If You Manage to Survive, Biking to Work Will Lower Your Risk of Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease: New Study

By Kam Kompani,

March 23, 2020



Compared to non-active modes of commuting, cycling to work is associated with a higher risk of injury but also a lower risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and premature death.

The researchers found that Britons commuting by bike had a 45% higher risk of admission to hospital for an injury compared to other commuters. People who biked longer distances were associated with an even higher risk of injury.

However, compared to non-active commuters, cyclists are typically younger, have a lower body mass index, and less likely to be a current smoker or have a history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or cancer. They also tend to be more physically active during their leisure time. Britons who partially commute by bike are similarly more likely to have a healthier profile than non-active commuters.

“The present data suggest that the higher risk of injury associated with cycle commuting is real, but seems to be outweighed by the health benefits,” the authors argued.

Adding that: “We show that commuting by bicycle in the UK is associated with a 45% higher risk of hospital admission for a first injury. This equates to 26 additional first injuries for 1000 people changing modes of commuting to include cycling in their commute for 10 years. Of these additional injuries, three would require hospital stays of a week or longer. This higher risk of injury is offset by the expected benefit of 15 fewer first cancers, four fewer cardiovascular disease events, and three fewer deaths.”

Nevertheless, the study’s findings support a major deterrent preventing more Brits from biking to work: the widely held belief that biking to work is dangerous.

“The perception among the general public that cycling carries a greater risk of injury than other modes of commuter transport is supported by evidence, although the health benefits are considerable.”

The researchers pointed out that the risk of injuries from cycling are lower in countries with a good cycling infrastructure, such as Denmark and the Netherlands.

“To change public perception of cycling as a viable commute mode and gain the associated health benefits, local and national infrastructure planners need to improve the safety for cycling commuters,” the authors concluded.

Inactivity

Some 20 million adult Britons are not meeting government recommendations for physical activity, increasing their risk of heart disease and costing the UK health service as much as £1.2-billion ($1.6-billion) each year.

Selecting an active mode of commuting, such as biking, has been suggested as one way that people can incorporate physical activity into their daily lives. Yet only 4% of Britons cycle to work at least once per week, despite 40% owning a bicycle.

Study: Claire Welsh et al. (2020). Association of injury related hospital admissions with commuting by bicycle in the UK: prospective population based study. BMJ.