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Cyclist gives water to a thirsty koala (December 2019) 1:09
(CNN) - Cycling to work can lead to better health and fitness, but for some newbies it can be a potential accident.
Fear of injury while riding a bicycle discourages many people from cycling to work. In the UK, only 4% of people bike to work despite the fact that around 40% have access to a bike, and 64% of respondents in the British Social Attitudes survey (PDF) are of I agree that cycling to work is too dangerous.
Is that fear justified? Researchers from the University of Glasgow decided to find out. They examined the hospital records and other data of 230,390 workers from 22 locations in the UK, 5,704 of whom said they used cycling as their primary form of transportation. The results of their study were published Wednesday in the medical journal BMJ .
They found that bicycle travel was associated with a 45% higher risk of hospital admission for injury compared to other travel methods, and that longer bicycle distances were associated with an increased risk of injury. However, they found that the health benefits of cycling were considerable and related to a lower risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and premature death.
Participants were recruited between 2006 and 2010 as part of the UK Biobank's largest dataset and followed for an average of 8.9 years. Of those who only cycled to work, 7% were injured, while among those who cycled for part of the trip, 6% were injured. In contrast, 4.3% of workers traveling by car or public transport were injured. Walking to work was not associated with an increased risk of injury.
In an editorial linked to the study, Anne Lusk, a research scientist at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, said the study revealed an "urgent need to improve cyclist safety."
"Improved bike lanes in a dedicated sidewalk space should be as revered and generously funded as historic buildings and trails," he wrote.
Fewer deaths
However, despite the increased risk of injury, the study showed that cycling to work was linked to tangible health benefits.
When cyclists were compared to all other riders, they showed a lower risk of cardiovascular disease such as heart attacks and strokes, a lower risk of first diagnosis of cancer, and a lower risk of death overall.
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"What we are saying is that if 1,000 people who are not currently cycling to work change their minds, on average over the next 10 years, we would see a total of 26 injuries that we would not otherwise have, three of which would result in a hospitalization of more than a week, ”said Paul Welsh, Senior Lecturer, Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow.
But, he added, "The benefit is 15 fewer cancers, four fewer heart attacks or strokes, and three fewer deaths."
Welsh said governments must do more than paint bike lanes on the roads if they want people to get on their bikes. Segregated bike lanes like those in Amsterdam and Copenhagen are what it takes to make people feel safe, he said.
“It involves moving away from the mindset that cars have priority. Does this path need to be bi-directional? Can it be one-way with larger pavements and segregated bicycle lanes? ”
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At this time, he said the attitude of some cyclists is that you have to "mentally prepare for war on the road," but in places with segregated lanes, cycling was much more diverse and accessible.
"It's not just about middle-aged men who wear lycra."
The study was observational and can only establish a link between cycling and injury, but the study tried to take into account factors such as age, sex, and levels of physical activity, Welsh said.
Cycling was associated with an increased risk of injury to the arms and legs, torso, head or neck and fracture injuries, as well as injury-related hospital stays, the study found.
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