New Study Shows More Biking Can Save Lives, Reduce Health Costs and Air
Pollution
WHO: Study authors Dr. Jonathan Patz, MAGGIE GRABOW, SCOTT SPAK and OTHERS
Rep. Brett Hulsey
State and local elected leaders
Environmental and biking advocates
WHAT: A new study of approximately 31.3 million people in urban and
suburban areas of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and
Ohio finds that making 50% of short trips by bicycle instead of car
would save about $3.8 billion/year from avoided mortality and reduced
health care costs for conditions like obesity and heart disease. The
researchers from the University of Wisconsin—Madison estimate that the
combined benefits of improved air quality and physical fitness would
exceed $7 billion/year, saving 1,000 lives annually, and additionally,
less auto dependence in urban areas would improve health in downwind
rural settings.
An added benefit of removing about one-fifth of the traffic or 20% of
vehicle miles travelled (VMT) from the region is reduced emissions of
greenhouse gases that cause global climate change.
The paper, “Air Quality and Exercise-Related Health Benefits from
Reduced Car Travel in the Midwestern United States,” will be published
online in Environmental Health Perspectives on 11/2, and is available
now on an embargoed basis.
WHEN: Noon Wednesday, November 2nd
WHERE: The bike rack on the south side of the Wisconsin State Capitol,
Martin Luther King Street Entrance
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