Brent Toderian
READ: “Policies to help people walk & cycle such as low-traffic neighbourhoods can create public health benefits as much as 100 times greater than the cost of the schemes, a long-term study has concluded.” AND the benefits continue to grow even higher over time.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/mar/08/health-gains-of-low-traffic-schemes-up-to-100-times-greater-than-costs-study-finds
Health gains of low-traffic schemes up to 100 times greater than costs, study finds

Research looked at three London boroughs to value overall health benefits of active travel over 20 years at up to £4,800 per head

The Guardian
Mar 9, 2024 at 3:41pmWeb
Show threadDemianMar 9, 2024
@BrentToderian very much corroborates the Gym of Life effect that @notjustbikes discussed at https://youtu.be/KPUlgSRn6e0?feature=shared
The Gym of Life

YouTube
Show threadNiko SetäläMar 9, 2024
@BrentToderian This wasn't the expected result for those who ordered the study...
"An official study of low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) ordered by Rishi Sunak amid efforts to stop them being built has instead concluded they are generally popular and effective and the report was initially buried, the Guardian has learned." https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/mar/08/low-traffic-neighbourhoods-generally-popular-report-ordered-by-sunak-finds
Rishi Sunak’s report finds low-traffic neighbourhoods work and are popular

Exclusive: Downing Street initially buried study, which Tories had hoped would strengthen arguments against traffic-reducing measures

The Guardian
Show threadClay RosenthalMar 9, 2024

@BrentToderian I think the point made in the article about these effects taking years to manifest is crucial. People won’t sell their car the day after these are installed, but over time they’ll be converted. Like when their car goes in the shop for maintenance and they have to use other transit they’ll start to see the benefits. Realize they’re burning money fixing a car for a worse experience.

But perhaps I’m biased, I moved to a walkable area and my cars transmission broke, so I got rid of it. Figured I’d wait until I felt I needed a car to get a new one. Almost two years later I don’t think I’d ever go back 😅 and damn if I haven’t been walking and biking so much more

Show threadFlowChainSenseiMar 9, 2024
@BrentToderian Math seems suspect?
Show threadChris JohnsonMar 10, 2024
@BrentToderian But remember: _public_ benefits are undesirable unless there are direct greater benefits to individuals who fall into one of the following categories: conservatives, fascists, libertarians, Tories, Republicans, billionaires, investment bankers, etc. So while the ROI may be substantial, we can’t have these nice things without a fight; facts alone rarely result in changes.
Show threadAntonioMar 10, 2024
@BrentToderian Wow!
Show threadscoonchMar 11, 2024
@BrentToderian
Since money is the only thing they care about... Maybe liberals nuts gonna understand at some point that investing in people's health is actually saving money in the end.
Show threadbigblenMar 12, 2024
@BrentToderian sadly the current Minister of Cars in #NZ hasn't got the message.