Cycling has a number of benefits to individuals and the wider community. Firstly, it’s an excellent form of physical activity, with significant health benefits. Secondly, by offering an alternative to motorised transport, it presents an effective method of reducing transport related greenhouse gas emissions. Thirdly, cycling is an economically efficient activity, as it lowers transport costs, through reduced fuel expenditure and individual contributions to congestion. Finally, cycling enhances the livability and social health of communities.
The need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has become an issue of primary concern in the community and amongst all levels of government. In Australia, transport accounts for over 1/3 of household greenhouse gas emissions. Cycling represents a zero emission form of transport and is therefore capable of providing significant environmental benefits. This is especially true for the 30 – 40% of trips in our cities covering less than 2km.
Australia
- Garnaut Climate Change Review
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The website houses a range of reports and reviews of the directions and findings of the Garnaut Climate Change Review, as a basis for community discussion.- Garnaut Climate Change Review - Issues Paper - Forum 5 Transport, Planning and the Built Environment
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- Garnaut Climate Change Review - Issues Paper - Forum 5 Transport, Planning and the Built Environment
- Benefits of cycling
Australian Bicycle Council
A great resource on health, economic, social, environmental and other benefits of cycling.
Visit Site - Green Vehicle Guide and Fuel Consumption Guide Database
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts,
The Fuel Consumption Guide Database provides comparative data on the fuel consumption of many vehicles sold in Australia between 1986 and 2003. The database includes passenger cars and four-wheel drives, and light commercial vehicles up to 2.7 tonnes gross vehicle mass.
Visit Site - Global Warming: Cool It
Australian Greenhouse Office, 2006, Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australian Government, Canberra
A practical guide to lowering household greenhouse gas emissions – including a section on transport. It shows that 34% of household emissions come from transport and offers cycling as one of the ways households can reduce emissions.
Visit Site - TravelSmart Australia
This webpage provides an overview of the environmental and health affects of transport behaviour. Commentary is also offered on the need to provide infrastructure solutions for cyclists, as well as the increasingly car dependent transport patterns of children.
Visit Site - Queensland Transport - Benefits of Cycling.
This site outlines the environmental, economic, transport and social benefits of cycling.
Visit Site - Creating a city that works: Opportunities and solutions for a more sustainable Melbourne
Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability, 2007, Victorian Government, Melbourne.
This position paper from the Victorian Government appointed Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability refocuses the need for people to be at the centre of transport and land use planning. The recommendations contained in this landmark paper, although intended for Melbourne, are broadly relevant to any car dependent city.
View PDF - Cycling into a sustainable future
Environment Victoria
Cycling into a Sustainable Future was conceived to target the barriers that prevent children from cycling at and to school. This kit has been written in order to share some of the learning from the Cycling into a Sustainable Future project delivered by Environment Victoria during 2005.
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New Zealand
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Drivers lead cyclists in exposure to traffic pollution
DAVID WILLIAMS, 18 March 2010, Stuff.CO.NZ
Car drivers breathe in more traffic pollution than cyclists or people using public transport, new research shows.
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International
- Cycling with Style Promotes New Bicycle Schemes in London
Bonnie Alter, 13 July 2010, UK: TreeHugger - Cars & Transportation (bikes)
London's Transport Museum held a competition: asking designers and artists to create posters to push cycling and all its benefits. We know what they are: cleaner environment, healthier people, and fewer cars. But take a look at the many and delightful ways that these winning designs have illustrated the joys of cycling.
Visit Site - Toxic cities mock 'healthy' cycle riding
Jonathan Leake, Environment Editor, 30 May 2010, The Sunday Times
CYCLING to work may seem the healthy option, but a study has shown that people riding in cities inhale tens of millions of toxic nanoparticles with every breath, at least five times more than drivers or pedestrians.
The research involved fitting cyclists with devices that could count the particles, mostly emitted by car exhausts, in the air they were breathing.
Visit Site - The Electric Bicycle World Tour and What The World Looks Like from an E-Bike (video)
Petz Scholtus, 18 March 2010, Spain: TreeHugger - Cars & Transportation (bikes)
Guim Valls Teruel is travelling 5 continents on an electric bicycle to promote the use of cleaner energy and the non-reliance on fossil fuel worldwide. Currently in New Zealand, the Electric Bicycle World Tour has already clogged quite a lot of mileage so we decided to see how Guim's getting on so far. Guim started his tour on the 5th of June 2009 from the Olympic stadium in Beijing and his plan is to arrive in London in 2012.
Visit Site - Riding in New York with Village Voice Columnist Michael Musto (Video)
Michael Graham Richard, 11 March 2010, Canada: TreeHugger - Culture & Celebrity (audio video)
Our friend Clarence at Streetfilms rode around NYC with Village Voice entertainment columnist Michael Musto. They did a video interview about cycling in NYC and using the good old bicycle as primary transportation. Michael has been riding around NYC for 25 years and he's seen things change quite a bit, from a time when nobody rode to now, with lots of new riders and a growing number of bike lanes. It's a great interview, very inspirational. Makes me want to go out and ride my bike! Via StreetFilms. See also: Crunching the Numbers ($$$) on Bike Commuting
Visit Site - One Cyclist Travels Two Continents to Save the Trees
David DeFranza, 12 March 2010, TreeHugger - Cars & Transportation (bikes) via GOOD.is Visit Site
When one Peace Corps volunteer came to understand the flimsy safeguards a "reserve" provided the forest near his post in Paraguay, he was motivated to do something that would provide true protections for the trees. The solution he settled on involved two wheels and a lot of miles.
