Five things you might not know about cycling

1. Latest data from the Transport and Population Data Centre reports bicycles as the fastest growing mode of travel in Sydney (9.2% year on year 2002/03)

2. RTA bicycle count data shows a 45% increase in bicycle traffic volume between 2002 and 2005 on the key commuter routes into Sydney CBD where the RTA have made significant improvements in bicycle infrastructure.

3. When travel time is measured from door to door for trips up to 5km on congested roads, bicycles are generally faster than any other mode of transport.

4. Strange but True - Miranda Devine is a celebrity supporter of the Sydney Body Art Ride and Michael Duffy rides to work every day!

5. Bikes have consistently outsold cars in Australia for the past six years, with sales of more than a million per year for the past four years.

More good reasons to ride:



A recent University of Central Florida study entitled "28 Reasons to Bike" notes that the Dutch are healthier and less likely to die in road accidents. The Dutch obesity rate is 10 percent vs. 31 percent for Americans. The Netherlands has 6.3 highway deaths per 100,000 of population, compared with almost 15 in the United States. Cycling also helps reduce urban sprawl: A single-occupant car takes up 20 times as much urban space as a bicycle. And an urban freeway costs 2,500 times more than an urban bike path.

Exercise makes people’s bodies feel good. Exercise lifts people’s spirits. Bikers are not anonymous the way drivers are; hence their traffic interactions are much more civil. Riding a bike instead of a Hummer to work is just one way to opt out of the consumeristic battle to flaunt your wealth–the struggle to keep up with (or better) your neighbours creates much unhappiness in many cultures.

A recent University of Central Florida study entitled "28 Reasons to Bike" notes that the Dutch are healthier and less likely to die in road accidents. The Dutch obesity rate is 10 percent vs. 31 percent for Americans. Australia is running a close second and rapidly catching up.

The Netherlands has 6.3 highway deaths per 100,000 of population, compared with almost 15 in the United States.

Cycling also helps reduce urban sprawl: A single-occupant car takes up 20 times as much urban space as a bicycle. And an urban freeway costs 2,500 times more than an urban bike path.

Enjoy free parking every time you arrive by bicycle. No need to worry about expiring parking meters or parking tickets either. Fifteen bicycles can be parked in the same space taken up by one car. Fewer parking garages could create the opportunity for more parks and open space.

The British Medical Association has estimated that the health benefits of bicycling outweigh the risks by twenty to one.

Regular cyclists enjoy a fitness level equal to that of a person ten years younger. -National Forum for Coronary Heart Disease Foundation.

Bicycles create nearly no noise. It's much easier to enjoy the sound of birds and the sound of leaves rustling in the wind without the constant drone of automobile traffic.

Cycling at least 3 hours a week cuts your risk of heart disease in HALF compared to those who do not cycle or perform other exercise, according to the British Heart association.

Reduce your exposure to air pollutants. "Exposure to some air pollutants and toxic compounds can be 2 to 10 times higher inside cars than outside, according to 1999 data. A two year study in California found that concentrations of carbon monoxide, benzene, MTBE, and other harmful compounds are higher inside cars than at roadside monitoring stations.

Lose the extra pounds. A 15-minute bike ride to and from work or school five times a week burns off the equivalent of 11 pounds of fat in a year. -Leeds: Cycling and Health

Multiple studies have found that moderate exercise, such as bicycling, has been found to reduce levels of depression and stress, improve mood and raise self-esteem.

Bike commuting reduces the air pollutants that cause asthma and bronchitis.

Bicycling is often faster than riding in a car or on public transport. Enjoy the added flexibility of transporting yourself on your own schedule. No more waiting around for buses or trains.

Automobiles kill and maim tens of thousands of people and animals every year --bicycles don’t.