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.
HEALTHThe health benefits of cycling have been shown to be a primary reason why many people choose to cycle. A significant proportion of the population do not participate in the necessary levels of physical activity to protect against sedentary lifestyle diseases such as obesity and diabetes. Cycling has been shown to significantly reduce the chance of developing these and other types of disease. Integrating cycling into everyday life, by using the bike as a form of transport has been shown to be a very sustainable method of regular physical activity.
Australia:
- Bauman, A. Rissel, C. Garrard, J. Ker, I. Speidel, R. and Fishman, E. (2008) Cycling: Getting Australia Moving: Barriers, facilitators and interventions to get more Australians physically active through cycling, Cycling Promotion Fund, Melbourne
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Full Report (3.1 Mb) and View PDF Executive Summary (1.7 Mb)
In August 2007, the Cycling Promotion Fund was commissioned by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing to develop a report on bicycle participation by Australian adults.
The Cycling Promotion Fund was specifically asked to investigate the contribution cycling can make to the health of adult Australians, what barriers exist to increasing participation and what can be done to overcome these hurdles.
The Cycling Promotion Fund engaged four notable academics/practitioners from the fields of health, transport and economics to address these questions. - Try the Bicycle Victoria - "How many kilojoules will I burn? That's how many Tim Tams?!" Test Visit Site
. - Australian Bicycle Council, website, Benefits of cycling,
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A great resource on health, economic, social, environmental and other benefits of cycling. - Cycling Promotion Fund/Bicycle Federation of Australia, 2007, Health benefits of cycling, Cycling Promotion Fund/Bicycle Federation of Australia.
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This Fact Sheet outlines the numerous health benefits, both to the individual and wider community from cycling. - Rissel, C., Garrard, J., 2006, Cycling for active transport and recreation in Australia: Status review and future directions, World Transport Policy and Practice, Vol. 13, p.49–63
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This paper reviews the position of the bicycle in Australia, as a form of transport and recreation. The paper identifies the various influences on people’s decision to ride and highlights gender differences in participation and requirements. It is a helpful tool for planners to better understand how to encourage greater cycling participation in Australia. - Robinson, D.L., 2005, Safety in numbers in Australia: more walkers and bicyclists, safer walking and bicycling, Heath Promotion Journal of Australia, Vol. 16, Issue 1, p.47-51.
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This study finds that as the number of cyclists increase, rates of injury reduce. - TravelSmart Australia, website, About TravelSmart
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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. - Cycling Promotion Fund, Cycling>Moving Australia forward, 2007 Cycling Promotion Fund
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A tool to promote the multiple benefits of cycling for individuals, communities, governments and the environment.
Podcasts
- ABC Radio National - Breakfast (4 June 2008) - "Health Benefits of Cycling", Professor Chris Rissell, Co-author, Cycling: Getting Australia Moving, Mark Bannerman presentor and Madeline Genner Producer
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When the Labor government came to power last November, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd promised to make the fight against obesity a national health priority. Current figures suggest that around three million Australians are obese, and more than 7 million Australians are overweight. Now a new report suggests that cycling could be part of the solution. The report, which is released today, has found the federal government already saves more than $220 million dollars in health costs per year from cycling, and it's a figure which could rise dramatically if more Australians got on their bikes.
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ABC Radio National - Life Matters (9 June 2008) - "Bicycles and Health", guest Associate Professor Chris Rissel; Director, Health Promotion Unit, Sydney South West Area Health Service, presenter; Richard Aedy, producer; Jackie May and researcher/producer; Lindy Raine & Jackie May
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Traffic congestion is extending the time it takes to commute to work, but would you consider riding a bike?Cycling is good for your health and for the health system. A recent report says it saves the health budget over $200 million a year. But safety fears are a turn-off, especially following reported instances of road rage involving cycling groups.
Still, those risks may be exaggerated and the benefits under-rated, according to Associate Professor Chris Rissel, from the Central Sydney Area Health Service.
