In previous rides, we saw urban cycling provide economic and psychological benefits to those who practice it. And, you might surprise by knowing that cycling to work also reduces the risk of death by any cause.
If you don’t believe us, join us in this amazing ride. We are sure you will find interesting things in this trip.
Cycling to work, what are the benefits?
Talking about health, the simple fact of ride by bike is an excellent cardiovascular exercise to be healthy. In the mental aspect, this activity allow to meditate without realizing it; and in economic matters help to your wallet.
However, we won’t stop so much in this issue, the topic of interest is other.
Go and back from work by bike would avoid to die from any cause
As you read, unbelievable, right? Even though, cycling to work won’t make you immortal, will help you to transport and reduce the possibilities of dying from any cause; as accidents or diseases.
In accordance with an analysis performed to long term and published by the BMJ Public Health Magazine, people who transport by bike to work have a surprising 47 % less of probabilities of dying from any cause.
Specialists based on research that considered data of a 16-year period, for that, thought about the data of Scottish Longitudinal Study (SLS), that includes a 5% of Scottish population of the 1991, 2001 and 2011 census.
In total, analysis considered to 82,297 people from 16 to 74 years that move to work by bike, walking or using other mean of transport in 2001.
The amazing results
The results obtained were linked to the hospital admissions of participants of the sample.
These considered all the causes: cardiovascular diseases, cancer and transit accidents, as prescriptions for mental health problems since 2001 to 2018.
In the same way, considered the age, gender, pre-existing health conditions and socioeconomic factors. The results were:
- Between 2001 – 2018; 4.276 participants (more than the 5% of the sample) passed away, almost half of them by cancer.
- Hospitalized to 52.804 for any reason. From those, 9.663 by cardiovascular disease, 5.939 by cancer and 2.668 by a traffic accident.
- Also, from 2009 to 2018; 31.666 participants were prescribed cardiovascular medicine.
- Lastly, 33.771 received a medical prescription for mental health.
Cyclists with less risk of death
The interesting part starts here. The previous results include all the people and mean of transports registered on the study. Now, the people who said going by bike to work were at least, interesting.
Exclusively talking about who transport by bike, can mean:
- It was associated with a 47% less risk of death.
- A 10% less risk of being hospitalized.
- A 24% less risk of being hospitalized by a cardiovascular disease.
- It reduces the risk of drug prescription for cardiovascular diseases and mental health problems.
- In comparison to those who use other public transport, cyclists have the double of risk of an hospitalization after suffering a traffic accident.
Pedestrians, the most benefited
Cycling to work presents an important reduction in the risk of dying by any cause, the safest ones are pedestrians.
The same study revealed that those who transport walking to their works have an 11% less risk to be hospitalized by any cause and a 10 % less risk of being hospitalized by a cardiovascular disease.
The importance of cyclist infrastructure for cycling to work
Study can have certain limitations, is true that demonstrates the importance of have more and better cyclist infrastructure.
One of the main reasons of why people don’t use bike is because don’t feel safe circulating by streets along cars. From there, is relevant to build safer and protected bike paths with the necessary signage to protect cyclist.
Likewise, is important to build strategically connected bike lanes among them or with other means of public transport. Also, more options of mobility represent greater probabilities of having a better health and maybe a longer life span.
See you next time. Ride safe.
