Veisten et al. Health Economics Review 2011, 1:3 RESEARCH Open Access Cycling and walking for transport: Estimating net health effects from comparison of different transport mode users’ self-reported physical activity Knut Veisten*, Stefan Flügel, Farideh Ramjerdi and Harald Minken Abstract Background: There is comprehensive evidence of the positive health effects of physical activity, and transport authorities can enable this by developing infrastructure for cycling and walking. In particular, cycling to work or to school can be a relatively high intensity activity that by itself might suffice for maximum health gain. In this paper, we present estimates of net health effects that can be assumed for. | Veisten et al. Health Economics Review 2011 1 3 http content 1 1 3 o Health Economics Review a SpringerOpen Journal RESEARCH Open Access Cycling and walking for transport Estimating net health effects from comparison of different transport mode users self-reported physical activity Knut Veisten Stefan Flugel Farideh Ramjerdi and Harald Minken Abstract Background There is comprehensive evidence of the positive health effects of physical activity and transport authorities can enable this by developing infrastructure for cycling and walking. In particular cycling to work or to school can be a relatively high intensity activity that by itself might suffice for maximum health gain. In this paper we present estimates of net health effects that can be assumed for demand responses to infrastructure development. The estimation was based on comparing current cyclists pedestrians against potential cyclists pedestrians applying the international physical activity questionnaire which is a survey-based method for estimating metabolic equivalent task levels from self-reported types of physical activity and their frequency duration and level of intensity moderate or vigorous . By comparing between shares of individuals with medium or high intensity levels within the segments of current cyclists pedestrians and potential cyclists pedestrians we estimate the possible net health effects of potential new users of improved cycling walking infrastructure. For an underpinning of the estimates we also include the respondents assessments of the extent to which cycling walking for transport replaces other physical activity and we carry out a regression of cycling walking activity levels on individual characteristics and cycle walk facility features. Results The estimated share of new regular cyclists obtaining net health gains was ca. 30 while for new regular pedestrians this was only ca. 15 . These estimates are based on the assumption that the new users of .
