Cycling and the promotion of health

Abstract

In the debate about the role of cycling and the grounds for investing public funds for its provision, the focus has been on reducing the risk of injury. Little attention has been paid to its scope for promoting public health. An overview of the subject drawn from a recently published report indicates that the scope is so considerable as to far outweigh the damage to health in cycle accidents (Hillman,M Cycling towards health and safety published by Oxford University Press, 1992). The objectives of policy on health, as well as on environment, energy conservation, equity and economy, would be furthered by enabling much wider use of the bicycle than is made at present. Evidence on health benefits provides further justification for cycling deserving pride of place in the mechanised transport hierarchy - that is going well beyond simply treating it as a mode of transport worthy of some consideration in the allocation of public resources. Health promotion can be added to the bicycle's virtues in terms of social equity, independence for the user, door-to- door convenience, flexibility, and speed on the majority of journeys that most people currently make. In addition, cycle use contributes hardly any of the adverse impacts on health of car use - increasing danger, pollution, noise and community severance. (A) For the covering abstract of the seminar see IRRD 859645.

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