from road crashes. Transport policies that encourage bicycle use will help to reduce air pollution and greenhouse emissions and improve public health.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/13260200
• Authors:
  • Lindsay, Graeme
  • Macmillan, Alexandra
  • Woodward, A
• Publication Date: 2011-2

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 54-60
• Serial:
  • Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
  • Volume: 35
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Public Health Association Australia
  • ISSN: 1326-0200
  • EISSN: 1753-6405
  • Serial URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1753-6405

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Activity choices; Air pollution; Automobile travel; Bicycling; Environmental impacts; Greenhouse gases; Mode choice; Public health; Travel behavior; Urban areas
• Uncontrolled Terms: Short trips
• Geographic Terms: New Zealand
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01342184
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Jun 21 2011 9:28AM