Cycling and Health The Austrian Masterplan on Cycling Promoting Cycling for Health, Environment and Quality of Life
Content Physical Inactivity as a result of changing travel behaviour Promoting Cycling in Austria Cycling and Health Conclusions
Development of mobility behaviour and some consequences Share of car travel is rising Walking as a means of transport is diminishing Cycling as a means of transport was decreasing until the 1980-ies Diseases lack of physical activity
Motorized Mobility and the consequences The solution (?)
High Potentials for Cycling What to do?
High Potentials for cycling!! 10% of car rides are shorter than 1 km! 35% of car rides are shorter than 3 km! 50% of car rides are shorter than 5 km! when it snows 25% less of motorized traffic! But how to activate the potentials?
Raising Public Awareness by Warnings?
Promoting Cycling is more than building cycling paths Promoting Cycling Important elements Infrastructure Service Information Motivation Communication Pedelcs E-Mobility
Mobility Means of Transport Developement in selected Cities Rising Share of Cycling! Source: Cities of Salzburg 2004, Wien 2008 Quelle: Verkehr in Zahlen 2007
Attracitve Main connections
Cycling Infrastructure everywhere
Pedelcs A new impulse for cycling?
Cycling Mayor
The Masterplan on Cycling The Austrian Strategy to Promote Cycling
Austrian Masterplan on Cycling Main goals Environmental goals Reducing greenhouse gases (climate protection) Reducing air pollution (particulates, NOx) Reducing traffic noise Increasing quality of life Positive effects for health Doubling of the modal share of cycling from 5% to 10% by 2015 7 Activity fields, 17 measures
Austrian Masterplan on Cycling The Strategy Attractive and safe cycling infrastructure Bycicle-friendly and safe traffic organization Optimization of intermodal networks with public transport Infrastructure and Organization Mobility management for cycling Awareness raising and traffic education Motivation Bycicle friendly famework conditions - politically, legally, financially and economically Intinsified cooperation of authorities on all levels Coordination
Annual kilometres cycled in European countries
National Coordinator Nationwide cycling co-ordinator established at the Ministry of Environment in Division Transport National Task Force of Ministries, Federal States and the bigger cities to enhance implementation of measurements on federal, regional and local level Internet platform and benchmarking www.radfahren.klimaaktiv.at
klima:aktiv mobil Program for Mobility Management The program offers cost free advisory service, for communities, tourism, companies and schools federal funds for implementation membership in the klima:aktiv family
Klima:aktiv Results after four years 130 Agreements of objectives, 75.000 tons CO 2 -Emissions saved (per year)
Positive Results also in Small Towns
Assessment Tool for Health Effects of Cycling
THE PEP HEAT for Cycling Health Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT) for Cycling WHO/UNECE Science-based calculation tool Based on analysis of 44 studies Risk of all-cause mortality 28 % lower among regular cyclists (age group 20-60 years) Risk reduction of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, stroke, colon cancer and breast cancer, Type II diabetes
Applying THE PEP HEAT for Cycling Excel Tool to assess the economic effect of cycling Based on reduced all-cause mortality If x people cycle y distance on most days, what is the value of the improvements in their overall mortality rate? HEAT tool for assessment of a city/region (cycling share) assessment of a cycle path (cycling infrastructure) cost-benefit-analysis HEAT tool for transport planner traffic engineers health economists policy maker
Applying THE PEP HEAT for Cycling Three simple steps Step 1: enter your data Number of cycle trips per day traffic count estimation for a new infrastructure Mean trip length traffic census default value (2.0 km)
Applying THE PEP HEAT for Cycling Three simple steps Step 2: check the parameters mean number of days cycled per year proportion of round trips proportion of new cyclists mortality data working age population value of statistical life discount rate check timeframes for build benefits
Applying THE PEP HEAT for Cycling Three simple steps Step 3: read economic savings Present value of mean annual benefit (Euro per years) saved lifes per year HEAT for Cycling available www.euro.who.int/transport (english version) www.radfahren.klimaaktiv.at (german version)
Assessing the Masterplan Main Results Doubling the share of cycling in everyday s mobility Estimated annual health effects: 824 saved lives 811 Mill. Euro avoided health costs
Conclusions
Promoting cycling is sucessfully when 1. Promoting cycling is an effective measure to raise physical activity 2. The best way is to promote cycling as a means of transport / every-day-activity 3. Win-win-win-situation for health, environment and economy 4. Every city and every community can do
Thank you for your kind attention Have a good trip!