Benefits of Cycling Cycling is one of the most environmentally friendly ways to travel and has a range of benefits including: Health Benefits of CyclingCycling is a low impact activity with many positive health benefits. Health professionals suggest that 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity each day is enough to maintain good health. These 30 minutes can be divided into short 10 minute sessions. Hopping on a bike could be your ticket to a healthier life, for example:
Environmental Benefits of CyclingPedal power vs. Petrol power Cycling is not only good for you but good for the environment too! Riding a bike is pollution free and helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Not to get too technical but the fact is that one litre of petrol produces 2.3 kilograms of carbon dioxide (CO2) the main gas responsible for the greenhouse effect; for every three kilometres cycled instead of driven, greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by up one kilogram. In Australia, up to 40 per cent of urban land is used to provide motor vehicle infrastructure, e.g. roads, car parking, auto manufacture and service stations. Cycling conserves roadway and residential space, which equates to less concrete, better land use and increased plant life. Every little bit counts! Economic Benefits of CyclingMotor vehicles are expensive. Firstly you have to purchase the vehicle, then there are the ongoing costs such as fuel, tyres, services and repairs, registration, insurance and licence fees. Contrast this with the purchase and running costs of a bike. It is estimated that running coasts for a bike are 1/50th of the running costs of a car per kilometre travelled. The cost of buying and maintaining a bike is around 1% of the cost of buying and maintaining a car. Cycling 10km each way to work can save an individual $1,700 per year in transport costs (including all running costs and depreciation) Transport (15.5 per cent) is second only to food (18.2 per cent) as the largest item of household expenditure in Australia, so it pays to use more economical forms of transport when you can. Your workplace can benefit from cyclingStudies have shown that workplaces who encourage staff to cycle to work, benefit from increased productivity as a result of improved staff fitness and mental health. Staff who cycle are reported to be more punctual and take less sick days then those who use more conventional forms of transport. There is also a social benefit to cycling to and from work - it gives cyclists an opportunity to bond with their work colleagues and become more social both at work and out of the office.
[1] Australian Department of Health & Ageing, 1999, “An Active way to Better health”, National Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults. [1] Tuxworth. W, et al, Health, fitness, physical activity and morbiditty of middle aged male factory workers, British Journal of Industrial Medicine, Vol 43, pp 733-753, 1986. [1] Beer,J, Bicycle magazine #9, Open Road. [1] Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, 1998. [1] Australian Greenhouse Office, 2001, Global Warming: Cool It. Transport, http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/pubs/gwci/transport.html [1] Ibid. [1] Queensland Transport, 2005, Cycle Instead, http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/cycling [1] City of Greater Dandenong, 2002, City of Greater Dandenong Bicycle Strategy, prepared by Parklinks Pty. Ltd & Urban & Environment Planning Unit, City of Dandenong. [1] Australian Greenhouse Office, 2001, Global Warming: Cool It. Transport, http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/pubs/gwci/transport.html. [1] Queensland Transport and Main Roads, 1999, Cycle South East: Integrated Cycle Strategy for South East Queensland. Brisbane: Queensland Government [1] Austroads, 2000, Roadfacts 2000 [1] Queensland Transport and Main Roads (1999). Cycle South East. Integrated Cycle Strategy for South East Queensland. Brisbane: Queensland Government. |
