Health and Environmental Benefits of Walking and Bicycling
Over the years researchers have tried to determine the benefits of walking and bicycling on environmental (e.g., vehicle emissions and fuel use reductions) and health (e.g., physical activity and body-mass-index) measures. The following References list summarizes these research reports and describes what types of measures the authors quantified. The measures include:
- Fuel--fossil fuel use
- Emissions--CO2 (carbon dioxide), CO (carbon monoxide), NOx (nitrogen oxides), and VOC (volatile organic compounds);
- Congestion--roadway congestion at peak travel times;
- VMT--vehicle miles traveled;
- Health--a general category for health measures (e.g., body mass index or increased physical activity).
References
Research with Environmental and Physical Health Measures
Active Transportation for America
Rails to Trails Conservancy, 2008
This report forecasts the fuel, health, economic, and monetary benefits of increased walking and bicycling.
Measures: fuel, emissions (CO2, CO, NOx, VOC), VMT, healthNew Data for a New Era: A Summary of the SMARTRAQ Findings
Lawrence D. Frank et al., 2007
This report links land use, transportation, air quality, and health in the Atlanta region.
Measures: fuel, emissions (CO2, CO, NOx, VOC), VMT, healthQuantifying the Benefits of Nonmotorized Travel
Todd Litman, 2004
Investigated the opportunity for walking and bicycling to address congestion reduction, environmental and social benefits.
Measures: fuel, emissions, congestion, healthValuing the Benefits of Cycling
SQW Limited, 2007
A study from the United Kingdom that estimates health, congestion, emissions, and monetary benefits of bicycling.
Measures: fuel, emissions (CO2), congestion, health
Research Measures that Focus on Environmental Benefits Only
Interim Report to the U.S. Congress on the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program SAFETEA-LU Section 1807
US Department of Transportation, 2008
Calculates the vehicle miles avoided in the four Pilot Program communities.
Measures: VMTSaving Oil and Reducing CO2 Emissions in Transport: Options and Strategies
International Energy Agency, 2001
This international report estimates CO2 savings for various conservation strategies including nonmotorized transportation.
Measures: emissions (CO2)The Environmental Benefits of Bicycling and Walking: FHWA Case Study #15
FHWA-PD-93-015
Federal Highway Administration, 1993. (Out of Print)
Examines emissions displaced based on data in 1991 and projects future emissions savings for the year 2000.
Measures: fuel, emissions (CO2, CO, NOx, VOC)Bicycle Transportation for Energy Conservation
DOT P-80-092
US Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary, 1980 (Out of Print)
This study the potential energy conservation with increased rates of bicycling.
Measures: fuel, emissions (CO, NOx), VMTMany Pathways from Land Use to Health
Lawrence D. Frank et al., 2006
Evaluated walkability and health-related outcomes in King County, Washington.
Measures: emissions (VOC, NOx)
Research Measures that Focus on Physical Health Only
Walkability and Body Mass Index
Ken R. Smith et al., 2008
Correlates walkability indicators with body mass index.
Measures: healthDoes the Built Environment Influence Physical Activity
Transportation Research Board and Institute of Medicine, 2005
A joint study committee of the Transportation Research Board and the Institute of Medicine has recommended research strategies to gain practical guidance on cost-beneficial investments and changes in the built environment that would encourage increased levels of physical activity.
Measures: health