Citation

Rojas-Rueda D, de Nazelle A, Tainio M, Nieuwenhuijsen MJ. Br. Med. J. BMJ 2011; 343(online): d4521.

Affiliation

Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, C Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/bmj.d4521

PMID

21816732

PMCID

PMC3150633

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the risks and benefits to health of travel by bicycle, using a bicycle sharing scheme, compared with travel by car in an urban environment. DESIGN: Health impact assessment study. SETTING: A public bicycle sharing initiative, 'Bicing', in Barcelona, Spain. PARTICIPANTS: 181 982 Bicing subscribers. Main outcomes measures The primary outcome measure was all cause mortality for the three domains of physical activity, air pollution (exposure to particulate matter <2.5 µm), and road traffic incidents. The secondary outcome was change in levels of carbon dioxide emissions. RESULTS: Compared with car users the estimated annual change in mortality of the Barcelona residents using Bicing (n=181 982) was 0.03 deaths from road traffic incidents and 0.13 deaths from air pollution. As a result of physical activity, 12.46 deaths were avoided (benefit:risk ratio 77). The annual number of deaths avoided was 12.28. As a result of journeys by Bicing, annual carbon dioxide emissions were reduced by an estimated 9 062 344 kg. CONCLUSIONS: Public bicycle sharing initiatives such as Bicing in Barcelona have greater benefits than risks to health and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Language: en