Benefits of Cycling

Cycling, along with walking, catching public transport and carpooling is an environmentally friendly way to travel.

Some of the benefits of cycling include:

  • Health
  • Environmental
  • Economic &
  • Social

Health Benefits of Cycling

Physical and cycle-logical 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. 

Cycling is a low impact activity with many positive health benefits. In fact, regular cyclists typically enjoy a level of fitness equivalent to someone 10 years younger.  

Cycling can contribute to the prevention of a number of physical and psychological illnesses such as high blood pressure,
Coronary heart disease, obesity and depression.

On a bicycle you can have your cake and eat it too. A daily 30-minute cycle will burn 8 calories a minute, the equivalent of 11kg of fat in a year.  

If you are worried about traffic fumes, cyclists and pedestrians actually absorb lower levels of pollutants from traffic fumes than car drivers.  

Environmental Benefits of Cycling

Pedal 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.

One litre of petrol produces 2.3kg of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) the main gas responsible for the greenhouse effect, but for each kilometre cycled instead of driven, greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by up to one third of a kilogram. 

Cycling 10km each way to work saves 1.3 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year.

Coastal Bike Path Photograph

Up to 40 per cent of urban areas in Australia are taken up by providing infrastructure for motor vehicles including, roads, car parking, auto manufacture and service stations.  Cycling conserves roadway and residential space, which means less concrete and more plant life.

Economic Benefits of Cycling
Cycle and Save $$$$

Owning and running a motor vehicle for private purposes is expensive. The running costs include fuel, tyres, services and repairs, registration, insurance and licence fees.

The running costs of a bike are about 1c/km as opposed to over 50c/km for a  car. This equates to a saving of approximately $1M for every 1,000 people who ride 5km to work for 40 weeks over a 12 month period. 

Cycling 10km each way to work can save an individual  $1,700 per year in transport costs (including all running costs and depreciation)

The cost of buying and maintaining a bike is around 1% of the cost of buying and maintaining a car.

Transport (15.5 per cent) is second only to food (18.2 per cent) as the largest item of household expenditure in Australia.

Cycling Benefits the workplace

Fit and healthy staff

Some studies have shown that workplaces that 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.

 

[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.