Health Statistics

This section contains:

• Health benefits of bicycling
• Bicycling for transportation vs. regular exercise
• How bicycling for transportation helps control weight
• Why bicycling is good for kids
• Bicycling and lungs

Health benefits of bicycling:

• Active commuting that incorporates cycling and walking is associated with an overall 11% reduction in cardiovascular risk.   - Hamer, M., and Y. Chida, 2007, Active commuting and cardiovascular risk: A meta-analytic review, Preventive Medicine, 46, 9-13

• Women who walk or bike 30+ minutes a day have a lower risk of breast cancer.             - Luoto, R., et al., 2000, The effect of physical activity on breast cancer risk: A cohort study of 30,548 women, European Journal of Epidemiology, 16, 973-80

• A 30+ minute round trip bicycle commute is associated with better mental health in men.   - Ohta, M., et al., 2007, Effect of the physical activities in leisure time and commuting to work on mental health, Journal of Occupational Health, 49, 46-52

• Of the 10 most common causes of death in the US, seven are affected by transportation.   - Litman, T., 2003, Integrating public health objectives in transportation decision-making, The Science of Health Promotion, 18, 103-8

• According to the federal government, biking for transportation can count toward the minimum 150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity recommended for physical health.  It is also listed as the safest way to get physical activity.   - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2008, 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans

• Countries with the highest levels of cycling and walking generally have the lowest obesity rates.   - Bassett, Jr., et al., 2008, Walking, cycling, and obesity rates in Europe, North America, and Australia, Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 5, 795-814

• 82% of bicycle commuters believe their health has improved since they started bicycle commuting.   - Moritz, W., 1997, Survey of North American bicycle commuters: Design and aggregate results, Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 1578, 91-101

• 30-60 minutes of daily physical activity such as biking to work is associated with low blood pressure in women and low hypertension in both genders.   - Hu, G., et al., 2002, Commuting, leisure-time physical activity, and cardiovascular risk factors in China, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 34, 234-8

• After a bike and pedestrian lane was installed on a South Carolina bridge, 67% of users indicated that their activity levels had increased since the opening of the lane.  - McCarthy, D., 2009, "Wonder’s Way Bike Pedestrian Pathway on the Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge: A Successful Model for Facilitating Active Living in Lowcountry South Carolina"

Biking for transportation may be as good or better for your health than regular exercise:

• Commuting physical activity, independent of leisure time physical activity, is associated with a healthier level of most of the cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides).   - von Huth Smith, L., et al., 2007, Commuting physical activity is favourably associated with biological risk factors for cardiovascular disease, European Journal of Epidemiology, 22, 771-79

• In a study of more than 30,000 people, those who bicycled to work were 40% less likely to die during follow-up, regardless of how much physical activity they got outside of commuting.   - Andersen, L., et al., 2000, All-cause mortality associated with physical activity during leisure time, work, sports, and cycling to work, Archives of Internal Medicine, 160, 1621-28

• In a study of nearly 75,000 women, those who cycled for transportation were 35% less likely to die during the follow-up period.   - Matthews, C., et al., 2007, Influence of exercise, walking, cycling, and overall nonexercise physical activity on mortality in Chinese women, American Journal of Epidemiology, 165, 1343-50

• Leisure time physical activity alone may not be sufficient enough to prevent obesity; additional energy expenditure through activity like active transport is needed.               - Bauman, A., et al., 2008, Leisure-time physical activity alone may not be a sufficient public health approach to prevent obesity—a focus on China, Obesity Reviews, 9, 119-126

• Lifestyle physical activity [like biking for transportation] is as effective as a structured exercise program in improving physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and blood pressure in previously sedentary healthy adults.   - Dunn, A., et al., 1999, Comparison of lifestyle and structured interventions to increase physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness: a randomized trial, JAMA, 281, 327-34

• Commuter cycling at a relatively low intensity can increase physical performance (external power and oxygen uptake) as much as specific training programs in men and women if repeated at least 3 times a week with a minimal daily distance of 6 km.   - Hendriksen, I., et al., 1999, Effect of commuter cycling on physical performance of male and female employees, Medicine & Science In Sports & Exercise, 32, 504-10
  

• It costs three to four times more to enroll a sedentary adult in a structured exercise program than to teach them how to integrate moderate-intensity physical activity into their life [e.g. bicycling for transportation].   -Sevick, M., et al., Cost-effectiveness of lifestyle and structured exercise interventions in sedentary adults: Results of project ACTIVE, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 19, 1-8

