A new report by Victoria Walks, an advocacy organization in Australia, quantifies the benefits of choosing to walk. The report also benefits the multiplier of the choice to invest in pedestrian infrastructure.
"If you walk for 20 minutes to and from work, the state economy benefits $8.48," according to an article by Timna Jacks.
That's the finding of a new report commissioned by Victoria Walks and completed by Arup—so the figures are specific to the state of Victoria in Australia. According to "The Economic Case for Investment in Walking" [pdf], the cost savings "comes from reducing costs to the health system, removing the cost to run a car or public transport and improvement to local traffic and the environment."
The report also quantifies the benefits of investing in pedestrian infrastructure. "For every $1 spent on walking, Victoria would stand to gain $13, according to the report using modelling by engineering firm Arup." Despite those figures, the state has budgeted only $7 billion for pedestrian programs and projects by 2020. That's down from $9 billion in 2017.
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