New South Wales:
- Sydney South West Area Health Service has conducted numerous studies and analyses looking at cycling behaviour. Some of these can be found below:
- Bowles, H.R., Rissel, C., Bauman, A., 2006, Mass community cycling events: who participates and is their behaviour influenced by participation?, The International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity, Vol. 2, Issue 39.
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This research paper investigates the type of people participating in mass cycling events and the subsequent effect on cycling behaviour. - ABC, Radio National: Street Stories podcast (15 June 2008) - "Bike Heaven", researcher/producer Nicole Steinke
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There are many cities that could aspire to the title of 'bike heaven', cities where cycle paths abound and where governments and car users alike regard bicycles as a solution to traffic problems rather than a cause of them. Sydney isn't one of them.
Visit Amsterdam or Copenhagen... even Adelaide and Canberra have kilometres of cycle paths in their city centres, while Brisbane is planning many more. But it's still a distant dream in huge, sprawling, car-mad Sydney, where it's said one-third of all land lies under roads and car parks. It takes a lot of nerve to cycle in Sydney but, for those who do, it becomes a passion they want to share.
Queensland:
- Queensland Transport website, Benefits
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This site outlines the environmental, economic, transport and social benefits of cycling.
Victoria:
- Department of Human Services, 2004, Planning for healthy communities, Victorian Government, Melbourne.
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This comprehensive document outlines the most effective health promotion strategies for preventing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Cycling features throughout the document for its ability to reduce the level of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes in the community. - TravelSmart (VIC), website, Cycling and walking benefits
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Provides evidence on the benefits of walking and cycling, focused on workplace outcomes, such as absenteeism.
Western Australia:
- Greig, R., 2005, Cycling promotion in Western Australia, Premier’s Physical Activity Taskforce, Presentation given at Planning for Healthy Communities Conference, Brisbane, October.
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This presentation gauges the view from cyclists and non-cyclists regarding the factors that encourage and discourage cycling amongst the public.
International:
- Air Quality Sciences, 2006, Indoor Air Quality Hazards of New Cars, Air Quality Sciences Inc, United States.
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This paper outlines the harmful chemical exposure from the interior of new cars.
- Pedestrian and Bicycling Information Centre, United States
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Disseminates information and technical assistance on pedestrian and bicycle safety, solutions and resources.
- Andersen, L.B., et al., 2000, All-cause mortality associated with physical activity during leisure time, work, sports, and cycling to work, Archives of Internal Medicine, 160(11): p. 1621-1628.
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This highly regarded Danish study assessed the health status of 30,000 people over a 14 year period to measure the health benefits of cycling. The researchers found that, with all other factors being equal, simply cycling to work lowered the risk of death by 40%. - Dora, C., Phillips, M., 2000, Transport, heath and the environment, World Health Organisation, Regional Publications, European Series No. 89, Copenhagen.
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A landmark publication on the inter-relationship between transport, health and the environment. This paper offers a comprehensive outline of the importance of reducing car use and increasing the proportion of trips conducted by active modes of transport. - Jacobsen, P.L., 2003, Safety in numbers: more walkers and bicyclists, safer walking and bicycling, Injury Prevention, Vol. 9, pp. 205-209.
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This paper found that as the numbers of pedestrians and cyclists increase, the level of road traffic injury reduces. It concludes by saying that policies that increase the level of walking and cycling improve their level of safety. - Litman, T., 2004, Quantifying the benefits of non-motorized transportation for achieving mobility management objectives, 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. - Litman, T., 2007, Win-win transportation solutions: Smart transportation strategies can achieve emission reduction targets and provide other important economic, social and environmental benefits, Victoria Transport Policy Institute, Victoria, Canada.
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This paper introduces a range of market-based policy reforms aimed at increasing transport efficiency, improving health and reducing emissions. - Pucher, J., 2007, Cycling is for everyone: The key to public and political support, Rutgers University, New Jersey.
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A presentation by one of the world’s leading academics on the relationship between transport and health, with a particular focus on cycling. This presentation provides a comprehensive set of data and imagery outlining the importance of increasing rates of cycling and what needs to be done to make it happen. - Pucher, J., Dijkstra, L., 2003, Promoting safe walking and cycling to improve public health: Lessons from the Netherlands and Germany, American Journal of Public Health, Vol. 93, No. 9.
