Overall health impacts of a potential increase in cycle commuting in Stockholm, Sweden. Issue 5 (July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sommar, Johan Nilsson; Johansson, Christer; Lövenheim, Boel; Schantz, Peter; Markstedt, Anders; Strömgren, Magnus; Stigson, Helena; Forsberg, Bertil
• Is Part Of: Scandinavian journal of public health. Volume 50:Issue 5(2022)
• Page Start: 552
• Page End: 564
• Publication Date: 2022-07
• Subjects: Scenario -- transport -- bicycling -- physical activity -- air pollution -- traffic injuries -- health impact assessment -- DALY; Public health -- Periodicals; Social medicine -- Periodicals; 614
• DOI: 10.1177/14034948211010024
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1403-4948

Abstract

Aims: To estimate the overall health impact of transferring commuting trips from car to bicycle. Methods: In this study registry information on the location of home and work for residents in Stockholm County was used to obtain the shortest travel route on a network of bicycle paths and roads. Current modes of travel to work were based on travel survey data. The relation between duration of cycling and distance cycled was established as a basis for selecting the number of individuals that normally would drive a car to work, but have a distance to work that they could bicycle within 30 minutes. The change in traffic flows was estimated by a transport model (LuTrans) and effects on road traffic injuries and fatalities were estimated by using national hospital injury data. Effects on air pollution concentrations were modelled using dispersion models. Results: Within the scenario, 111, 000 commuters would shift from car to bicycle. On average the increased physical activity reduced the one-year mortality risk by 12% among the additional bicyclists. Including the number of years lost due to morbidity, the total number of disability adjusted life-years gained was 696. The amount of disability adjusted life-years gained in the general population due to reduced air pollution exposure was 471. The number of disability adjusted life-years lost by traffic injuries was 176. Also including air pollution effects among bicyclists, the net benefit was 939 disability adjusted life-years per year. Conclusions: Large health benefits were estimated by transferring commuting by car to bicycle.