Research shows the public health benefits of cycling to work

25 Apr 2017

Cycle to work schemes welcome University of Glasgow research

The Cycle to Work Alliance welcomes new research which has found that cycling to work can cut the risk of developing heart disease or cancer by over 40 per cent. The introduction of new public health policies which increase active commuting methods, particularly cycling, could deliver major opportunities to address growing public health concerns.

The new research, published by the University of Glasgow in the British Medical Journal, has found that cycling to work lowers the risk of developing cancer by 45 per cent and the risk of heart disease by 46 per cent. By analysing data from 264,337 participants who were asked questions about their usual mode of commuting to work, the research has found that cycling to work lowers the risk of developing illnesses when compared to other modes of commuting, such as walking.

According to the research, 90 per cent of cycle commuters achieve current physical activity guidelines. The research speculates that cycling to work results in a lower risk of developing heart disease or cancer because of the greater exercise intensity of cycling, when compared to other modes of commuting.

The Alliance is committed to continuing to work with Government and employers to promote the Cycle to Work scheme as an effective way for encouraging employees to commute to work in a healthy and environmentally sustainable manner.

Further information is available here.