Is the impact of transport modes on health an individual determinant of transport mode choice?

Abstract

High modal share of the private car has two important health consequences. First, air pollution, particularly fine particulate matter in urban areas, leads to increased mortality and morbidity (cardiovascular or pulmonary diseases, etc.). Second, the increase in sedentary lifestyles is partly due to the lack of physical activity in our mobility behaviour with the widespread use of the private car. This also leads to exacerbated morbidity (cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, cancer and mental illnesses). In this article, we try to evaluate the extent to which the impact of mode choice on public or individual health influences mode choice. in other words, does the fact that taking the car increase the risk of cardiovascular disease for the user, through physical activity, and for his co-citizens, through pollution, have an influence on the choice of alternative modes? We address this question using a Stated Preferences survey, considering car, public transport, walking and cycling modes.