Belgium: Brussels uses HEAT to calculate benefits of increased cycling in the city

The regional mobility plan for Brussels aims to achieve a modal share for cycling of 20% by 2020 from a baseline of 3% in 2012. To this end, a project team conducted a study using WHO/Europe’s health economic assessment tool (HEAT) to monetize mortality reduction benefits from cycling alongside other elements such as accidents, morbidity, congestion and environmental impacts.

The results of the study showed that, compared to the very low levels of cycling in 1999, the modal share for cycling in 2012 has already led to about €100 million of indirect benefits, most of which were due to health effects. Reaching the 20% goal would bring around €500 million of indirect benefits.