Promoting cycling not only makes for a healthier society, but also saves economic costs in the long term. A new calculation tool helps to substantiate this claim with concrete figures.
The health effects of cycling have long been recognised. Cycling has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system and counteracts diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure or bowel and breast cancer. To prove that cycling also has a long-term positive effect on the economy, the World Health Organisation (WHO) presented the Heat calculation tool at the International Transport Forum.
Heat can calculate how much social costs can be saved by cycling. Horst Hahn-Klöckner, Federal Managing Director of the Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrrad-Club (ADFC), welcomed this tool: "In times when budgets are tight on all sides, it is immensely important to achieve long-term success through cost-effective measures." According to calculations by Heat, the economic gain for an investment of one euro in cycling is three to four euros.
This year, for the first time, the International Transport Forum is focussing on the social aspects of transport policy under the motto "Transport for Society". The bicycle plays a central role at the forum: All experts agree on its importance in the mobility of the future. According to the European Cyclists' Federation, there is plenty of potential for more cycling on Europe's roads. In the EU, 50 per cent of all car journeys are less than five kilometres, which could easily be covered by bicycle.
Further information: www.adfc.de
