Cycling and Health

Making the case… Economic benefits of cycling not fully understood Systematic Under-investment Cycling not viewed as a mainstream mode of transport

The Opportunity: There is growing recognition that cycling contributes to tackling: Obesity Traffic congestion Climate change Improving quality of life Creating wealth through tourism and leisure Rising transport prices

Cycling and Health: Cycling England The value of a cyclist – based on cycling trips that replace car trips Each additional cyclist health cost savings ranges between $200-$500 per year (depending on age) Pollution/congestion: $700 per cyclist savings Value higher where inactive people become active Where cycling replaces car trips – particularly in urban areas: a 50% increase in trips= health care savings of $3 B over ten years Investment in cycling projects ROI=between 3.1 and 4.5:1

Investments in Cycling: England Cycling England: A 50% increase in the number of cycle trips between would result in: NHS costs (adults) $300 M Absence from work: $450M Pollution: $350 M Congestion: $1.2 B

Investments in Cycling: Copenhagen Copenhagen: – Population 1.1 million – 2015 – 50% mode share targeted; 39% now – Strategy: road pricing to increase mode share – 90,000 tons of C02 per year saved – $50 M/year ( ) invested – Cycling is easy and fast (54%) say this – Cycling=transport; exercise is secondary; environment (1%) – Health: Cycling same effect on health as other types of exercise and motion – 4 hours per week or 10 km per day (average daily trip) is adequate= $10 per person per day

Copenhagen Strategy in Copenhagen: improve conditions and incentives to increase cycling through increased investments Copenhagen – increase of 10% extra per year : (health impact) – Health care savings: $12 M – Lost productivity savings: $30 M – 57,000 fewer lost days of absence – 61,000 extra years of life – 46,000 fewer years of prolonged, severe illness

International snapshot: U.S. A variety of federal statutes, legislative remedies, creating opportunities for DOTs and communities: – American Recovery and Investment Act (ARIA) – Variety of measures focused on inter-agency cooperation i.e. “Livable Communities” Initiative – Multi-modal grants – Funds for research – congestion measurement, reporting – Safe Routes to School ($612 M 2005) – building healthy and green habits for life State initiatives: Texas --$250 M investment in Safe Routes to School

International Snapshot: U.S. Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETE- LU 2005) Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) and the Transportation Equity Act for the 21 st Century (TEA-21) SAFETE-LU includes funding for Transportation Enhancement such as the provision of pedestrian and bicycle facilities and pedestrian and bicycle safety and education activities The U.S. has taken up the challenge of Active Transportation

International Snapshot: U.S. Political leadership: I am committed to investing in programs that encourage bikes to coexist with other modes and to safely share our roads and bridges. And there’s strong support in Congress for these goals as well. In the Department of Transportation, bicyclists have a full partner in working toward liveable communities.” (U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood – National Bike Summit 2011)

United States: Federal Investment

Our health in decline: Canada Health Measures Survey: Recommended amount of exercise: Only15% adults; 7% children (Adults – 150 min/week; children 60 min/day) Children: 62% of their waking hours sedentary Ontario: 51.6% population –overweight 50.2% are inactive Physical inactivity=increased burden of chronic disease, disability, premature death – heart disease and stroke Children: McGill study – % children rode/walked to school. Now? 14.5%

Making the case… Environment Canada; “each Canadian makes an average of 2,000 car trips of less than 3 km each year. …For distances up to 5 km, cycling is recognized as the fastest of all modes from door to door.” Statistics Canada; “..in 2005, approximately 86% of Canadians traveled to work by car as drivers or passengers. Of those, 57% of residents lived less than a five-kilometer drive from work.” Regular physical activity reduces health care costs, risks dramatically Archive of Internal Medicine study (2000) – 30,000 subjects; years of age – Cycling to work decreased mortality risk by 40% – Netherlands: 20 minutes/day cycling = 10 B/savings

Solutions? Cycling is a solution…a net benefit – a good use of tax dollars Discussion needs to be re-framed from car vs. bike Measurable benefits of cycling: – Improvements in general health and physical activity – Cutting pollution and CO2 emissions (transportation is 40% of GHGs) – Contribution to easing congestion