Cycling and Health

• (04/09) VALUING THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF WALKING AND CYCLING: A new research report from the NZ Transport Agency, 'Valuing the health benefits of active transport modes', seeks to provide a per-kilometre value for the health benefits of active transport modes (such as walking and cycling) that is compatible with the Land Transport New Zealand Economic Evaluation Manual. The latest version of the Manual currently estimates health benefits at $2.60 per km for walking and $1.30 per km for cycling.  The new research estimates the health benefits at around $4 per km for walking and around $2 per km for cycling. Download the report.

• (03/08) The World Health Organisation has produced a health economic assessment tool for cycling (HEAT for cycling). Based on best available evidence that can be adapted to specific situations, this tool estimates the economic savings resulting from reduced mortality due to cycling, i.e.:if x people cycle y distance on most days, what is the economic value of the improvements in their mortality rate?

• Inverse associations between cycling to work, public transport, and overweight and obesity: Findings from a population based study in Australia. Li Ming Wen, Chris Rissel, Health Promotion Service, Sydney South West Area Health Service. Preventive Medicine 46 (2008) 29–32. The study found that men who cycled to work were significantly less likely to be overweight and obese compared with those driving to work.

• Benefits of Cycling The Australian Bicycle Council has summarised many benefits of cycling, with references.

• Cycle Safety: A National Perspective Australian Transport safety Bureau. December 2004. Health benefits of regular cycling outweigh loss of life through accidents.

• Bicycle Victoria publishes a wide range of articles on cycling and health. search under 'health'

• Australian Government's Healthy and Active web page

• Healthy Weight 2008. Report from Australian Prime Minister's Taskforce

• World Health Organization's Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health (December 2003)

• Attitudes to cycling and walking in Adelaide's hospitals —why aren't our hospitals promoting healthy transport? Harry Owen, Paul Scullion & Rosalie Day, 1997

• Cycling and health promotion a safer, slower urban road environment is the key British Medical Journal Editorial, April 2000

• Pedalling health: health benefits of a modal transport shift (1995) Ian Roberts, Harry Owen, Peter Lumb, Colin MacDougall

• Comparison of Air Pollution Exposure for five Commuting Modes in Sydney car, train, bus, bicycle and walking(47kb) Health Promotion Journal of Australia 2004: 15:637 (media release 82kb)

• Management of Obesity. J Proietto and L Baur. Medical Journal of Australia 180 (9): 474480, March 2004

• Physical activity and coronary heart disease. G D Batty & IMin Lee, British Medical Journal 2004 328: 1089 1090

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