• 47% of U.S. workers say that work demands are preventing them from leading a healthier life.  - National Business Group on Health, 2008, "Employees want to improve their health and want employer help, National Business Group on Health survey finds"

Biking for transportation helps prevent overweight and obesity:

• Two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese.   - National Center for Health Statistics, 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)

• Three-quarters of American adults will be overweight or obese by 2015.   - Wang, Y., and M. Beydoun, 2007, The obesity epidemic in the United States—gender, age, socioeconomic, racial/ethnic, and geographic characteristics: A systematic review and meta-regression analysis, Epidemiologic Reviews, 29, 6-28

• Men and women who bicycle or walk to work are significantly less likely to be overweight and obese.   - Lindstrom, M., 2007, Means of transportation to work and overweight and obesity: A population-based study in southern Sweden, Preventive Medicine, 46, 22-28

• Men who cycle to work are significantly less likely to be overweight and obese (39.8%) than those who drive to work (60.8%).   - Wen, L., and C. Rissel, 2008, Inverse associations between cycling to work, public transport, and overweight and obesity: Findings from a population-based study in Australia, Preventive Medicine, 46, 29-32

• Bicycle commuting burns an average of 540 calories per hour.   -de Geus, B., et al., 2007, Determining the intensity and energy expenditure during commuter cycling, British Journal of Sports Medicine, 41, 8-12
  

• Each hour per day spent driving corresponds with a 6% increase in the odds of being obese.   - Frank, L., et al., 2004, Obesity relationships with community design, physical activity, and time spent in cars, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 27, 87-96

• In California, the fattest counties are also where people drive the most.   - Lopez-Zetina, J., et al., 2005, The link between obesity and the built environment. Evidence from an ecological analysis of obesity and vehicle miles of travel in California, Health & Place, 12, 656-664

• A one percent decrease in the use of automobiles can decrease obesity by 0.4%.         - Samimi, A., et al., 2008, Effects of transportation and built environment on general health and obesity, Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 14, 67-71

• In a study of nearly 9,000 middle-aged men, those who cycled or walked to work were leaner and less likely to gain weight than those who did not cycle or walk to work.   - Wagner, A., et al., 2001, Leisure-time physical activity and regular walking or cycling to work are associated with adiposity and 5 y weight gain in middle-aged men: the PRIME Study, International Journal of Obesity, 25, 940-48

• Less than one third of Americans meet the CDC's requirements for minimal physical activity (30 minutes of moderate physical activity 5+ days/week).   - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1996, Physical Activity and Health: A Report of the Surgeon General

• College students who use bicycles as transport accumulate more minutes of daily physical activity than students who use motorized means and are more likely to achieve public health recommendations of minimal physical activity (30 minutes/day).   - Sisson, S., and C. Tudor-Locke, 2007, Comparison of cyclists' and motorists' utilitarian physical activity at an urban university, Preventive Medicine, 46, 77-79

• A study of over 2,000 workers concluded that physically active commuting to work is effective at improving physical fitness and raising HDL (good) cholesterol, and also that it can be successfully promoted by low cost measures.   - Vuori, I., et al., 1994, Physically active commuting to work--testing its potential for exercise promotion, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 26, 844-50

• It takes more than a billion gallons of fuel to drive around the extra weight Americans have gained since 1960.   - Jacobson, S., and D. King, 2009, Measuring the potential for automobile fuel savings in the US: The impact of obesity, Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 14, 6-13

Bicycling helps kids stay healthy:

• Children who ride a bike two or more times a week are less likely to be overweight.   - Dudas, R., and M. Crocetti, 2008, Association of bicycling and childhood overweight status, Ambulatory Pediatrics, 8, 392-395

• Regular exercise reduces depression and improves self-esteem in overweight children.   - Petty, K., et al., 2008, Exercise effects on depressive symptoms and self-worth in overweight children: A randomized controlled trial, Journal of Pediatric Psychology

• Adolescents who participate in bicycling, in-line skating, or skateboarding more than four times a week are 48% less likely to be overweight as adults.   - Menschik, D., et al., 2008, Adolescent physical activities as predictors of young adult weight, Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 162, 23-28

• Overweight adolescents who participate in bicycling, in-line skating, or skateboarding 3 to 4 days per week are 85% more likely to become normal-weight adults.   - Menschik, D., et al., 2008, Adolescent physical activities as predictors of young adult weight, Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 162, 23-28

