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 [back to top]
- The benefits of increased physical activity from shifting from driving to bicycling (3 to 14 months gained) outweigh the effects of increased inhaled air pollution (0.8 to 40 days lost) and increased traffic accidents (5 to 9 days lost).
de Hartog, J., et al., 2010
- Researchers compared the relationship between bicycling and walking travel and obesity in 14 countries, 50 U.S. states, and 47 U.S. cities, and found statistically significant negative relationships at all levels.
Pucher, J., et al., 2010
- A report estimated that Portland, Oregon's regional trail network saves the city approximately $115 million per year in healthcare costs.
Beil, K., 2011
- FIfty-four percent of New York City voters say that bike lanes are good "because it's greener and healthier for people to ride their bicycles."
Wolfson, H., 2011
Memorandum on Bike Lanes, City of New York, Office of the Mayor, 21 March 2011
- Bike commuters report lower stress and greater feelings of freedom, relaxation, and excitement than car commuters.
Appleton, M., 2011
- For a summary of the health benefits of trails, refer to Active Living Research's Research Brief, "The Power of Trails for Promoting Physical Activity in Communities."
- On average, New York City residents who walk or bike to work get more than an hour of transportation physical activity per day.
New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 2011
NYC Vital Signs Special Report: Health benefits of active transportation in New York City, 10, 3
- A recent study of Barcelona’s bike sharing program, Bicing, found that the health benefits of using the system outweigh the risks by a ratio of 77 to one. The study also estimated that Bicing reduces carbon dioxide emissions by more than 9,000 metric tons every year.
Rojas-Rueda, D., et al., 2011
- The health benefits of Ciclovia events outweigh the costs by a factor of up to 4:1.
Montes, F., et al., 2011
- By 2017, Portland, Oregon residents will have saved $64 million in health care costs thanks to bicycling. By 2040, the city will have invested $138-605 million in bicycling yet saved $388-594 million in health care costs and $143-218 million in fuel costs, a benefit-cost ratio of up to 4 to 1.
Gotschi, T., 2011
- 82% of bicycle commuters believe their health has improved since they started bicycle commuting.
Moritz, W., 1997
- Countries with the highest levels of cycling and walking generally have the lowest obesity rates.
Bassett, Jr., et al., 2008
- 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
- Of the 10 most common causes of death in the US, seven are affected by transportation.
Litman, T., 2003
- A 30+ minute round trip bicycle commute is associated with better mental health in men.
Ohta, M., et al., 2007
- Women who walk or bike 30 minutes a day have a lower risk of breast cancer.
Luoto, R., et al., 2000
- 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
- A study of nearly 2,400 adults found that those who biked to work were fitter, leaner, less likely to be obese, and had better triglyceride levels, blood pressure, and insulin levels than those who didn't active commute to work.
Gordon-Larsen, P., et al., 2009
Active commuting and cardiovascular disease risk, Archives of Internal Medicine, 169, 1216-1223
- Aerobic exercise [like bicycling] can improve self-esteem.
Fox and Corbin, 1999
- Aerobic exercise [like bicycling] can have an antidepressant effect.
McDonald and Hodgdon, 1994
- An adult cyclist typically has a level of fitness equivalent to someone 10 years younger and a life expectancy two years above the average.
Paffenbarger, R., et al., 1986., and Department for Transport, 2007
in "Safety in numbers in England," CTC
- The risk of fatality while cycling is just once every 32 million kilometers (20 million miles), or over 800 times around the world.
CTC
Safety in numbers: Halving the risks of cycling
- Cyclists on average live two years longer than non-cyclists and take 15% fewer days off work through illness.
CTC
Safety in numbers: Halving the risks of cycling
- One study found that cycling improves levels of well-being, self-confidence, and tolerance to stress while reducing tiredness, difficulties with sleep and a range of medical symptoms.
Boyd, H., et al., 1998
in Cavill, N., and Davis, A., 2007, Cycling & Health: What's the evidence, Cycling England
- The health benefits of cycling outweigh the safety risks by a factor of 20 to one.
Hillman, M., 1992
in Cavill, N., and Davis, A., 2007, Cycling & Health: What's the evidence, Cycling England
- People exercise for longer when they are outside compared to at home, work, or a gym.
Dunton, G., 2009
- After bicycle lanes were installed post-Katrina on a New Orleans, Louisiana street, there was a 57% increase in the number of cyclists. The number of female cyclists increased 133%, and the percentage of cyclists riding in the correct direction increased from 73% to 82%.
Parker, K., et al., 2010
- In a study of adults with knee osteoarthritis, 80% of patients who started cycling and walking said the exercise helped ease their condition.
Centre for Ageing Research and Development in Ireland, 2010
Lifestyle changes cut arthritis pain
- 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
- 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
Bicycling for transportation vs. regular exercise [back to top]
- The average American bikes or walks for an average of 20 minutes for exercise and 14 minutes for other purposes every day.
U.S. Department of Transportation, 2010
NHTS Brief: Active Travel, December 2010
- 47% of U.S. workers say that work demands are preventing them from leading a healthier life.
National Business Group on Health, 2008
- 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., 2000
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- In a study of 166 regular cyclists in Portland, Oregon, 60% cycled for at least 150 minutes/week (the federally recommended minimum activity level) and nearly all of the bicycling was for utilitarian purposes, not exercise. A disproportionate share of the bicycling occurred on streets with bicycle lanes, separate paths, or bicycle boulevards.
Dill., J., 2009
How bicycling for transportation helps control weight [back to top]
- Researchers compared the relationship between bicycling and walking travel and obesity in 14 countries, 50 U.S. states, and 47 U.S. cities, and found statistically significant negative relationships at all levels.
