A recent study from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine discusses the benefits of cycling on Boris bike’s in the city. The study co-authored by Dr Anna Goodman believe that older cyclists receive more benefits then younger cyclists. However, older cyclists are prone to heart attacks in the short term, whereas younger cyclists are just as likely to be knocked off their bikes.
Dr Goodman informed us that the team expected the health risks to outweigh the health benefits of cycling; in London the benefits are smaller and the risks are higher. This was based on the number of injuries from cycling in London, and risks from other forms of transportation.
The report states: “This was based on the three main factors based on health; the first point was based on whether you were getting regular physical activity. The second factor was injury risk, based on the weight injuries from other modes of transport such as cycling or motor biking and the tube/public transport is quite safe. The third factor was based on air pollution from certain forms of transportation. We balanced those entire factor’s to come up with what the effects on health was.”
Dr Goodman informed us that; Cycle hire schemes are becoming more popular around the world and inform policy makers of the benefits of cycling. Boris bikes obviously do not pollute in comparison to other modes of transport such as lorries and buses.
“Cycle hire has become more popular in the last decade; in 2000 there are one thousand cycle higher companies around the world .It seems to be a trendy thing for governments to do and it is almost another form of public transport,” the report states.
Cycling is a healthier form of transport and is cheaper than driving a car to work every day. The study on the Boris bikes also informs policy makers in the government, what the effects are and how they can make cycling in the capital better. Older people are cycling more than younger people. More work needs to be done to get younger people on their bikes.
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