The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2010 published a set of recommendations for improving health through transportation policy.
This report began by highlighting the opportunity to improve health through active transportation by reducing the burden of chronic disease, reducing and preventing injury and death from motor vehicle accidents, improving environmental health and stimulating economic development and ensuring access for all.
Recommendations included specific suggestions for how to reduce injury and promote active transportation to include increasing Safe Routes to Schools programs. Improving air quality, expanding public transportation and encouraging healthy community design. These recommendations are needed due to the rationale that US transportation policy and infrastructure is biased towards motor vehicle travel and provides limited support for other travel options, which may better support public health and are the only options available to many Americans.
The 11-page full report has a two page summary of recommendations which may be useful when the health benefits of active transportation are the priority considered.
