For many years, Denmark has been a frontrunner within urban mobility planning. In the capital of Denmark, Copenhagen, the bicycle has been used as means of transportation to work since the 1880. Today, 50% of all citizens commute by bike every day.

Not only cycling improves our overall health, it also has a huge positive impact on our social life and on the environment. Check out these biking statistics and facts that may make you want to get on your bike and ride on!

1. Cycling improves national health
A bike a day keeps the doctor away! Or maybe the saying was slightly different, nevertheless, biking statistics say that this new proverb is true.

According to a research conducted by Glenn Stewart at Brunel University in London, those who practice cycling every day are 6 times healthier than any other type of commuters, in accordance with criteria established by the World Health Organization.

Published in the Journal of Public Health, the study demonstrates the positive impact of physical activity on people’s health. As a result, cycling lowers the risk of premature mortality with up to 30%, while the risk of developing cardiorespiratory diseases is reduced by about 40%.

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Stewart’s study is not the only one that proves the health benefits of cycling. In fact, the University of Zurich also published a study on the impact of cycling on the population of Portland, USA, and the results clearly speak about the increase of the overall health of the residents.

2. Cyclists are less exposed to urban pollution
According to the World Health Organization, about 7 million people worldwide die prematurely every year due to air pollution. In fact, air pollution is one of the leading causes of death, counting more lives than cancer or cardiovascular disease.

Based on this information, researchers at King’s College in London decided to compare 6 subjects, an ambulance driver, a public transport user, a pedestrian, a cyclist, a school pupil and a toddler, based on their daily commuting habits. And the results are incredible.​

On the contrary to what can be expected, the most exposed to pollution was the ambulance driver, not the cyclist or the pedestrians. According to the study, those who commute by car are exposed to dangerous gases with up to 500% more than the cyclists.

Not only cyclists are the less exposed to pollution, they also have the possibility to choose less trafficked roads as alternative routes, lowering their exposure to air pollution even more.

3. More cyclists, less accident
The more we ride, the less we have to be afraid of road accidents, the statistics explain. 

Many people are afraid to start riding a bicycle for the daily commute because of the tragic traffic accidents. The truth is that in many states or countries, a lot of drivers have a fair degree of intolerance towards cyclists, above all in the areas without designated cycling lanes.

Nevertheless, statistics explain that the number of the cyclists involved in road accidents decreases when the actual number of cyclists increases.​

-Realted news: Bicycles Outnumber Cars for the First Time in Copenhagen

The study, conducted by a German agency between 2006 and 2009, shows a comparison of the number of cycling trips per inhabitant and their correlation to traffic incidents. The conclusion of the study is that cyclists are safer when they are more numerous, mainly because the other participants in the traffic pay more attention to them.

Although the study is rather old, various other reports show that these statistics are still accurate.

4. Cycling improves productivity
According to a British study published by Cyclescheme, those who choose to ride their bike to work are more likely to progress and succeed in their careers because they are fitter and more alert.

According to the researchers, cyclists often report that they feel less stressed at work, while those who started cycling reported an improvement in their concentration capacity.

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In fact, cycling boosts the energy, it increases the capacity of concentration, improves the competitiveness, the memory, and the mood.

Because of the health benefits of cycling, workers who commute by bike also require fewer sick days, with a further benefit on the work capacities and a lower impact on the health system’s budget.

Read more about urban sustainable transportation in our publication Sustainable Urban Transportation:

Source: Find more statistics and facts at Bike Experts