The Business Case for Active Transportation

1 The Business case for Active Transportation The Economic Benefits of Walking and Cycling Richard Campbell, Margaret Wittgens Better Environmentally Sound Transportation March 2004. For information please contact: Go for Green Unit 16 5480 Canotek Road Gloucester, Ontario K1J 9H6 Canada Toll Free: 1-888-822-2848. Phone: 613-748-1800. Fax: 613-748-0357. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Table of Contents _____ 1. List of Tables _____ 3. Executive Summary _____ 4. 1. Introduction _____ 5. 2. Current State _____ 6. Walking _____ 6. Cycling_____ 6. Trip Distance and Time _____ 6. 3. Potential _____ 8.

2 Climate _____ 8. Active Transportation Use in Various Cities _____ 8. Active Transportation Use by Country _____ 9. Barriers _____ 10. Demand_____ 10. Increases Following Infrastructure Improvements _____ 11. 4. Economic Benefits_____ 12. Transportation Benefits _____ 12. Congestion Reduction_____ 12. Roadway Cost Savings _____ 13. Road Safety Savings _____ 15. User Savings _____ 16. Parking Cost Reduction _____ 17. Environmental Benefits _____ 18. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions _____ 18. Air Pollution Reduction _____ 19. Noise Reduction _____ 21. Water Quality _____ 22.

3 Land Use_____ 22. Social Benefits _____ 23. Increased Mobility _____ 23. Increased Sense of Community _____ 23. Barrier Effect Reduction_____ 23. Improved Liveability _____ 23. Regional Economic Impacts _____ 23. Industry _____ 24. Bicycle Sales_____ 24. Workplace Benefits _____ 25. Health Benefits _____ 26. Air Quality _____ 26. Physical Activity_____ 26. 1. Tourism _____ 28. Walking and Hiking Tourism _____ 29. Cycle tourism _____ 29. Retail Sales Improvements _____ 31. Property Values_____ 32. 5. Significant Gaps in Research _____ 33. Canada-specific data _____ 33. Tracking of non-commuting trips_____ 33.

4 Level of resources needed to attract a certain level of Active Transportation usage 33. Tourism in Canada_____ 33. Urban Tourism _____ 33. Rentals _____ 33. Sales Walking Gear _____ 33. Other forms of Active Transportation _____ 33. Quantification of social benefits _____ 34. Pedestrian Improvements in Canada _____ 34. 6. Benefits of Federal Investment In Active Transportation _____ 35. Transport Canada _____ 35. Economic _____ 35. Social _____ 36. Environmental_____ 36. Environment Canada _____ 37. GHG Emissions Reduction Benefits_____ 37. Air Pollution Reduction Benefits _____ 37.

5 Water Pollution Reduction Benefits _____ 38. Other Environmental Benefits _____ 38. Infrastructure Canada _____ 38. Prosperity of Our Cities _____ 39. Competitiveness of Our Economy _____ 40. The Well-being of Our Citizens _____ 40. Environmental_____ 41. Health Canada _____ 41. Improved Air Quality _____ 41. Increased Physical Activity_____ 42. Road Safety Benefits _____ 42. 7. Summary of Economic Benefits _____ 43. Summary of Benefits at Current Mode Shares _____ 43. Summary of Benefits at Target Mode Share _____ 44. 8. Conclusion _____ 45. 2. LIST OF TABLES. Table 1: Distances Cycled One Way as a Percentage of Total Trips in Vancouver.

6 6. Table 2: Active Commuting Time and Distance .. 7. Table 3: Active Transportation Average 7. Table 4: Average Time Spent Travelling .. 7. Table 5: Commuting Mode Shares in Canadian Census Metropolitan 8. Table 6: Mode Share in Selected Cities World Wide .. 9. Table 7: Mode Share in Selected 9. Table 8: Benefits of Congestion Reduction .. 13. Table 9: Benefits of Congestion Reduction per Year .. 13. Table 10: Benefits of Roadway Cost 14. Table 11: Benefits of Roadway Cost Savings per 15. Table 12: Benefits of Road Safety Savings .. 15. Table 13: Benefits of Road Safety Savings per 16.

7 Table 14: User 16. Table 15: User Savings per Year in Canada .. 17. Table 16: Benefits of Reduction of Parking 17. Table 17: Benefits of Reduction of Parking Costs per 18. Table 18: Benefit of GHG Reductions at $10 per Tonne .. 19. Table 19: Benefit of GHG Reductions at $50 per Tonne .. 19. Table 20: Benefit of GHG Reductions Per Year in Canada .. 19. Table 21: Benefits of Reduction in Air Pollution .. 20. Table 22: Benefits of Reduction in Air Pollution per Year in Canada .. 21. Table 23: Benefits of Reduction in 21. Table 24: Benefits of Reduction in Noise per Year in Canada.

8 21. Table 25: Benefits of Reduction in Water 22. Table 26: Benefits of Reduction in Water Pollution per Year .. 22. Table 27: Regional Economic Impacts of $1 Million Expenditure .. 24. Table 28: Increased Regional Economic Impacts a Year per 100,000 households .. 24. Table 29: Workplace Benefits of Increased Physical Activity per 1% Mode 26. Table 30: Workplace Benefits of Increased Physical Activity per Year in 26. Table 31: Health Benefits of Increased Physical Activity .. 28. Table 32: Health Benefits of Increased Physical Activity per Year in Canada .. 28. Table 33: Yearly Return on Investment of Selected 30.

9 Table 34: Bicycle Tourism Benefits .. 30. Table 35: Effects on Trade of 18 Pedestrianisation Schemes .. 31. Table 36: User Savings per Year .. 35. Table 37: External Transportation Savings per Year in 36. Table 38: Social Benefits per Year in Canada .. 36. Table 39: Environmental Benefits per Year in Canada .. 36. Table 40: GHG Emissions Reduction Benefits per Year in 37. Table 41: Air Pollution Reduction Benefits per Year in 37. Table 42: Water Pollution Reduction Benefits per Year in Canada .. 38. Table 43: Yearly Return on Investment of Selected Trails in 39. Table 44: Increased Regional Economic Impacts a Year per 100,000 households.

10 40. Table 45: Economic Competitiveness Benefits .. 40. Table 46: Well-being Benefits per Year .. 40. Table 47: Environmental Benefits per Year .. 41. Table 48: Air Pollution Reduction Benefits per 42. Table 49: Health Benefits of Physical Activity pre 42. Table 50: Road Safety Benefits per Year .. 42. Table 51: Economic Benefits of Active Transportation at 2001 Mode 43. Table 52: Economic Benefits of Active Transportation at Victoria's Mode Share .. 44. 3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY. Active Transportation provides many societal and personal benefits. Most of these benefits also have a positive economic impact.