A new study published in the American Journal of Public Health looks at the magnitude, direction, and statistical significance of the relationship between active travel and rates of physical activity, obesity, and diabetes.  The article, which examines aggregate, cross-sectional health and travel data for 14 countries, all 50 US states, and 47 of the 50 largest US cities, finds that at all three geographic levels statistically significant relationships exist between active travel and obesity, physical activity, and diabetes.

The study provides strong evidence of population-level health benefits of active travel, and concludes that “policies on transport, land-use, and urban development should be designed to encourage walking and cycling for daily travel.”