Cycling to work is widely regarded to afford a range of mental and physical health benefits. A recent study from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) highlights just how much more beneficial it is than other forms of transport.
The study quizzed over 8,800 people on their mode of transport to work and their mental and physical health. The mental-health section of the survey focused on the four major dimensions of mental health (anxiety, depression, loss of emotional control, and psychological well-being), vitality (energy level and fatigue) and perceived stress.
When the data was analyzed, it emerged that cycling performed best across every single metric. Riding to work was linked with better self-perceived general health, better mental health, greater vitality, lower self-perceived stress and fewer feelings of loneliness. Walking came in second, with motorized transport then some way further back.
“Driving and public-transport use were associated with poor self-perceived general health when the transport modes were analysed separately, but this effect disappeared in the multiple-mode analyses,” the researchers explain. “This result is most likely due to the fact that the study population drove very infrequently and most journeys by car were probably for social purposes, such as visiting a family member or a friend.”
Consistent findings
The results were consistent across all of the studies analyzed for the research, suggesting that transportation with an active component is something that should be encouraged to boost the health and mental wellbeing of your workforce.
Despite the clear benefits of an active commute however, relatively few people cycle to work across much of Europe, with noticeable exceptions such as the Netherlands and Denmark. It suggests much work remains to be done, but also that there is plenty of room for improvement.
“Transport is not just a matter of mobility; it also has to do with public health and the well-being of the population,” the team say. The study’s findings, he noted, show yet again that “an integrated approach to urban planning, transport planning and public health is needed in order to develop policies that promote active transport, such as adding more segregated cycle lanes in Barcelona, which are transforming the city into a better environment for cyclists.”
Workforce on two wheels
So if you want a healthier workforce, it seems the answer is to get them on their bikes. Thankfully, I’ve written about previous studies showing that biking to work can be contagious.
“Social influences are important, specifically interpersonal influences, such as spouses and co-workers,” says Melissa Bopp, assistant professor of kinesiology at Penn State.
In addition to looking at the viral nature of cycling, the study also explored the kinds of people that ride in each day. It found some fascinating trends. For instance married people are more likely to cycle to work than single people.
Interestingly, if you have a spouse that cycles to work, or even colleagues that cycle in, you are much more likely to do so yourself.
A number of factors were found to contribute to someone choosing to not cycle to work, including:
- Body mass index
- Number of children
- Number of cars in the household
The report also found a number of positive influencers. For instance, living in a community that supports cycling to work has a big impact, as does working for an employer that is supportive. People were also more likely to ride in if they were confident in their cycling skills.
