TY - JOUR PY - 2020// TI - Variations in the health benefit valuations of active transport modes by age and ethnicity: a case study from New Zealand JO - Journal of transport and health A1 - Bassett, David A1 - Hosking, Jamie A1 - Ameratunga, Shanthi A1 - Woodward, Alistair SP - e100953 EP - e100953 VL - 19 IS - N2 - Introduction Economic valuation of the health benefits of active transport modes (such as walking and cycling) is an important means of incentivising changes in transport and land-use policy that better support human health. However, existing valuation methods do not adequately examine how these benefits might vary within a population. Using data from New Zealand, we investigate the extent to which active transport health benefit valuations vary by age and ethnicity. Methods We extended a health benefit valuation method used by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) to value the health benefits of walking and cycling, stratified by age and ethnicity. Results Walking was estimated to have a health benefit of $1.00 per kilometre (New Zealand dollars) for those aged 15-64 years but a benefit of $5.79/km for those aged 65-74 years old. For cycling the health benefits were $0.50/km and $2.90/km respectively. Among people aged 15-64 years, the health benefits of walking were $1.75/km for Māori (New Zealand's indigenous people) and $0.88/km for non-Māori. The equivalent values for cycling were $0.87/km and $0.44/km respectively. There was a greater difference in health benefit by age for Māori ($1.75/km vs $15.12/km of walking for the 15-64 and 65-74 age groups respectively) than for non-Māori ($0.88/km vs $5.11/km of walking for the 15-64 and 65-74 age groups respectively). Conclusions The estimated health benefits of active transport are not evenly distributed within the New Zealand population but vary by age and ethnicity. Improvements to the efficiency and equity of active transport investment could potentially be made by taking account of variations in health status within the population.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 2214-1405 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2020.100953 ID - ref1 ER -