Assessing the economic benefits of active transport policy pathways: Opportunities from a local perspective
Gravett, Natalie LU
and Mundaca, L.
LU
(2021)
In Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives
11.
- Abstract
- Combined with concerns about climate change, air pollution and human health, the COVID-19 pandemic has renewed the use of and policy interest in active transport (AT) modes, namely cycling and walking. However, we note a high degree of uncertainty and lack of assessments addressing the economic benefits of AT policies; particularly when they are used as a mix of policies at the local level. This study aims to address this knowledge gap. We use the city of Oxford as a case study and apply the WHO Health Economic Assessment Tool and different baselines to assess four policy packages promoting a mode shift to AT for the 2030–2050 period. In total, 312 policy scenarios were produced and analysed. Results show that a policy mix that maximises... (More)
- Combined with concerns about climate change, air pollution and human health, the COVID-19 pandemic has renewed the use of and policy interest in active transport (AT) modes, namely cycling and walking. However, we note a high degree of uncertainty and lack of assessments addressing the economic benefits of AT policies; particularly when they are used as a mix of policies at the local level. This study aims to address this knowledge gap. We use the city of Oxford as a case study and apply the WHO Health Economic Assessment Tool and different baselines to assess four policy packages promoting a mode shift to AT for the 2030–2050 period. In total, 312 policy scenarios were produced and analysed. Results show that a policy mix that maximises economic benefits entails bike-sharing, cycle parking, training and education, low traffic neighbourhoods, e-bike grants, a workplace parking levy and increased use of a ‘cycle-to-work’ Scheme. Considering the health impacts from increased physical activity and avoided CO2 emissions, benefits are estimated in the range of: 62–256 prevented premature deaths; 18–50 million tonnes of avoided CO2e emissions; resulting in a total gross benefit of €3.45–11.28 billion. These impacts remain high and robust when key input parameters are tested via a sensitivity analysis. We conclude that investing in AT policy measures represents a multi-faceted low-carbon opportunity that should not be missed by policymakers. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/2267bf49-28d7-4295-a323-dc24c735c86a
- author
- Gravett, Natalie
LU
and Mundaca, L.
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2021-09
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Active transport, Transport policy, Health economic assessment, Policy evaluation
- in
- Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives
- volume
- 11
- article number
- 100456
- pages
- 17 pages
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85122685488
- ISSN
- 2590-1982
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.trip.2021.100456
- project
- MSc Thesis project - Economic assessment of active mobility policy mixes
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 2267bf49-28d7-4295-a323-dc24c735c86a
- date added to LUP
- 2021-11-08 13:30:04
- date last changed
- 2025-09-17 12:13:06
@article{2267bf49-28d7-4295-a323-dc24c735c86a,
abstract = {{Combined with concerns about climate change, air pollution and human health, the COVID-19 pandemic has renewed the use of and policy interest in active transport (AT) modes, namely cycling and walking. However, we note a high degree of uncertainty and lack of assessments addressing the economic benefits of AT policies; particularly when they are used as a mix of policies at the local level. This study aims to address this knowledge gap. We use the city of Oxford as a case study and apply the WHO Health Economic Assessment Tool and different baselines to assess four policy packages promoting a mode shift to AT for the 2030–2050 period. In total, 312 policy scenarios were produced and analysed. Results show that a policy mix that maximises economic benefits entails bike-sharing, cycle parking, training and education, low traffic neighbourhoods, e-bike grants, a workplace parking levy and increased use of a ‘cycle-to-work’ Scheme. Considering the health impacts from increased physical activity and avoided CO2 emissions, benefits are estimated in the range of: 62–256 prevented premature deaths; 18–50 million tonnes of avoided CO2e emissions; resulting in a total gross benefit of €3.45–11.28 billion. These impacts remain high and robust when key input parameters are tested via a sensitivity analysis. We conclude that investing in AT policy measures represents a multi-faceted low-carbon opportunity that should not be missed by policymakers.}},
author = {{Gravett, Natalie and Mundaca, L.}},
issn = {{2590-1982}},
keywords = {{Active transport; Transport policy; Health economic assessment; Policy evaluation}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives}},
title = {{Assessing the economic benefits of active transport policy pathways: Opportunities from a local perspective}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2021.100456}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.trip.2021.100456}},
volume = {{11}},
year = {{2021}},
}