Review of studies that have quantified the economic benefits of interventions to increase walking and cycling for transport

Summary of main points

• Walking and cycling for transport purposes has the potential to address a wide range of costly health and environmental issues, particularly the health burden of physical inactivity, and the need to address climate change
• There is consistent and growing evidence that increasing walking and cycling levels in the population also achieves substantial economic return over the long term.
• Evidence is emerging that investments in infrastructure that encourages walking and cycling demonstrate greater benefits than interventions that target behaviour change in the population.
• Quantified benefits vary widely depending on the range of direct and indirect outcomes considered and the methods used to value them.
• Outcomes most often considered are savings from reductions in health care costs, absenteeism, air pollution, congestion, and greenhouse gases, as well as gains in fuel savings.
• Direct economic benefits have also been reported to retail and other businesses from investing in walkable communities with high amenity values and proximity to frequently used destinations such as shopping, eating places, schools, and parks. Some harms are possible, particularly from increased rates of cycling injury, however, increased walking and cycling is likely to create a „safety in numbers" effect and offset harms to some extent.
• Evidence from the literature is likely to be conservative as methods for evaluating benefits are complex, heterogeneous, and the field is still developing.
• In view of the recent literature, the range and extent of benefits to be derived from investing in walking and cycling infrastructure are currently significantly underestimated in New Zealand.
• To derive the maximum benefit from such investment, a whole system approach with region-wide integrated policy and planning is needed