Health impacts of electric micromobility transitions in Barcelona

Ziele/Ideen

Given the inconclusive evidence base for the health benefit-risk trade-off of modal
shifts from conventional modes of transport to electric micromobilities (EMMs), and also given the established links between transport and health, we conducted a health impact assessment (HIA) to study physical and mental health impacts associated with an uptake of EMMs for transport in Barcelona.

Kurzbeschreibung

Mobility in cities is changing with the appearance of electric micromobilities (EMMs),

i.e. e-bikes, e-scooters, e-mopeds. We conducted a health impact assessment (HIA) of

EMM use on the health of Barcelona adults. Assuming a 5% (S1) and 10% (S2)

increase in EMM use, we modelled changes in physical activity (PA), personal air

pollution exposure and the risk of fatal traffic accidents. We estimated attributable

mortality and morbidity burdens. Health impacts depended on the specific mode shift

studied. For S1 and S2, respectively, shifting from cars and motorcycles to EMMs

translated into 13 (95% CI: 10;16) and 26 (95% CI: 20;32) preventable deaths

annually. Shifting from walking and cycling to EMMs, translated into 17 (95% CI: 20;15) and 35 (95% CI: 41;29) additional deaths annually. Shifting from public transport to e-bikes and e-scooters resulted in 23 (95% CI: 34;12) and 46 (95% CI: 67;24), and 4

(95% CI: 5;3) and 8 (95% CI: 10;5) preventable deaths, respectively.

Resultate

Shifting active modes (i.e. walking and cycling), that have the smallest carbon footprint, to EMMs, was generally estimated to be detrimental for health (except shifting walking to e-biking due to the considerable amount of physical activity assigned to e-biking), and would ncrease the carbon footprint. Shifting public transport trips to e-bikes and e-scooters was estimated to result in health benefits, due to considerable physical activity levels assigned to e-bikes and e-scooters (i.e. 5.8 and 3.5 METs, respectively), the consideration of walking to access e-bike sharing stations and the relatively long duration spent (standing) on e-scooters in order to replace a public transport trip.
The current Barcelona EMM ‚pull‘ policies in place, i.e. the policies that make EMM use attractive in the city (e.g. the shared use, relatively-cheap access, good distribution of vehicles across the city, etc.), seem to attract especially pedestrians and public transport users.

Partner

Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB)

Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)