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Cycling and health: an opportunity for positive change?

Adrian E Bauman and Chris Rissel
Med J Aust 2009; 190 (7): . || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2009.tb02443.x
Published online: 6 April 2009

Cycling is an affordable, convenient and achievable form of physical activity for all Australians

Cycling, the fourth most popular physical recreation in Australia, is increasingly being used as a means of transport. As a form of regular physical activity, it confers substantial health benefits that are accessible to people of all ages.1 The epidemiological evidence is growing that cycling has health-enhancing effects, independent of other leisure-time physical activity. In a large Danish cohort followed up for 15 years, a 39% reduction in all-cause mortality was observed in those who cycled to work, and this was independent of participation in sport and other physical activity.2 Other large population studies have shown the effects of commuting by bicycle on reducing mortality and cardiovascular risk among Finnish women,3 and similar risk reductions for Chinese adults in Shanghai.4 Ecological observations have noted lower rates of obesity in regions with high rates of cycling.5


  • School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW.


Correspondence: adrianb@health.usyd.edu.au

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  • 2. Andersen LB, Schnohr P, Schroll M, Hein HO. All-cause mortality associated with physical activity during leisure time, work, sports and cycling to work. Arch Intern Med 2000; 160: 1621-1628.
  • 3. Hu G, Jousilahti P, Borodulin K, et al. Occupational, commuting and leisure-time physical activity in relation to coronary heart disease among middle-aged Finnish men and women. Atherosclerosis 2007; 194: 490-497.
  • 4. Matthews CE, Jurj AL, Shu XO, et al. Influence of exercise, walking, cycling, and overall nonexercise physical activity on mortality in Chinese women. Am J Epidemiol 2007; 165: 1343-1350.
  • 5. Bassett DR Jr, Pucher J, Buehler R, et al. Walking, cycling, and obesity rates in Europe, North America, and Australia. J Phys Act Health 2008; 5: 795-814.
  • 6. Sikic M, Mikocka-Walus AA, Gabbe BJ, et al. Bicycling injuries and mortality in Victoria, 2001–2006. Med J Aust 2009; 190: 354-348. <MJA full text>
  • 7. Pucher J, Buehler R. Making cycling irresistible: lessons from The Netherlands, Denmark and Germany. Transport Reviews 2008; 28 (4): 495–528.
  • 8. Wardlaw MJ. Three lessons for a better cycling future. BMJ 2000; 321: 1582-1585.
  • 9. Jacobsen PL. Safety in numbers: more walkers and bicyclists, safer walking and bicycling. Inj Prev 2003; 9: 205-209.
  • 10. Central London congestion charging. Impacts monitoring, 5th annual report, July 2007. Transport for London, 2007. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/fifth-annual-impacts-monitoring-report-2007-07-07.pdf (accessed Feb 2009).
  • 11. Daley M, Rissel C, Lloyd B. All dressed up and nowhere to go? A qualitative research study of the barriers and enablers to cycling in inner Sydney. Road and Transport Research 2007; 16 (4): 42-52.
  • 12. Hillman M. Cycling and the promotion of health. Policy Studies 1993; 14: 49-58.

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