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This research paper assesses the public health consequences of unsafe and unattractive walking and cycling amenity. It does this through an examination of conditions in US cities and compares them to the Netherlands and Germany. This paper is instructive to Australian and New Zealand planners despite its US and European focus. - Spreekmeester, R., Wittink, R., Van Den Berg, J., 2000, The economic significance of cycling: A study to illustrate the costs and benefits of cycling policy, VNG Uitgeverij, The Hague.
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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. - Danish Roads Directorate, 2000, Collection of Cycle Concepts, Government of Denmark, Copenhagen.
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The Collection of Cycle Concepts is a comprehensive Danish publication on cycling. It offers a wide ranging, yet detailed analysis and discussion on promotion, urban planning, facility design, signage and parking. Although some of it is specific to Denmark, much of the content is internationally relevant. - UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is an independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance on the promotion of good health and the prevention and treatment of ill health.
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This guidance offers the first national, evidence-based recommendations on how to improve the physical environment to encourage physical activity. - World Health Organisation - Health Economic Assessment Tool for Cycling
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Rutter, H. et al, Health Economic Assessment Tool for Cycling, User Guide.
ENVIRONMENTThe 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 Website
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An Interim Report has been released to provide an overview of the early directions and findings of the Review, as a basis for community discussion. A Draft Report will be released by 30 June 2008 and a Final Report by 30 September 2008. - Australian Bicycle Council, website, Benefits of cycling,
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A great resource on health, economic, social, environmental and other benefits of cycling. - Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, has a Green Vehicle Guide and Fuel Consumption Guide Database.
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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. - Australian Greenhouse Office, 2006, Global Warming: Cool It, Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australian Government, Canberra.
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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. - TravelSmart Australia, website, About TravelSmart.
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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. - Queensland Transport, website, Benefits of Cycling.
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This site outlines the environmental, economic, transport and social benefits of cycling. - Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability, 2007, Creating a city that works: Opportunities and solutions for a more sustainable Melbourne, Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability, Victorian Government, Melbourne.
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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. - Environment Victoria, Cycling into a sustainable future
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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.
International:
- Litman, T., 2004, Quantifying the benefits of non-motorized transportation for achieving mobility management objectives, 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. - Litman, T., 2007, Win-win transportation solutions: Smart transportation strategies can achieve emission reduction targets and provide other important economic, social and environmental benefits, Victoria Transport Policy Institute, Victoria, Canada.
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This paper introduces a range of market-based policy reforms aimed at increasing transport efficiency, improving health and reducing emissions. - Spreekmeester, R., Wittink, R., Van Den Berg, J., 2000, The economic significance of cycling: A study to illustrate the costs and benefits of cycling policy, VNG Uitgeverij, The Hague.
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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. - Whitelegg, J., undated PDF file, Dirty from cradle to grave.
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Leading sustainable transport expert, Professor John Whitelegg explains the environmental and health impacts of car production and use, from cradle to grave.
ECONOMICThe economic benefits of cycling have gained increased recognition in recent years. Spiralling fuel costs and urban congestion has refocused attention towards less energy and space intensive forms of transport. Cycling, with no oil requirements, offers an effective way to lower the pain at the pump. The benefits extend beyond the individual and flow to the wider community, as each additional dollar not spent on fuel can be injected into more productive sectors of the economy. Traffic congestion also impacts negatively on the economic performance of our urban areas. Taking around 1/10 the road space of a car, bicycles are an effective tool to unclog our congested streets.
Australia:
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A new publication released today by the Cycling Promotion Fund documents the rising cost of motoring and the economic benefits of cycling. Produced by the Cycling Promotion Fund, Economic Benefits of Cycling for Australia brings together the costs and benefits from key areas, including transport, health and environmental sectors.
