Public Health Interventions : Transport: OP35 The Health Impacts of Free Bus Travel for Young People in London

Abstract

Interventions in transport systems have potentially far-reaching impacts on public health, but can be challenging to evaluate. In 2005, young people in London gained access to free bus travel; an intervention that has a number of potential risks and benefits to health. As transport access is linked to well-being, we might expect the policy to benefit the health of young people by reducing transport exclusion. However, health effects might also include: young people doing less walking, thus reducing levels of physical activity, but also reducing exposure to pedestrian injury risk; or being more exposed to assault as they travel further.