Achievement

Trainee Maggie Grabow was the lead author (PI Patz, co-PI Holloway were coauthors) on a paper that quantified the environmental, health, and economic benefits of bicycling short trips in the 11 largest cities in the Upper Midwest during the warmest 6 months of the year. Using state-of-the-science modeling of transportation, emissions, air pollution, and health benefits, the authors calculated that if all car trips less than 5 miles during these months were replaced by bike trips, the net health benefit from improved air quality alone would be $4.94 billion per year, saving 608 lives. Bicycling half of these short car trips would save $3.8 billion annually from increased physical activity (due to avoided mortality and reduced health care costs). The analysis also showed improvements in greenhouse gas emissions and overall air quality. The study, which was picked up by local and national press, clearly shows how alternate transportation choices could affect our health and environment.