Cycling and Public Health

The publication of ‘Cycling Towards Health & Safety’ by the British Medical Association in 1992 led to much debate on the estimation of life-years gained due to the improved health of regular cyclists against the estimated number of life-years lost through accidents. It is still important to restate this central argument that cycling is good for your health. It improves the cardiovascular system and lung and respiratory functions, it can form part of an effective weight management strategy and it helps promote positive mental health. 

It is important that cyclists are realistic about the health claims of cycling however. Lack of physical activity is not the main reason for the high levels of coronary heart disease we experience in Britain. That is the result principally of a poor diet and relatively high levels of smoking. Heart of Mersey has developed its coronary heart disease (CHD) prevention programme based upon the lessons from Finland’s internationally renowned experience of reducing deaths from heart disease. The Finnish are much more physically active than we are in the UK and yet in the 1970s and 80s they had the highest levels of CHD in the world. Their big success was in reforming their agricultural sector and encouraging healthier diets. 

Very low levels of physical activity here have helped to fuel what the Chief Medical Officer has called the ‘obesity epidemic’. Over the past twenty years, the amount of daily exercise we take has been greatly reduced, while the energy density of our diets has increased. The lack of physical activity in our work, the dependence of the motor car and the popularity of computer and video games amongst our youth are all factors. 

Sport is likely to play only a relatively small part in addressing this energy imbalance in our daily lives and we should ensure that as resources are freed to combat obesity that sport does not swallow them all up. Most people in public health would accept that encouraging physical activity as part of a daily lifestyle through walking and cycling is likely to have a much wider benefit that by overly focusing on sport. In turn, a daily lifestyle which includes walking and cycling will not happen through exhorting the public to take more exercise. It will only come through a systematic and planned redesign of our urban and rural landscapes to make the physically active choices the easier ones. It is the responsibility of the public health workforce to provide the health evidence to support urban planners in this task. 

Robin Ireland

Chief Executive, Heart of Mersey

October 2005 

E: Robin.Ireland@heartofmersey.org.uk

	Warrington Cycle Campaign has over 200 members and is committed to making better use of the roads for all sectors of the community. Our main objectives are:- A safer environment by the adoption of a 20mph speed limit in all urban areas On-road cycle training for all children Better account taken for the needs of cyclists at road junctions and roundabouts Responsible cycling - using lights at night and respecting pedestrians Take a look at their website to view topical issues, etc
	20's Plenty For Us provides a wide range of resources, information and material for local 20's Plenty campaigners. These include many mixed groups where cyclists and pedestrians are working together for lower speed limits where people live.
	Cyclenation (formerly Cycle Campaign Network) works to create a nation of cycle friendly communities and is the federation of local cycle campaigns with nearly 90 such campaigns throughout the UK.
	CTC - the UK's national cyclists' organisation, are the country’s largest group of people on bikes. Their mission is to make cycling enjoyable, safe and welcoming for all. Their work includes high-profile campaigning on behalf of all cyclists.

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