Does Commuting Mode Choice Impact Health?

TY - JOUR

T1 - Does Commuting Mode Choice Impact Health?

AU - Jacob, Nikita

AU - Munford, Luke

AU - Rice, Nigel

AU - Roberts, Jennifer

N1 - © 2020 The Authors.

PY - 2020/11/3

Y1 - 2020/11/3

N2 - Governments around the world are encouraging people to switch away from sedentary modes of travel towards more active modes, including walking and cycling. The aim of these schemes is to improve population health and to reduce emissions. There is considerable evidence on the latter, but relatively little on theformer. This paper investigates the impact of mode choice on physical and mental health. Using data from the UK Household Longitudinal Study, we exploit changes in mode of commute to identify health outcome responses. Individuals who changemodes are matched with those whose mode remains constant. Overall we nd that mode switches a ect both physical and mental health. When switching from car to active travel we see an increase in physical health for women and in mental healthfor both genders. In contrast, both men and women who switch from active travel to car are shown to experience a signi cant reduction in their physical health and health satisfaction, and a decline in their mental health when they change from active to public transport.

AB - Governments around the world are encouraging people to switch away from sedentary modes of travel towards more active modes, including walking and cycling. The aim of these schemes is to improve population health and to reduce emissions. There is considerable evidence on the latter, but relatively little on theformer. This paper investigates the impact of mode choice on physical and mental health. Using data from the UK Household Longitudinal Study, we exploit changes in mode of commute to identify health outcome responses. Individuals who changemodes are matched with those whose mode remains constant. Overall we nd that mode switches a ect both physical and mental health. When switching from car to active travel we see an increase in physical health for women and in mental healthfor both genders. In contrast, both men and women who switch from active travel to car are shown to experience a signi cant reduction in their physical health and health satisfaction, and a decline in their mental health when they change from active to public transport.

U2 - 10.1002/hec.4184

DO - 10.1002/hec.4184

M3 - Article

SN - 1057-9230

JO - Health Economics

JF - Health Economics

ER -