Year: 2016
Type: article
Abstract: Policies that stimulate active transportation (walking and bicycling) have been related to heath benefits. This study aims to assess the potential health risks and benefits of promoting active transportation for commuting populations (age groups 16-64) in six European cities. We conducted a health impact assessment using two scenarios: increased cycling and increased walking. The primary outcome measure was all-cause mortality related to changes in physical activity level, exposure to fine particulate matter air pollution with a diameter <2.5 μm, as well as traffic fatalities in the cities of Barcelona, Basel, Copenhagen, Paris, Prague, and Warsaw. All scenarios produced health benefits in the six cities. An increase in bicycle trips to 35% of all trips (as in Copenhagen) produced the highest benefits among the different scenarios analysed in Warsaw 113 (76-163) annual deaths avoided, Prague 61 (29-104), Barcelona 37 (24-56), Paris 37 (18-64) and Basel 5 (3-9). An increase in walking trips to 50% of all trips (as in Paris) resulted in 19 (3-42) deaths avoided annually in Warsaw, 11(3-21) in Prague, 6 (4-9) in Basel, 3 (2-6) in Copenhagen and 3 (2-4) in Barcelona. The scenarios would also reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the six cities by 1,139 to 26,423 (metric tonnes per year). Policies to promote active transportation may produce health benefits, but these depend of the existing characteristics of the cities. Increased collaboration between health practitioners, transport specialists and urban planners will help to introduce the health perspective in transport policies and promote active transportation.
Source: PLoS ONE
Institutions: Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, Municipal Institute for Medical Research, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Imperial College London, University of Copenhagen, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, University of Basel, Kolin Institute of Technology, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, University of Cambridge, MRC Epidemiology Unit, Communicating Diet and Activity Research, Systems Research Institute
Language: English
Subfield: Transportation
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,382
Funders: Coca-Cola Foundation, Wellcome Trust, United Kingdom Clinical Research Collaboration, Cancer Research UK, National Institute for Health and Care Research, British Heart Foundation, Centre for Diet and Activity Research, Medical Research Council, Economic and Social Research Council, Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca
Awards: UKCRC Centre of Excellence in Diet and Physical Activity Public Health Research, Modelling population health and behaviour change in the transition to a low carbon society, Characterising patterns and changes in physical activity in older people and their determinants and consequences, Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR)
OpenAlex ID: W2288203422