• Primary school-aged boys who cycle to school get more overall physical activity than those who are driven to school.   - Cooper, A., et al., 2005, Physical activity levels of children who walk, cycle, or are driven to school, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 29, 179-84

• Adolescents who bike or walk to school watch less TV and are less likely to smoke than their peers who are driven to school.  They also get more overall physical activity.   - Landsberg, B., et al., 2008, Associations between active commuting to school, fat mass, and lifestyle factors in adolescents: the Kiel Obesity Prevention Study (KOPS), European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 62, 739-47

• Youth who commute to school by motorized transport gain an average of 2-3 pounds per year more than those who actively commute to school.   - Tudor-Locke, C., et al., 2003, Objective physical activity of filipino youth stratified for commuting mode to school, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 35, 465-71

• Youth who bike or walk to school have less excess weight and body fat than those who take a bus, car, or motorcycle.   - Silva, K., and A. Lopes, 2008, Excess weight, arterial pressure and physical activity in commuting to school: Correlations, Archives of Brazilian Cardiology, 91, 84-91

• Adolescents who bike or walk to school are 30% more likely to bike or walk to other neighborhood destinations, regardless of age, free-time physical activity, and neighborhood risk.   - Dollman, J., and J. Lewis, 2007, Active transport to school as part of a broader habit of walking and cycling among South Australian youth, Pediatric Exercise Science, 19, 436-43

• One in three U.S. public schools are located in air pollution danger zones, within a quarter-mile of a highway.   - Appatova, A., et al., 2008, in Pedroso, M., 2008, Safe Routes to School: Steps to a Greener Future

• Fourth grade boys who bike or walk to school have lower BMIs and body fat than non-active commuters.  Kids who actively commute to school are also more likely to remain at a healthy weight.   - Rosenberg, D., et al., 2006, Active transportation to school over 2 years in relation to weight status and physical activity, Obesity, 14, 1771-6

• Youths who regularly bike or walk to leisure-time activities have better low back strength, low back extension, hip flexion, and exension than those who ride a school bus.  - Sjolie, A., 2000, Access to pedestrian roads, daily activities, and physical performance of adolescents, Spine, 25, 1965-72

• Adolescents who bike or walk at least 8 km weekly to regular activities are less likely to suffer from lower back pain.   - Sjolie, A., 2003, Active or passive journeys and low back pain in adolescents, European Spine Journal, 12, 581-8

• Fifth-grade students who regularly bike or walk to school accumulate 3% more minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per weekday, or about an additional 24 minutes/day.   - Sirard, J., et al., 2005, Physical activity and active commuting to elementary school, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 37, 2062-9

• Kids who ride a school bus inhale up to a million times more vehicle emissions than the average person outside the bus.  - Marshall, J., and E. Behrentz, 2005, Vehicle self-pollution intake fraction: Children's exposure to school bus emissions, Environmental Science and Technology, 39, 2559-2563

• Active Living Research published this new research brief on active transportation, physical activity, and health among children

• For more research on bicycling and youth health, check out the Safe Routes to School National Partnership's Research site

Cycling is one of the safest modes of transportation for your lungs:

• Urban cyclists are exposed to less accumulated air pollution than bus commuters.        - Hertel, O., et al., 2008, A proper choice of route significantly reduces air pollution exposure—A study on bicycle and bus trips in urban streets, Science of the Total Environment, 389, 58-70

• On the same urban route, car drivers were exposed to more airborne pollution than cyclists, despite the cyclists' higher respiration rates.   - Rank, J., et al., 2001, Differences in cyclists and car drivers exposure to air pollution from traffic in the city of Copenhagen, The Science of the Total Environment, 279, 131-36

• Cycling and walking commuters have significantly lower levels of exposure to harmful pollutants like benzene compared with car commuters and significantly lower levels of pollutant NO₂ than bus commuters.   - Chertok, M., et al., 2004, Comparison of air pollution exposure for five commuting modes in Sydney—car, train, bus, bicycle, and walking, Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 15, 63-67

• Kids who ride a school bus inhale up to a million times more vehicle emissions than the average person outside the bus.  - Marshall, J., and E. Behrentz, 2005, Vehicle self-pollution intake fraction: Children's exposure to school bus emissions, Environmental Science and Technology, 39, 2559-2563

• Cyclists are exposed to less pollution than taxi or bus passengers.   - Kaur, S., et al., 2006, Exposure visualisation of ultrafine particle counts in a transport microenvironment, Atmospheric Environment, 40, 386-398