Cycling brings proven and massive benefits to society.  The EU and the USA actively endorse cycling development. Here are 7 reasons why a sane government, pursuing a sustainable future, should invest urgently in creating a strong cycling culture.

Super-Efficient Transport : cycling is, by far, the most energy efficient form of transport. Cycling exploits the body’s highly effective use of food energy and hence consumes no fossil fuels directly.  Bicycle construction uses tiny amounts of materials, water and energy compared to motor-powered vehicles (MPVs). Running costs are trivial compared to MPVs.

Health: cycling is an ideal aerobic exercise which actively combats obesity, diabetes, heart-attacks and strokes. Obesity alone is estimated to cost the Irish taxpayer a shocking €1.8billion/year.  Even a modest reduction in these diseases due to increased cycling would pay vast financial returns to Ireland but more importantly would prevent much suffering.  Mental health also gains from the psychological bonus of an environment with less motorised traffic, and the exhilaration of cycling may decrease clinical depression through raised sympathetic activity and endorphins.  Fit cyclists take less time off work, and cycling helps older people to remain active longer.  Overall, the health benefits of cycling overwhelm the modest risks of cycling (similar to driving) by a factor of 20:1.

Cycling ehances personal mobility and reduces traffic congestion : too many cars are bad for cities for many reasons.  Traffic congestion is estimated by the EU to cost 1.5% of GDP which would amount to roughly €2billion annually in Ireland.  Cycling is an excellent, flexible, autonomous transport mode for trips up to 7km and is time-competitive with cars in urban settings .  In Ireland, 75% of car trips are over distances of less than 5 km, often at low speeds due to the congestion.  Everyday in Ireland, more than 200,000 people drive to work over distances 2-4km (of which 45,000 were less than 2km).  Add in shopping trips and ferrying children to school, and the situation becomes ridiculous.  The 2006 census revealed that only 2.4% of children aged 13-18 used a bicycle to go to school and only 1.9% of commuters travelled by bike to work.  In Copenhagen, 37% of commuter trips are by bicycle.  Bicycles occupy about one sixth of the road space of a car and even less for parking. The Department of Transport “2020 Vision” public consultation document estimated that, on average, the benefit-to-cost ratio of local walking and cycling routes is 20:1, in contrast to the typical ratio of 3:1 for other transport schemes such as rail and roads. Public transport usage also increases as people use bicycles to access public transport without the parking problems and congestion at stations caused by cars.

Financial Benefits : The National Cycling Policy Framework (NCPF) estimated the benefit-to-cost ratio for cycling investment by civic authorities to be a staggering 4:1.  EU research showed that the economic benefit gained exceeded cycling infrastructure cost by 4-5 to one while in Bogota the ratio was 7:1.  Benefit-to-cost ratios depend on what measures are studied, how the calculations are done and the level of existing cycling e.g. in the already cycling-friendly city of Amsterdam, the ratio was lower at 1.5: 1, and yet even there it was positive. Cost savings in the health area (see point 2 above) and traffic congestion (point 3 above) alone justify huge investment in cycling. Cycle tourism brings wealth to rural areas. Bicycles also cause negligible road surface damage, thus reducing local authority expenditure on roads. The AA estimates the annual running costs of a Band C car (1250-1500cc) in 2010 were €11,171, including depreciation.  Cycling costs are trivial by comparison and two-car families could benefit enormously when one adult switches to a bicycle.

Environmental benefits : pollution through cycling is negligible.  By contrast, motor vehicle pollutants contaminate the air, waterways and roadside habitats while road traffic noise attacks quality of life. Cyclists produce the smallest direct quantity of carbon dioxide (CO₂ ) per passenger kilometre and thus have minimal impact on climate change.  A cycling revolution will also reduce the threat for taxpayers of having to pay carbon fines to the EU.

Quality of life : human quality of life increases in towns and cities where a critical mass of cycling is attained, affecting parents, children, the elderly, workers, commuters and in recreation.  Cycling towns are cleaner, healthier, quieter, safer and more livable. But beyond that, cycling improves mental health and feelings of well-being, as well as improving the local environment and strengthening a sense of community.  

Saving lives : in 2009, 238 people were killed and 9742 were injured on Irish roads. That is the human price of motorised transport to Irish society.  But there is also the incalculable psychological cost to victims’ families and the calculated financial cost to the state of €974 million.  By contrast, bicycles rarely kill or injure anyone.  Thus the most important benefit of them all from increased cycling in Ireland will be a reduction in road deaths and injuries.

National Cycling Policy Framework (NCPF; 2009). See http://www.transport.ie/upload/general/11387-0.pdf

http://trendy-travel.eu/docs/20100519_trendy_cycling_EN.pdf

John Pucher & Ralph Buehler (2008), Making Cycling Irrestible, Transport Reviews, Vol. 28, No. 4, 495–528, July 2008.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_performance

The WHO (2008) advise on how to correctly calculate cycling’s health benefits.  See Nick Cavill’s article : http://www.apho.org.uk/resource/view.aspx?RID=78743

Hillman, M, Cycling and the promotion of health, Policy Studies 14: 4958, 1993.

Presto Cycling Policy Guide, General Framework (www.presto-cycling.eu).

ISME (August 2008 Press Release)

Energy Efficiency Opportunities for Transport in Ireland, p15, (Irish Energy Centre, 1996);  public transport more efficient.

cso.ie

Presto Cycling Policy Guide, General Framework (www.presto-cycling.eu).

http://www.aaireland.ie/AA/Motoring-advice/Cost-of-motoring.aspx

Conor Walsh, Phil Jakeman, Richard Moles and Bernadette O’Regan, A comparison of carbon dioxide emissions associated with motorised transport modes and cycling in Ireland, Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment,Volume 13, Issue 6, August 2008, Pages 392-3.

Road Safety Authority (2009), Collision Facts. www.rsa.ie.