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Here is the PDF document View PDF for Economic Benefits of Cycling for Australia (1.7 Mb). -
ABC, Radio National: The National Interest podcast (6 June 2008) - "On ya bike!", guests Cr Jane Prentice; Chair Brisbane City Council's Public and Active Transport Committee and Elliot Fishman; Director Institute for Sensible Transport, presenter Peter Mares and producer James Panichi
Visit SiteWorried about high petrol prices? Weekly fuel bill burning a hole in your pocket? Well, perhaps it's time to consider pedal-power. Of course, cycling isn't an option for everyone, but a number of councils in Australia think the time is right to throw some infrastructure at potential cyclists, to see if they'll take the bait. Take Brisbane City Council: it has some interesting ideas and says it's ready to put $100 million into bicycle facilities over four years. Of course, there's much more to it than that: no matter how many bike-paths, no matter what the health benefits, no matter how high petrol prices, some people either don't feel safe on two wheels or consider it downright daggy. So, what can - or should - Australian governments do to encourage cycling?
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RACV calculates vehicle operating costs for a number of popular new vehicles.
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Find out how much it costs to own and operate your car. The calculations include the cost of financing the vehicle, depreciation, scheduled services, registration, insurance, fuel, tyres, etc. The calculations are provided as a guide to the cost of owning and operating a vehicle over a five year, 75,000 km (15,000 km per year) period. -
Australian Bicycle Council, website, Benefits of cycling,
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A great resource on health economic, social, environmental and other benefits of cycling. - Tranter, P., May, M., 2005, Using the concept of Effective Speed as a stimulus for travel behaviour change and policy development, University of New South Wales for the Australian Greenhouse Office, Australian Government.
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Effective speed incorporates the time required to earn the money to cover all the costs associated with car ownership and use into vehicle speed. This calculation results in some surprising effective speeds for different modes of transport. Bicycles emerge as one of the fastest forms of transport. - Queensland Transport, 2007, Benefits of Cycling.
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This site outlines the environmental, economic, transport and social benefits of cycling. - Department of Human Services, 2004, Planning for healthy communities, Victorian Government, Melbourne.
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This document outlines the most effective health promotion strategies for preventing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. It assesses the economic costs of both these diseases. Cycling features throughout the document as an effective response to lowering the costs of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes for the community. - TravelSmart (VIC), website, Cycling and walking benefits.
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Provides evidence on the benefits of walking and cycling, focused on workplace outcomes, such as absenteeism. - Austroads Guide - AGPE08/06 : Guide to Project Evaluation - Part 8: Examples this guide can be purchased here
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Part 8 of the Guide to Project Evaluation (the Guide) presents worked examples demonstrating appropriate use of project evaluation techniques applied to a selection of infrastructure upgrading projects commonly faced by practitioners. Some of these examples are updated and expanded from the Austroads Benefit Cost Analysis Manual (1996), and are intended to demonstrate the benefit-cost analysis (BCA) methodology and techniques described in Part 2. Each of the nine worked examples (flood mitigation, sealing and realignment, bridge maintenance, ferry upgrade, blackspot evaluation, timing of project, bus priority, town bypass and road widening) is linked to an executable Excel spreadsheet showing all relevant BCA calculations.
International:
- Litman, T., 2004, Quantifying the benefits of non-motorized transportation for achieving mobility management objectives, 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. - Litman, T., 2007, Win-win transportation solutions: Smart transportation strategies can achieve emission reduction targets and provide other important economic, social and environmental benefits, Victoria Transport Policy Institute, Victoria, Canada.
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This paper introduces a range of market-based policy reforms aimed at increasing transport efficiency, improving health and reducing emissions. - Spreekmeester, R., Wittink, R., Van Den Berg, J., 2000, The economic significance of cycling: A study to illustrate the costs and benefits of cycling policy, VNG Uitgeverij, The Hague.
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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. - Sustrans, 2006, Economic appraisal of local walking and cycling routes, Sustrans, Bristol, UK.
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A UK based assessment of the economic benefits of active transport modes such as cycling. Using the UK Government’s method of evaluating the economic benefits of transport, walking and cycling are demonstrated as having a 20:1 cost benefit ratio. - Sustrans, 2006, Methodology used in the economic appraisal of local walking and cycling routes, Sustrans, Bristol, UK.
