The health benefits of cycling have been shown to be a primary reason why many people choose to cycle. A significant proportion of the population do not participate in the necessary levels of physical activity to protect against sedentary lifestyle diseases such as obesity and diabetes. Cycling has been shown to significantly reduce the chance of developing these and other types of disease. Integrating cycling into everyday life, by using the bike as a form of transport has been shown to be a very sustainable method of regular physical activity.
Inactive Lifestyles Kill an Estimated 36,815 People in England Each Year (England)
15th Apr 2013
Lack of physical activity could cause as many as 36,815 premature deaths in England each year, according to statistics released today by the South West Public Health Observatory (SWPHO) and charity Sustrans.
The statistics have been produced to help local authorities estimate how much they could reduce death and illness by promoting physical activity.
They show that current levels of physical activity among people aged 40-79 are low across England and that major health gains could be made if they increased.
Walking and cycling: local measures to promote walking and cycling as forms of travel or recreation (UK)
29th Nov 2012
In November 2012 the UK public health body the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), which develops clinical guidelines for the NHS, released guidelines putting cycling and walking at the centre of efforts to improve the nation’s health, saying they should become the norm for short journeys and should be encouraged throughout local communities.
Active Travel Consortium + Travel Actively (UK)
07th Nov 2012
The Active Travel Consortium is a partnership of walking, cycling and health organisations committed to providing opportunities for 1.8 million people to become more active. Branded as Travel Actively, the consortium delivers a £30 million portfolio of 50 projects, helping people in England to change their travel habits and improve their health by giving them the practical support they need to walk and cycle as part of their everyday lives.
Cycling and Health: What's the Evidence? (UK)
05th Sep 2012
This report was published by Cycling England in 2007. The report reviews and collates the available evidence on the health benefits of cycling. It sets out to provide a key resource for those interested in understanding and promoting the health benefits of cycling.
Healthy transport = Healthy lives (UK)
19th Jul 2012
In July 2012 the British Medical Association (BMA) released a report urging doctors to play a key role in reducing car use and calling on the government to take a long-term view of transport policy to create the conditions that reduce demand for car use, while enabling a shift to more active and sustainable forms of transport.
Transport, Physical Activity and Health: Present knowledge and the way ahead (UK)
23rd Jan 2012
This research paper by Roger L Mackett and Belinda Brown, Centre for Transport Studies, University College London was released in December 2011. It contains a review of the literature in the field of transport and physical activity. It was funded by the Department for Transport.
_b.jpg)
Active travel and adult obesity
04th Jan 2011
Sustrans is the UK’s leading sustainable transport charity and works on practical projects to encourage people to walk, cycle and use public transport to benefit health and the environment.
