New calculations show that the health benefits of cycling are greater than previous estimates have indicated. These benefits are greater not only for individual cyclists but also for society as a whole.

Pedaling hard and feeling the wind in your hair on the bike path improves cyclists’ chances of avoiding lifestyle-related diseases, for example. It’s no secret that exercise is good for our health, but new calculations show that cycling is even healthier than previous estimates have indicated. "The health benefits to society from more cycling are more than twice as great as we had previously estimated. This is an important factor to consider in future negotiations on green mobility, and there is no doubt that bicycles will be part of those negotiations," says Transportation Minister Benny Engelbrecht.

Physical activity reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes

People who are physically active have a lower risk of developing conditions such as type 2 diabetes. The risk of developing type 2 diabetes is 45 percent higher for inactive people than for those who are sufficiently physically active. Annually, the costs of lost productivity due to type 2 diabetes alone amount to approximately 1.3 billion DKK, and treatment costs for patients with type 2 diabetes also total approximately 1.5 billion DKK annually. Improving health will therefore not only benefit the individual, who has a lower risk of becoming ill, but society as a whole will also be better off.

Electric bikes can make a difference, too

In connection with the new calculations of the health benefits of cycling, similar calculations have been made for electric bikes for the first time. The health benefits are smaller, but still quite significant, even with a little assistance from the motor. On the other hand, this may also encourage people to use their bikes for slightly longer distances. - Even though an electric motor adds a few extra kilometers per hour, riding an e-bike still has a significant positive impact on both individual health and society as a whole. The calculations of the health benefits of cycling underscore the importance of ensuring good conditions for cyclists, whether they use electric bikes or not, says Transportation Minister Benny Engelbrecht.

Facts about the health benefits of cycling

The updated calculations of the health benefits of cycling are included in the Transport Economic Unit Prices, which are a set of assumptions used for socio-economic analyses of infrastructure projects. The unit prices include, among other things, projected trends in prices, GDP, population figures, and travel costs, as well as much more. The updated calculations were commissioned by the Ministry of Transport and Housing and carried out by Cowi. The update shows that the health benefits of cycling on a standard bicycle are higher for both the individual cyclist and society as a whole than the previous calculations indicated. Electric bicycles were not included in the previous calculations and therefore cannot be compared. Overall, electric bicycles provide a smaller benefit to society as a whole compared to standard bicycles. This is due to a smaller health benefit and a higher risk of accidents per kilometer traveled on an electric bicycle compared to a standard bicycle. Reference