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Explains the methodology used in the economic appraisal of local walking and cycling routes, Sustrans, Bristol, UK. - Danish Roads Directorate, 2000, Collection of Cycle Concepts, Government of Denmark, Copenhagen.
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The Collection of Cycle Concepts is a comprehensive Danish publication on cycling. It offers a wide ranging, yet detailed analysis and discussion on promotion, urban planning, facility design, signage and parking. Although some of it is specific to Denmark, much of the content is internationally relevant.
SOCIALOver recent years there has been an increasing level of acceptance of the importance of livability in our communities. The realisation that unnecessary car use can impact negatively on livability has enabled policy makers and planners to look at opportunities to limit unnecessary motor vehicle journeys. One such method is to increase the role of the bicycle in the transport system. Bicycle use has been shown to have positive impacts on livability – by creating quieter, safer streets as well as providing an active form of social interaction.
Australia:
- Australian Bicycle Council, website, Benefits of cycling,
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A great resource on economic, social, environmental and other benefits of cycling. - Queensland Transport, 2007, Benefits, Queensland Government, Brisbane.
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This site outlines the environmental, economic, transport and social benefits of cycling. - Social Research in Transport - information repository
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The Social Research in Transport (SORT) Clearinghouse aims to increase awareness of social issues in transport by making it easier to access research in this area. The Clearinghouse is a repository of research reports, research abstracts and links to research findings. To access or contribute research use the buttons above. You can also subscribe to SORT to receive free newsletters including lists of new research, news and events.
International:
- Litman, T., 2004, Quantifying the benefits of non-motorized transportation for achieving mobility management objectives, 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. - Litman, T., 2007, Win-win transportation solutions: Smart transportation strategies can achieve emission reduction targets and provide other important economic, social and environmental benefits, Victoria Transport Policy Institute, Victoria, Canada.
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This paper introduces a range of market-based policy reforms aimed at increasing transport efficiency, improving health and reducing emissions. - Spreekmeester, R., Wittink, R., Van Den Berg, J., 2000, The economic significance of cycling: A study to illustrate the costs and benefits of cycling policy, VNG Uitgeverij, The Hague.
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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. - The Australian Bicycle Council brought Dr Enrique Penãlosa, the ex-Mayor of Bogota, an avid advocate for bicycle and pedestrian centric cities to Australia in February 2008. This presentation was delivered in Western Australia.
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Dr Penãlosa believes that the positive impact that designing cities with people and their needs in mind, rather than the demands of individual motorised transport, has a huge positive social and environmental impact on communities.
Cost Benefit Analysis
Everything has a 'cost' whether it is economic, environmental or social. The 'triple bottom line' has emerged as the way to analyse the true costs and benefits of all actions, but to do this type of analysis we require a monetary value to be placed on social and environmental factors. The following are journal articles on the cost benefit of cycling (available for a fee) from Science Direct Visit Site :
- Sælensminde, K., 2004, Cost-benefit analyses of walking and cycling track networks taking into account insecurity, health effects and external costs of motorized traffic, Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Volume 38, Issue 8, October 2004, p.593-606
Visit Site - Elvik, R., 2000. Which are the relevant costs and benefits of road safety measures designed for pedestrians and cyclists? Accident Analysis and Prevention, Volume 32, Issue 1, Jan 2000, pp. 37-45
Visit Site - Potter, S. and Parkhurst, G., 2003, Taxation futures for sustainable mobility, University of the West of England.
Visit Site - The Cost Benefit Analysis of Cycling, TemaNord, Nordic Council of Ministers, Copenhagen, 2005.
View PDF - World Health Organisation - Regional Office for Europe
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This project looks at quantifying the health effects of walking and cycling. - Science of Cycling: Human Power
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The bicycle is a tremendously efficient means of transportation. In fact cycling is more efficient than any other method of travel--including walking! The one billion bicycles in the world are a testament to its effectiveness. The engine for this efficient mode of transport is the human body. Because bodies are fueled by food, diet plays an important role in how the body performs. Different muscle groups and types provide the power. Genetic inheritance, intensive training, and a competitive drive help top athletes push the boundaries of endurance and speed on the bicycle.
