Cycling’s Benefits for Health and the Environment

Advances in mechanization have virtually eliminated physical activity from daily life for many people, and cycling provides an excellent opportunity to make up for this deficit. Since its introduction in the late 19th century, approximately 1 billion people have practiced cycling. Like other aerobic exercises, it aids in the reduction of health-related issues associated with a sedentary lifestyle. Cycling is salubrious as it improves overall fitness, and it also represents a practically carbon-neutral form of sustainable and eco-friendly transport.

In 2020, about 3.3 million deaths occurred in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1.6 million, or 45.9 percent of these deaths, were due to chronic causes like cardiovascular disorders (20.6 percent), diabetes (3 percent), cancers (17.8 percent), and chronic lower respiratory diseases (4.5 percent). The global prevalence of chronic diseases is expected to increase in subsequent years.

Multiple studies reveal that cycling furnishes various health benefits, including curtailing the risk of cancers, cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, blood pressure, obesity, and building and maintaining healthy bones, muscles, and joints. Furthermore, people who cycle frequently have reported mental health improvements, including less perceived stress, less loneliness, and improved vitality.
Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies showed a positive link between cycling and cardiorespiratory fitness in young people. Prospective observational studies ascertained a dominant inverse link between cycling and all-cause mortality among middle-aged to elderly subjects. Another study found that long-term cycling for at least fifteen minutes daily in older adults without cognitive impairment had a protective effect on cognition and attention.

Aside from the health benefits attributed to cycling, there are also several positive connections between environmental elements and cycling. As a human-powered means of transport, a modal shift to cycling potentially offers a reduced consumption of fossil fuels, less air and noise pollution, decreased greenhouse gas emissions, and significantly less traffic congestion.

A US study from the 1990s submitted a compelling case for cycling supremacy in the environmental scene. This study asserted that the most significant environmental benefit of cycling is that it bypasses the fossil fuel system, on which the American economy is heavily reliant.

In 2004, the World Health Organization claimed that traffic accidents were the 11th leading cause of death globally, contributing to roughly 2 percent of all deaths. Furthermore, English researchers calculated that an increase in regular cycling by the English population, from 4.8 to 25 percent, would result in a 2.2 percent decrease in greenhouse gas emissions and a 2.1 percent reduction in years of life lost due to premature mortality. This percentage can be more significant for the world due to the extensive decline in noise and air pollution emissions and fewer traffic accidents.

The health and environmental benefits of cycling are not mutually exclusive, as the environment, directly and indirectly, impacts health. Hence, a decline in ecological pollution will undoubtedly affect the overall wellness of the population. Also, by improving social capital and community livability, cycling enhances the quality of life, increases social interaction, and provides a sense of connection with the community.

Generally, the estimated health and environmental benefits are substantially more significant than the risks. It is no wonder why countries like China, Denmark, and the Netherlands have incorporated cycling into their culture and still employ it as a primary mode of transportation.