Cycling as a Part of Daily Life: A Review of Health Perspectives

Abstract

Health aspects of day-to-day cycling have gained attention from the health sector aiming to increase levels of physical activity, and from the transport and planning sector, to justify investments in cycling. We review and discuss the main pathways between cycling and health under two perspectives -generalizable epidemiological evidence for health effects and specific impact modeling to quantify health impacts in concrete settings. Substantial benefits from physical activity dominate the public health impacts of cycling. Epidemiological evidence is strong and impact modeling is well advanced. Injuries amount to a smaller impact on the population level, but affect crash victims disproportionately and perceived risks deter potential cyclists. Basic data on crash risks are available, but evidence on determinants of risks is limited and impact models are highly dependent on local factors. Risks from air pollution can be assumed to be small, with limited evidence for cycling-specific mechanisms. Based on a large body of evidence, planners, health professionals, and decision-makers can rest assured that benefits from cycling-related physical activity are worth pursuing. Safety improvements should be part of the efforts to promote cycling, both to minimize negative impacts and to lower barriers to cycling for potential riders.

The Fort Collins Commuter Study: Impact of route type and transport mode on personal exposure to multiple air pollutants

“…41 A population-level shift from driving to cycling will lower pollution emissions and also increase physical activity (see, e.g., Johan de Hartog et al 9 ). The benefit of increased exercise is likely to outweigh the risks because of increased air pollution intake caused by higher minute ventilation (and other risk factors) when cycling, 42 especially in underactive members of the population. The relationship between minute ventilation rate and the harmful dose of pollution is an important uncertainty that when better understood could alter the health cost–benefit balance of cycling vs driving.…”

Cycling as transport

“…see Fishman, Ker, Garrard, & Litman, 2011;Mulley, Tyson, McCue, Rissel, & Munro, 2013;Transport and Main Roads, 2011). Götschi, Garrard, and Giles-Corti (2016) bring together the diverse literature that exists on the health issues associated with cycling. The authors found that population levels of physical activity are falling well short of World Health Organisation recommended levels, and cycling for transport provides sufficient metabolic intensity to protect against sedentary lifestyle disease.…”

Urban Growth, Transport Planning, Air Quality and Health: A Multi-Objective Spatial Analysis Framework for a Linear Monocentric City

“…Cycling might therefore not always bring desired health benefits, depending on the concentrations of pollutants the cyclists encounter and the travel time they spend. Although the impact of air pollution might appear small when compared to the benefits of increased physical activity in previous studies (Götschi et al 2016;Mueller et al 2015), this may not be the case when local differences in air quality due to spatially non-uniform traffic congestion are considered. The health impact of an increase in cycling trips to suburban rail stations will be different from a similar increase in cycling trips to the city centre.…”

“…In particular, numerous studies have looked at the potential health benefits of cycling, as reviewed in Mueller et al (2015) and Oja et al (2011). As part of daily life, cycling can indeed improve public health, with the dominant benefits arising from increased physical activity during travel, in particular by replacing short car trips of 5-7km with bicycle trips (Götschi et al 2016;Mueller et al 2015).…”