Backgrounder Transit, Active Transportation, and Public Health

The document outlines the public health benefits of shifting from car-dependency to active transportation (walking and cycling) and public transit. It links these modes of travel to reductions in cardiovascular risk, improved mental health, and lower rates of traffic fatalities. Environmentally, it highlights the role of transit and active travel in reducing traffic-related air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions to meet climate goals. Finally, it discusses how transit-supportive infrastructure reduces the financial burden of transportation for low-income individuals and improves access to essential health services.

• Chronic diseases and obesity impose significant economic burdens in Canada, with cardiovascular disease costing $12.1 billion in 2008 and 18 obesity-related chronic diseases costing $7.1 billion.
• Active transportation and public transit increase physical activity, which reduces the risk of premature death and cardiovascular disease; for instance, walking or cycling to work is linked to an 11% reduction in cardiovascular risk.
• Public transit is significantly safer than car travel, with passenger fatality rates approximately one-twentieth of those for car travelers.
• Mental illness is a leading cause of disability in Canada with an annual economic cost of $51 billion; active transportation and transit-supportive communities can improve mental health by increasing physical activity and social cohesion.
• Traffic-related air pollution causes significant mortality and morbidity in Ontario, with estimates for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) suggesting approximately 700 premature deaths and an economic impact exceeding $4.6 billion.
• The transportation sector is a major contributor to climate change, accounting for 26% of Canada's total national emissions in 2004 and 35% of emissions in Ontario.
• Active transportation and public transit can reduce poverty and social inequality by lowering transportation costs—from 25% of monthly income in car-dependent suburbs to 9% in walkable, transit-efficient areas—and improving access to medical services for low-income residents.

APA

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (n.d.). Backgrounder Transit, Active Transportation, and Public Health. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/CAPE-AT-Active-Travel-Health-BCK-2017.pdf

Chicago

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. Backgrounder Transit, Active Transportation, and Public Health. n.d. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/CAPE-AT-Active-Travel-Health-BCK-2017.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |title=Backgrounder Transit, Active Transportation, and Public Health |url=https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/CAPE-AT-Active-Travel-Health-BCK-2017.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{canadianassociationofphysiciansfortheenvironmentndbackgrounder, author = {{Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}}, title = {{Backgrounder Transit, Active Transportation, and Public Health}}, institution = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, url = {https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/CAPE-AT-Active-Travel-Health-BCK-2017.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }