Use a bike for short trips
Some benefits include:
- Physical Health: Cycling is a great form of exercise that can improve cardiovascular health, build strength, and help maintain a healthy weight. According to the World Health Organization, physical inactivity is a leading risk factor for noncommunicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Cycling just 20 miles a week can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by half.
- Mental Health: Cycling can also have a positive impact on mental health, reducing stress and anxiety and improving mood. According to a UK survey, 82% of people who cycle say it has a positive impact on their mental health.
- Environmental Benefits: Cycling is a low-impact mode of transportation that doesn't produce emissions, making it an environmentally friendly option. According to the UK Department for Transport, cycling emits 21 grams of CO2 per passenger mile, compared to 150 grams for a car.
- Economic Benefits: Cycling can save money on transportation costs, including fuel, parking, and vehicle maintenance. According to the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the health benefits of cycling outweigh the costs by a factor of 20 to 1.
- Safety: While there are risks associated with cycling, such as accidents and injuries, research suggests that cycling is generally a safe mode of transportation. According to the UK's Department for Transport, the number of cycling fatalities has decreased by 42% in the past 20 years, despite an increase in cycling trips.
- Accessibility: Cycling can be an accessible mode of transportation for people of all ages and abilities, and can be an important part of creating more equitable and sustainable cities. Over half of all cycling trips are made by people over the age of 35.
Overall, cycling is a beneficial mode of transportation that can improve physical and mental health, reduce environmental impact, save money, and promote safety and accessibility.
Physical Health:
- World Health Organization. (2018). Physical Activity. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity
- Department of Health and Human Services. (2018). Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition. Retrieved from https://health.gov/sites/default/files/2019-09/Physical_Activity_Guidelines_2nd_edition.pdf
- British Medical Association. (2010). Cycling: Towards Health and Safety. Retrieved from https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120505090249/http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/rsrr/theme3/cyclingtowardshealthandsafet5773
References
Mental Health:
- Mind. (2019). Ecotherapy. Retrieved from https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/drugs-and-treatments/ecotherapy/
- Cycling UK. (2019). Cycling and Mental Health. Retrieved from https://www.cyclinguk.org/article/cycling-guide/cycling-and-mental-health
Environmental Benefits:
- UK Department for Transport. (2011). Carbon Impacts of Transport. Retrieved from https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/66468/carb-imps-transport.pdf
- European Cyclists' Federation. (2011). The European Cycling Lexicon. Retrieved from https://ecf.com/files/lexicon_web.pdf
Economic Benefits:
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2012). Cycling: Local Measures to Promote Cycling as a Healthy Form of Transport. Retrieved from https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ph41
Safety:
- UK Department for Transport. (2019). Reported Road Casualties in Great Britain: 2018 Annual Report. Retrieved from https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/830363/rrcgb2018-01.pdf
- Cycling UK. (2021). Cycling Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.cyclinguk.org/resources/cycling-uk-cycling-statistics
Accessibility:
- National Institute for Transportation and Communities. (2012). Equity and Bicycling: Transportation Planning for All. Retrieved from https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9zz0x05t#main