Health Benefits of Cycling  30/6/2010

Greater investment in cycling infrastructure will not only produce dividends in lowered congestion, pollution and trip times, it will also be a public health measure.  The exact ratio of benefits to risks depend on which country you ride in - safer countries like Holland have a greater overall benefit to the rider than less safe countries like Australia.   

 

There is also an multiplier effect, because as more people cycle, it gets safer, and hence the risks are decreased while the benefits continue.

 

This knowledge helps us to understand just how counter-productive are Mandatory Helmet Laws.  By decreasing cycling rates, the public health benefit forgone is greater than any supposed benefit.  Our page on this shows evidence that MHLs didn't improve head injury rates in Australia — which means that only the downside of reduced public health is left in the equation.