5.2 Adjusting gears

The City of Hamilton has decided to implement a new initiative Adjusting Gears which will increase cycling infrastructure in Hamilton. As part of the plan they have decide to develop 100 km of new cycling infrastructure in the next 3 years (2019-2021).

The city has asked you to evaluate the health impact of this initiative.

As part of the analysis you want to determine how the 100km of new cycling infrastructure will impact the health of the Hamilton area, and how many deaths will be prevented.

5.2.1 Part A: Determine the how much a Hamiltonian will increase their physical activity by using these new cycling tracks

Assumption #1: After having done your research, you assume that with the new tracks the average person in Hamilton will cycle an additional 10 minutes/day (duration).

  1. Convert the increased duration of cycling into daily energy expenditure (MET-hours):

\(\text{MET-hours} = \text{Duration}*\text{MET value for cycling}\)

  • The MET value for cycling in Canada is 4.0

5.2.2 Part B: Determine the impact on life expectancy

Use the Project Big Life Planning Tool for the following steps:

  1. Load your data file: data.sample.csv to the Project Big Life Planning Tool.

  2. Select initial calculation: Summary Measure – Deaths (5-years)

  3. Add Filter: GEODPMF - 35937

  4. Click: Scenarios, and select Intervention

  5. Click Physical Activity then Select “Average daily leisure time energy expenditure in METs”

Assumption #2: Although the scenario for physical activity is for leisure energy expenditure, we assume 1) individuals that are active in their leisure time also use active transportation, and 2) cycling as a form of active transportation is minor part of their energy expenditure. Therefore we will adjust the average daily leisure time energy expenditure in METs.

  1. Select Absolute

  2. Type in the absolute change calculated in Part 1, into the text box.

  3. Name your calculation: Adjusting gears - Deaths in Hamilton

  4. Click Calculate