Pucher, J., et al., 2010
- If current trends continue, nearly half of U.S. adults will be obese by 2020.
Stewart, S., et al., 2009
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- A one percent decrease in the use of automobiles can decrease obesity by 0.4%.
Samimi, A., et al., 2008
- In California, the fattest counties are also where people drive the most.
Lopez-Zetina, J., et al., 2005
- Each hour per day spent driving corresponds with a 6% increase in the odds of being obese.
Frank, L., et al., 2004
- Bicycle commuting burns an average of 540 calories per hour.
de Geus, B., et al., 2007
- 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
- Three-quarters of American adults will be overweight or obese by 2015.
Wang, Y., and M. Beydoun, 2007
- Two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese.
National Center for Health Statistics
2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
- Excess body weight may be responsible for more than 100,000 new cancer diagnoses each year in the U.S.
American Institute for Cancer Research, 2009
New estimate: excess body fat alone causes over 100,000 cancers in the US each year
Why bicycling is good for kids [back to top]
- Young teens who live in neighborhoods where they can safely bike and walk to school and other destinations are significantly less likely to be obese.
Priedt, R., 2010
"Neighborhood planning could help more kids avoid obesity," HealthDay News, 3 June 2010
- Half of Louisiana schoolchildren are obese or overweight.
Burgess, R., 2010
"Study: 1 in 2 school kids fat," 2theadvocate.com, 23 April 2010
- Girls who walk or bike to school perform better on tests. Longer commutes were associated with higher test scores, regardless of how much exercise students got outside of school.
Martinez-Gomez, D., et al., 2010
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Overweight adolescents who participate in bicycling 3 to 4 days per week are 85% more likely to become normal-weight adults.
Menschik, D., et al., 2008
- 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
- Regular exercise reduces depression and improves self-esteem in overweight children.
Petty, K., et al., 2008
- 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
- In the New York City school system, elementary and middle school students who placed in the top third of a fitness scale had better math and reading scores than students in the bottom third of the fitness scale. Those who were in the top 5% for fitness scored an average of 36 percentage points higher on state reading and math exams than did the least-fit 5%.
New York City Department of Health, 2009
- Nearly two-thirds of children 9-13 do not participate in any organized physical activity outside of school, and 23% don't engage in any free-time physical activity at all.
Duke, J., et al., 2003
- Regular participation in vigorous physical activity dropped from 69% among 9th graders to 55% of 12th graders.
Center for Disease Control, 2003
in "Getting Youth Active: Inactivity among American Youth," Outdoor Industry Foundation
- Less than a third of high schoolers attend daily physical education classes. In 9th grade, 39% of students do; by 12th grade, only 18% do.
Center for Disease Control, 2003
in "Getting Youth Active: Inactivity among American Youth," Outdoor Industry Foundation
- 42% of high schoolers do not participate in any type of organized sports.
Center for Disease Control, 2003
in "Getting Youth Active: Inactivity among American Youth," Outdoor Industry Foundation
- In the U.S., 30% of boys and 40% of girls are at risk for being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Outdoor Foundation
"Getting Youth Active: Inactivity among American Youth"
- 70% of obese 10- to 13-year-olds become obese adults.
Whitaker, R., et al., 1997
- For every hour a child sits during the day, they need three minutes longer to fall asleep at night. Short sleep duration is associated with obesity and lower cognitive performance.
Nixon, G.M., et al, 2009
- Almost 1 in 5 American 4-year-olds is obese.
Anderson, S., and R. Whitaker, 2009
- In a study of youth soccer players in Davis, California, over three-quarters of players and their parents drive to soccer games, with less than 20% biking, even though the average distance to the games was less than two miles. Soccer players who biked to school and whose parents regularly bicycled were significantly more likely to bike to the games.
Tal, G., and S. Handy, 2008
- Children who cycle to school have greater cardiorespiratory fitness that those who are get to school by car, bus, or walking.
Cooper, A. et al., 2006
- The average U.S. child eats 165 calories more than they burn per day.
Wang, Y., et al., 2006
- For every 15-minute increase in daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity a 12-year-old has, they have a 10% reduction in fat mass at age 14.
Riddoch, C., et al., 2009
- The more traffic surrounding a child's home, the more likely they are to be overweight or obese.
Jerrett, M., et al., 2009
- Children who begin biking or walking to school at an early age (grade 1) are more likely to stay a healthy weight during their early school years.
Pabayo, R., et al., 2009
- 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
Bicycling and lungs [back to top]
- 30% to 40% of the population in North American cities is exposed to enough traffic-related pollution to negatively affect health.
Health Effects Institute, 2010
- The benefits of increased physical activity from shifting from driving to bicycling (3 to 14 months gained) outweigh the effects of increased inhaled air pollution (0.8 to 40 days lost) and increased traffic accidents (5 to 9 days lost).
de Hartog, J., et al., 2010
- A study found that separated bike paths have better air quality than traditional bike lanes.
Kendrick, C., et al., 2010 in Maus, J., 2010
- Car spoilers tilted high in the air can increase the exhaust reaching the head height of cyclists and pedestrians by as much as 57 percent compared to car spoilers tilted down.
McNabola, A., 2011
- When car travel restrictions reduced morning traffic by 23% during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, ozone concentrations decreased 28% and acute care visits for asthma decreased 41%.
Friedman, M., et al., 2001
- Despite the fact that cyclists breathe two to three times more air than motorists, motorists breathe about 60% more carbon monoxide and significantly more pollutants than cyclists.
Van Wijnen, V., et al., 1995
- Cyclists are exposed to less pollution than taxi or bus passengers.
Kaur, S., et al., 2006
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Urban cyclists are exposed to less accumulated air pollution than bus commuters.
Hertel, O., et al., 2008
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