This tool facilitates evidence based decision making to estimate the value of reduced mortality that results from regular walking or cycling. This tool is intended for cost benefit analyses of transportation infrastructure projects, and economic valuations of transport interventions for emissions reduction.

To facilitate evidence-based decision-making, the World Health Organisation has developed, in collaboration with experts, an online tool to estimate the value of reduced mortality that results from regular walking or cycling.

The health economic assessment tool (HEAT) for cycling and walking:

• is intended to be part of comprehensive cost–benefit analyses of transport interventions or infrastructure projects;
• complements existing tools for economic valuations of transport interventions, for example on emissions or congestion;
• can also be used to assess the current situation or past investment;
• is based on best available evidence, with parameters that can be adapted to fit specific situations. Default parameters are valid for the European context.

HEAT calculates the answer to the following question: if x people cycle or walk y distance on most days, what is the economic value of mortality rate improvements?

A guidance book and summary address practitioners and experts, focusing on approaches to the economic valuation of positive health effects related to cycling and walking.

Access the webpage here: Health economic assessment tool (HEAT) for cycling and walking