Bike Sharing Could Save Lives: Study

A study of Barcelona's bike-sharing program -- called Bicing -- showed that the system not only saved 9,000 tons of pollution from carbon dioxide, but it also led to 12 fewer cycling deaths a year. The study was published last week in the British Medical Journal.

Even though there were small estimated increases in cyclists' deaths from traffic accidents and air pollution -- 0.03 extra deaths and 0.13 deaths each year, respectively -- the study found that about 12 lives were saved from the extra heart-healthy exercise per year.

The overall health benefits of physical activity from cycling outweighed the risks of bike sharing: inhaling air pollutants and road traffic incidents, researchers wrote.

About 180,000 people participated in the Bicing bike-share program by August 2009, and the average person biked an average of roughly two miles a day, researchers reported.

Bike sharing has risen in popularity around the world, in cities like Paris, Washington, D.C., and New York City. Most recently, we reported that bike sharing is coming to San Francisco. Those bikes will come with GPS systems to make them harder to steal.

Comments

[TazoWolf]

10:25 PM on 08/11/2011

My bicycle is now my only vehicle. We have enough bike paths and bike lanes here in Colorado that I can get pretty much wherever I want by bicycle, and get there safely. The cities are now drawing stencils in the roads to let cyclists know the best place to wait at intersections to trigger the sensors, and we're getting more bike lanes every day. we even have a brand new bike path opening soon that parallels the light rail extensions, and will allow cyclists to go between Golden and Denver without ever crossing a major road. I switched to bicycle only when I realized that I just don't need a car. A bicycle does a heck of a lot more for me than a car ever did. It wakes me up in the morning, I arrive at work in a great mood, it keeps me healthy, and if I have a rough day at work, I just pour it on during the ride home, and by the time I'm home, I feel great again!

[nothingchanges]

11:53 AM on 08/10/2011

It is my understanding that the majority of the people of Holland use bicycles as their primary means of transportation, even though the majority also own cars.

I can't speak for anyone but myself, but I have to say in my area of Colorado riding a bike may cost more lives than it saves.

Our roads are built to accommodate vehicle traffic, not bikes, not pedestrians. In my rural community the cross walk signs are linked to the green light signs, vehicles making right hand turns seldom look for pedestrians, all they see is the green light, and they go. The walk signal only signals "walk" for three seconds then begins a thirty second countdown.

Riding a bike, or walking, is something that Americans need to do more. But our society discourages it in nearly every way that it can.

I can't help but remember the storyline in Roger Rabbit, where the public transport system was to be demolished to make way for a free way and the advertising opportunities it provided.

The US is "built" around the automobile. In my opinion, in a lot of ways, that's a net loss.

[TazoWolf]

10:28 PM on 08/11/2011

One isn't supposed to ride bicycles on the sidewalks. Bikes are considered vehicles and cyclists are supposed to follow the same laws as motorists. One isn't supposed to use crosswalks on bicycles... we're supposed to use green lights. If there's no right turn lane to get to the left of, I take the lane, which is my right, to prevent my getting right hooked by turning cars. Most drivers are pretty courteous and understand that I'll move back to the right once I'm past the intersections. I have no problems with this. Sidewalks and crosswalks are for pedestrians, not bicycles. In fact, many jurisdictions, Denver included, have banned bicycles from sidewalks, because it's safer in the roads... we're more visible, and less likely to be hit.

[nothingchanges]

10:22 AM on 08/12/2011

I have been told by my local authorities that if I walk my bicycle across crosswalks, I am a considered a pedestrian.

I agree, most drivers are pretty courteous, but some are not.

I also use my bike as my primary means of transport, and it seem to me that some try to pass me as close as possible, just to let me know that they don't appreciate having to "share the road" with much slower traffic.

My town has few paved shoulders, and riding through weeds is pretty much impractical.

I have been passed by vehicles traveling in excess of 45 MPH within 6" of me on several occasions. I have literally been run off the road more than once.

Each of us, makes our decisions based on personal experience. I recommend bicycling, and feel it should be taken up by more people. But I also know that in a conflict between a bicycle and a 2 ton car, the outcome is not in doubt.

Too many drivers don't pay enough attention to their driving, and are in way too much of a hurry. As cycling increases, so will accidents including fatalities.

Seems to me some of us will be paying a disproportionally high price for our building our entire society around cars.

[colinsito]

07:14 PM on 08/09/2011

Love it here in Toronto.. Works very well. City dwellers love it... Surprised that it is making headway in the US... I thought those tea partiers would nixed any sort on concept like this as way too european.

[UltraClassicII]

06:12 PM on 08/08/2011

More silliness. One more touchy feely program that costs way way more than any benefit it provides.

[alteredstory]

01:11 AM on 08/09/2011

Can I see your source for that cost-benefit analysis?

[pjgm]

05:09 PM on 08/10/2011

I ride a bike to and from work 4 days a week on average. The bike cost me ~$500. That's pretty cheap. I can get a bike share membership for ~$50 per year. Also pretty cheap. If a city is set up properly for biking it is a much better way to get around.

[Tanrioldu]

04:02 PM on 08/08/2011

Not one mention of Montreal's BIXI bike sharing? It has been one of the most successful so far, with implementations being exported to London, Washington DC, Minneapolis, Melbourne, etc.

[euonymous]

03:12 PM on 08/08/2011

Please include Boston in the list of cities with bike programs, due to the leadership of Boston Mayor Tom Menino.

[Elbrando]

03:06 PM on 08/08/2011

It has come to Madison, WI.

[mystshy]

03:05 PM on 08/08/2011

more unprovable bbbbbbbbbssssssssssssssssssssssss

[alteredstory]

01:12 AM on 08/09/2011

I'm curious - what do you think is unprovable? I'm assuming it's not that fewer cars=less pollution, and fewer car crashes, so is it that pollution has a negative impact on people's lives?

[adamben]

02:10 PM on 08/08/2011

i like the gps aspect. hope it works against thefts.

[thewirah]

10:46 AM on 08/08/2011

Bike sharing is great. I don't know why the biggest cities seem to get all the props though. Paris started his bike sharing system when it already existed for almost 10 years in France.

[P51MUSTANG]

10:38 AM on 08/08/2011

Just try and share MY titanium litespeed and the death rate's gonna go up!

[palindrom]

08:02 PM on 08/08/2011

Titanium? That's so --- 1990s.

[DanSc]

10:37 AM on 08/08/2011

Bike sharing also leads to free bikes.