Health Economics
Cycling is good for the wallet as well as the waistline.
Economic modelling commissioned by Cycling England has calculated that a 20 per cent increase in cycling by 2015 would save £107 million in reducing premature deaths, £52 million in lowered NHS costs and £87 million through reduced absence from work. For the full report click here.
For a summary of the evidence on cycling and absenteeism click here.
Cycling England’s public health advisor has been involved in recent work with the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe in developing a Health Economic Appraisal Tool (HEAT) for cycling. This tool estimates the economic savings resulting from reduced mortality due to cycling. Users enter the number of people cycling and the distance they cycle, and the tool calculates the economic value of the improvements in their mortality rate.
The tool is designed to be used when planning a piece of new cycle infrastructure; to value the mortality benefits from current levels of cycling; or to provide input into more comprehensive cost-benefit analyses, or prospective health impact assessments
