Public Bicycle Sharing Saves Lives And Protects Environment

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Main Category: Public Health
Also Included In: Sports Medicine / Fitness; Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Article Date: 05 Aug 2011 - 0:00 PDT window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({ appId: 'aa16a4bf93f23f07eb33109d5f1134d3', status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true, channelUrl: 'http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/scripts/facebooklike.html'}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement('script'); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + '//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js'; document.getElementById('fb-root').appendChild(e); }()); email to a friend printer friendly opinions
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A study published on bmj.com today reveals that public bicycle sharing schemes save lives and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Although the aim of the increasingly popular public bicycle sharing schemes in cities worldwide is generally to ease traffic congestion, it also promotes health.

Dr David Rojas-Rueda and his researchers at the Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology in Barcelona, Spain decided to study the health impact of the public bicycle sharing initiative in Barcelona called Bicing that was started in March 2007.

With 182,062 subscibers to Bicing by August 2009, representing 11% of Barcelona's municipal population, the average distance traveled by Bicing on a working day consisted of 3.29 km with an average of 14 minutes.

Researchers estimated the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and number of fatal casualties linked to biking compared to driving for three main areas: physical activity, road traffic incident and exposure to air pollution. The study was based on a health impact model to integrate existing data from scientific studies and local travel information.

Calculations revealed an annual increase of 0.13 fatalities due to air pollution and 0.03 deaths through traffic accidents for cyclists compared with those driving a car, however, 12.46 deaths were avoided due to physical activity and therefore reducing the annual death toll for cyclists by a total 12.28. It was also estimated that the reduction in carbon emissions was reduced by over 9 million kg annually.

In a concluding statement the researchers said:

"Our work has shown that low cost public bicycle sharing systems aimed at encouraging commuters to cycle are worth implementing in other cities, not only for the health benefits but also for potential co-benefits such as a reduction in air pollution and greenhouse gasses."

Despite the necessity of further work, researchers added that the initial assessment is vital..:

"..to encourage cities to change car use by cycling and stimulate the implementation of bike sharing systems in cities to improve the health of the population."

Written by Petra Rattue
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

Article Reference:
"The health risks and benefits of cycling in urban environments compared with car use: health impact assessment study"
David Rojas-Rueda, Audrey de Nazelle, Marko Tainio, Mark J Nieuwenhuijsen
BMJ 2011; 343:d4521

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