Cost Benefit Analysis - Cars vs Bicycles

http://www.sciencecodex.com/six_times_more_expensive_to_travel_by_c...

It is six times more expensive for society - and for you individually - if you travel by car instead of cycling. This has been shown in a Lund University study of Copenhagen, a city of cyclists. It is the first time a price has been put on car use as compared to cycling.

In the comparative study, Stefan Gössling from Lund University and Andy S. Choi from the University of Queensland have investigated a cost-benefit analysis that the Copenhagen Municipality uses to determine whether new cycling infrastructure should be built. Cost-benefit analysis is a method used to calculate the benefits to society of infrastructure investments.

It considers how much cars cost society and how they compare to bicycles in terms of air pollution, climate change, travel route, noise, road wear, health and congestion in Copenhagen. The study concluded that cars have a greater negative impact on the economy than bicycles:

If the costs to society and the costs to private individuals are added together, the impact of the car is EUR 0.50 per kilometre and the impact of the bicycle is EUR 0.08 per kilometre.

The study by Stefan Gössling and his colleague also shows that if we only look at costs/benefits for society, one kilometre by car costs EUR 0.15, whereas society earns EUR 0.16 on every kilometre cycled.

"The cost-benefit analysis in Copenhagen shows that investments in cycling infrastructure and bike-friendly policies are economically sustainable and give high returns", says Stefan Gössling.

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Permalink Reply by Bob Kastigar on May 13, 2015 at 4:40am

The picture of the crowds of cyclists in Copenhagen shows very few wearing bicycle helmets.  So the price of the helmets needs to be taken into consideration in making this comparison.

Permalink Reply by V W on May 13, 2015 at 3:37pm
I'd like to see a push towards cycling as being ethical and government leading by example. How many of the biggest vehicle fleets are maintained by the least transparent arms of government? What's their carbon footprint? Why isn't that public information?
Permalink Reply by Eric R on May 14, 2015 at 4:22am

The way our Federal Government functions is - let's build a zero-energy facility but put it where everyone has to drive to work - and then we have the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado. Instead of putting it IN Denver where people could easily walk, bike or transit, it was built on the edge of suburbia. Pretty cool building, though.

By 2030, all new Fed buildings have to be zero-energy but there are currently zero related requirements about decreasing auto dependence, which is where most of our energy is wasted. (Edit: not most but pretty close, electricity is the most wasteful.)

Permalink Reply by V W on May 14, 2015 at 10:06am
Indeed. They are so far from a wholistic approach.
Permalink Reply by Alex Z on May 15, 2015 at 8:39am

This is a big issue. In my hometown the FBI headquarters moved out to the far-flung west side, further depleting the downtown area. Call me crazy but I think major government buildings should congregate in the city center. :)

Permalink Reply by Thomas Bruzan on May 15, 2015 at 4:03am

I'm very curious to see how many miles are clocked on all of the Divvy Mercedes trucks.

Permalink Reply by Thomas Bruzan on May 15, 2015 at 8:05am

It would be a good green jobs program to have people hike the bikes using public transportation.

Permalink Reply by Alex Z on May 15, 2015 at 8:41am

Great post--had always wondered how to feel about the rebalancing. Thanks for this.

Permalink Reply by Jared on May 16, 2015 at 2:44pm

I saw a Divvy Car today.  Well it was a regular car with a Divvy sign on it.  Not sure what is was for.  Parked near Clark/Winnemac.

Permalink Reply by V W on May 17, 2015 at 3:54am
Probably some employee's take home car. The vehicle miles should be public information along with other government units and divisions and posted on their website. We shouldnt have to be guessing at this stuff.
Permalink Reply by Joe Guzzardo on May 15, 2015 at 6:01pm

The automobile is probably the single most environmentally destructive thing on this planet, particularly if you factor in the oil industry and all the land paved over for roads. Consider also that we're sending billions of dollars every year to non-democratic regimes that really don't like us very much. 

Having said that, however, I am very impressed with the progress we've made in fracking technology. But I've read elsewhere that the cost of going green is now on a par with fossil fuels. If that's the case, then the green revolution is inevitable. 

Given the nice weather, I got a really good ride in this evening on my commute home from work. As I approached home, I saw a recent model 'vette pull into my garage. I was only marginally envious at best, having been stoked full of endorphins. No car in the world could do that for me and my envy was not so much about the vehicle itself but rather its utility as a chick magnet.

Permalink Reply by David Altenburg on May 16, 2015 at 2:43am

Yesterday evening was so beautiful. When I was stopped at a stoplight, a driver pulled up next to me, and said "Nice bike! I wish I were on mine right now.". When I'm driving, I feel the exact same way. 

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