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, health

• New 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, health

• Quantifying 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, health

• Valuing 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: VMT

• Saving 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), VMT

• Many 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: health

• Does 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