Research Paper Title

Health Effects of the London Bicycle Sharing System: Health Impact Modelling Study.

Study Question

What are the likely effects on health of the London bicycle sharing system?

Summary Answer

Using the actual number of injuries observed to date among cycle hire users, the benefits clearly outweighed harms among both male and female users. However, using background injury risks in the cycle hire area, although benefits outweighed harms among men they were similar to harms among women.

What is Known and What This Paper Adds

Cycling is a physically active and environmentally  sustainable form of transport that poses low harms to others, but cyclists may face an increased risk of injury and exposure to pollution. This study suggests that the London bicycle sharing system has had a smaller per user benefit than that reported for the Barcelona system.

Reference

Woodcock, J., Tainio, M., Cheshire, J., O’Brien, O. & Goodman, A. (2014) Health Effects of the London Bicycle Sharing System: Health Impact Modelling Study. British Medical Journal. 22 February 2014, Volume 348, pp.11.