On the buses: a mixed-method evaluation of the impact of free bus travel for young people on the public health
Green J, Steinbach R, Jones A, Edwards P, Kelly C, Nellthorp J, Goodman A, Roberts H, Petticrew M, Wilkinson P
Record ID 32015000034
English
Authors' objectives:
To evaluate the impact of free bus travel for young people in London on the public health. Specifically, to provide empirical evidence for the impact of this 'natural experiment' on health outcomes and behaviours (e.g. injuries, active travel) for young people; explore the effects on the determinants of health; identify the effects on older citizens of increased access to bus travel for young people and to identify whether or not the intervention represented value for money.
Authors' recommendations:
The free bus travel scheme for young people appears to have encouraged their greater use of bus transport for short trips without significant impact on their overall active travel. There was qualitative evidence for benefits on social determinants of health, such as normalisation of bus travel, greater social inclusion and opportunities for independent travel. In the context of a good bus service, universal free bus travel for young people appears to be a cost-effective contributor to social inclusion and, potentially, to increasing sustainable transport in the long term. Further research is needed on the effects of both active and other travel modes on the determinants of health; the factors that influence maintenance of travel mode change; travel as 'social practice'; the impact of driving license changes on injury rates for young adults and the value of a statistical life for young people.
Details
Project Status:
Completed
Year Published:
2014
URL for published report:
http://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/phr/phr02010/#/abstract
English language abstract:
An English language summary is available
Publication Type:
Not Assigned
Country:
England, United Kingdom
MeSH Terms
- Humans
- London
- Travel
- Health Status
- Transportation
- Public Health
- Young Adult
- Adolescent
Contact
Organisation Name:
NIHR Public Health Research programme
Contact Address:
NIHR Journals Library, National Institute for Health and Care Research, Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre, Alpha House, University of Southampton Science Park, Southampton SO16 7NS, UK
Contact Name:
journals.library@nihr.ac.uk
Contact Email:
journals.library@nihr.ac.uk
Copyright:
Queen's Printer and Controller of HMSO
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.