New Zealand Halves Cycling, Walking Funding Despite Health Benefits
New Zealand's National Land Transport Programme has halved funding for walking and cycling infrastructure. Meanwhile, a new study suggests that shifting towards low-carbon transport could have substantial health insurance benefits, potentially saving more lives than anti-smoking policies.
The research, led by Caroline Shaw and involving experts from the Technical University of Berlin and the University of Stuttgart, highlights the significant health impacts of different transport modes. The current system, dominated by cars, contributes to thousands of premature deaths annually, with emissions linked to diseases like cancer, asthma, and heart disease. Even the government's emissions reduction plans may not fully capture these health insurance benefits.
The study compares two pathways: 'further technology change' and 'further behaviour change'. While both reduce emissions, the behaviour pathway, which encourages more walking and cycling, could save more lives and reduce health system costs. This is primarily due to increased physical activity, benefiting people from all income levels, but particularly those with low incomes who are disproportionately affected by road traffic injuries.
The potential health gains of the behaviour pathway are comparable to those seen from tobacco market interventions. However, the government has halved funding for walking and cycling infrastructure, raising concerns about the commitment to this healthier, more sustainable transport future.
The halving of walking and cycling funding in New Zealand's National Land Transport Programme contrasts with research showing the significant health insurance benefits of shifting towards low-carbon transport. The 'further behaviour change' pathway, which encourages more active travel, could save lives and reduce health system costs. However, the government's commitment to this approach remains uncertain.
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