Estimating total health benefits of switch from private car to public transport: extended summary

Switching travel mode from the private car to public transport involves �collateral health gains� at the population health level, which are much larger than we intuitively believe. However, is there really a free choice between private vehicle and public transport in the cities of New Zealand when many suburbs have no or very limited public transport services and little is done to make these services attractive? In New Zealand cities public transport plays its main role for regular daily commuting. An AA survey of Auckland motorists in 2000 showed majority support for investment in public transport over road investments. This paper argues that there is an untapped market for public transport and that current analysis of the health impacts of private motor vehicle transport ignores the majority of health costs. More comprehensive analysis is required to fully account for these health costs in future transport planning in order to reap the potential health benefits of public transport. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E212706.