Visit Site - The 10th National Bike Summit in Washington, DC (Video)
Michael Graham Richard, 15 March 2010, Canada: TreeHugger - Cars & Transportation (bikes) via StreetFilms Visit Site
Elizabeth from StreetFilms went to the 10th National Bike Summit in Washington DC with her camera, and the video above is the result (nice job!). It's great to hear from so many people and organisations working hard to fix the transportation sector, a crucial piece of the puzzle if we are to move to a more sustainable society. It can't be done without some policy changes, so we need effective lobbying if cyclists are to get their fair share of infrastructure and legislative protection (we pay taxes too, y'know). Via StreetFilms. See also: Infographic: "How Cars are Killing Us Around the World"
Visit Site - Future EU Emission Rules to Become Driving Force for e-Bikes
Rob van Ginneken, 23 February 2010, Bike Europe
BRUSSELS, Belgium - The EU expects environmental restrictions on cars and Powered Two-Wheelers (PTW) to be set in such a way that one norm for all vehicles will be applied by the end of this decade. A measure that will greatly incite the development and sale of e-Bikes, e-Scooters and e-Motorcycles.
Visit Site - Bike-Powered Organic Produce Delivery: Harvest Cycle
Sami Grover, 27 July 2009, USA: TreeHugger - Cars & Transportation (bikes)
We TreeHuggers are big fans of local, sustainably grown produce. We're particularly big fans of CSAs and other forms of produce delivery as a great way to consolidate trips and cut down on those last few food miles. (The rooftop hydroponic farm delivering by biodiesel remains a personal favorite!) In fact we are such big fans that we started a list over in the forums for anyone to share their favorite CSA's or organic produce delivery services. Now, thanks to the ever wonderful Splendid Table over at NPR, we've come across a Florida produce supplier that is cutting out carbon from its supply system almost completely - delivering locally grown fruit and veggies by bike.
Visit Site - Top 5 Ways to Save the Planet with Bicycles
Julia Layton, 21 July 2009, How Stuff Works via TreeHugger
On average, Americans commute about 32 miles (51 kilometers) a day roundtrip, and most of that commuting is done in cars [source: ABC]. Some people (like the ones belting out Journey at the wheel) find those car hours relaxing, a temporary refuge from the outside world. Others describe their commute in less favorable terms, citing frustration, nervousness and even rage [source: ABC]
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- 28 Reasons to Bike
University of Central Florida.
Visit Site - Bicycle Commuting Enjoys a Rebirth
Environmental Defense Fun. Sept. 14, 2006.
Visit Site - Cycling and the Environment
Hood, Sarah B. Suite101. Aug. 1, 2007.
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- 28 Reasons to Bike
- Encouraging Bicycling and Walking - The State Legislative Role
Shinkle, D. & Teigen, A. (2008) National Conference of State Legislatures: The Forum for America's Ideas, Washington USA
The report first provides an overview of recent trends in bicycling and walking and the related transportation, economic, public and environmental health benefits. A snapshot of the current state of bicycling and walking in the United States follows. Subsequent chapters examine state legislative activity in three key areas: funding, planning and safety.
Visit Site to purchase the PDF - Velo.Info - Cycling and Environment
This briefing focuses on the environmental problems associated with motorised transport and identifies and discusses cycling’s role as an alternative, environmentally-benign mode of transport.
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View PDF - Active Transportation for America - The Case for Increased Federal Investment in Bicycling and Walking
Gotschi, Dr T. & Mills, K.J.D. (2008) Rails-to -Trails Conservancy, USA
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To learn more about Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and its role in making trails, walking and biking a part of the national transportation solution, visit Visit Site. - Quantifying the benefits of non-motorized transportation for achieving mobility management objectives
Litman, T., 2004, Victoria Transport Policy Institute, Victoria, Canada.
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This paper outlines the numerous benefits associated with active transport modes such as cycling. It discusses the methods available to quantify the social, economic, environmental and transport benefits of cycling. - Win-win transportation solutions: Smart transportation strategies can achieve emission reduction targets and provide other important economic, social and environmental benefits
Litman, T., 2007, Victoria Transport Policy Institute, Victoria, Canada.
This paper introduces a range of market-based policy reforms aimed at increasing transport efficiency, improving health and reducing emissions.
View PDF - The economic significance of cycling: A study to illustrate the costs and benefits of cycling policy
Spreekmeester, R., Wittink, R., Van Den Berg, J., 2000, VNG Uitgeverij, The Hague.
An important, unique contribution, this document assesses the various costs and benefits of cycling. Their wide ranging analysis covers the costs of traffic and infrastructure, economic considerations and the health and environmental benefits of cycling, to name just a few.
View PDF - Dirty from cradle to grave
Whitelegg, J.,
Leading sustainable transport expert, Professor John Whitelegg explains the environmental and health impacts of car production and use, from cradle to grave.
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