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Cycling to work is only healthy if the government makes it safe, new study says

For male cyclists between the ages of 20 and 29, the negative impacts of cycling outweigh the positive, according to the study.

90388888_90388888 Leah Farrell Leah Farrell

MAKING THE MOVE to a cycling commute may be healthy, but it only makes sense if an individual can cycle in a safe environment a new study claims.

The behaviour of more than 50,000 commuters in Dublin (as documented by the Central Statistics Office) was consulted for the study, which involved researchers from Trinity College and has just been published in the Journal of Transport and Health.

The study found that generally speaking making the move to the bike has a positive effect on a person’s health – with a 10-20% reduction in conditions like heart disease, breast and colon cancer, dementia, diabetes and, interestingly, depression.

However, for men aged between 20 and 29, the risk of collision when switching from driving to cycling are heightened.

Already a demographic with a high risk of collision, that risk increases with every extra kilometre cycled according to the study – to such an extent that the net impact of taking the ‘healthy option’ is in fact a negative one, thus giving scientific credence to the thought that cycling in Dublin is both scary and hazardous.

“Individuals who cycle are also exposed to increased air pollution doses and an increased risk of traffic collision and injury,” said the study’s senior author, assistant professor of civil engineering at Trinity Bidisha Ghosh.

The results of this work show that cities promoting a shift from driving to cycling should focus on providing safer cycling infrastructure and cleaner air to keep cycling as the healthiest choice of city commute.

The study concludes that for cycling to work to be truly worthwhile in Dublin, the available infrastructure needs to be made safer.

In order to do so, it recommends certain infrastructural changes:

  • Improved cycle lanes
  • Traffic calming measures in residential areas
  • Awareness of cyclists to be encouraged among drivers

The study, Health Impact of Cycling in Dublin on Individual Cyclists and on the Local Population, can be read in full here

Read: Mystery surrounds death of man whose body was found on road in Wicklow

Read: Poll: Do you monitor how many units of alcohol you drink?

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    Mute mamaise
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    Aug 25th 2014, 11:19 AM

    Pharma cliff?? a friend of mine has to take tablets following an operation for the rest of his life, they cost €190 per month, he found them in Spain for €10, and of course his medical card was revoked. So now himself & the wife go to Spain twice a year to SAVE money! The Irish people are just sick of getting robbed by their own government.

    Get rid of the pension levy that was unfairly applied to one section of tge work force & reduce the USC or petrol costs next, give people a chance to get back up on their feet again

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    Mute HARRY MARKOPOLOS
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    Aug 25th 2014, 11:34 PM

    Amen.
    Ulster Bank (the UK’s very own Irish Nationwide) are only trying to talk up their Celtic Tiger Ponzi Scheme loanbook, just so that they can try and hawk the whole bank to some halfwit hedge fund.

    4
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    Mute John Coady
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    Aug 25th 2014, 11:46 AM

    I love when these so called experts make these fascinating predictions cause when they get it horrible wrong it makes them look great!!! They know and i know economics does not work!!! Its all on credit nd nobody gives two sh***!!!!

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    Mute Taxi Bill
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    Aug 25th 2014, 11:16 AM

    We are f****d so!

    34
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    Mute SeanieRyan
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    Aug 25th 2014, 11:44 AM

    For most of the last century this would be called healthy growth for a western economy.

    In the dystopian Euro zone it is however a boom, growth of any kind is such a distant memory for people in the Eurozone and EU that some even talk about this being a return to Celtic Tiger growth.

    For most of Europe 3% growth will not return for many years to come.

    Stagnation and decline are the legacy of the Euro.

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    Mute Chris Mansfield
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    Aug 25th 2014, 11:54 AM

    While Eurozone monetary policy isn’t helping I feel that people are underestimating the effect of demographic change on Eurozone growth.

    For most of the last century, European countries had expanding workforces and an expanding population. Few have that nowadays and some are even shrinking. That makes a comparison with growth rates in other parts of the world impractical.

    In fact, most of Europe has seen anaemic growth for 30 years or so, long before the Euro came into existence.

    Unfortunately, it takes 30 years to solve a birthrate problem, even if you can figure out how to do it.

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    Mute Ahippo
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    Aug 25th 2014, 2:03 PM

    A far more cogent explanation than that of Seanie FFryan

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    Mute Ryan Ash
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    Aug 25th 2014, 6:59 PM

    And Ireland, with the youngest population in Europe, in well placed compared to greying Germany and France – among others.

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    Mute Alan O'connor
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    Aug 25th 2014, 11:48 AM

    And the complainers and whingers are out of the blocks quickly. Have to stifle any good feeling. How will the Sinners be elected otherwise?

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    Mute Sam Bartell
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    Aug 25th 2014, 12:14 PM

    And to whose standards are you comparing these alleged “sinners”? God, budda, allah, the ever mystical purple sky monkey?

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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Aug 25th 2014, 12:23 PM

    Alan yet you are nearly always one of the first to whinge about whingers,amazing isn’t it.

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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Aug 25th 2014, 12:24 PM

    “Sinners” surely you meant “shinners” they are the group you’re obsessed with.

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    Mute Griska
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    Aug 25th 2014, 12:33 PM

    There’s an article on this site about increasing numbers of children going to school hungry.
    So I’m not buying any of this sh!t.

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Aug 25th 2014, 12:56 PM

    The state if the economy has no bearing on whether or not parents get their act together and feed their kids.

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Aug 25th 2014, 12:56 PM

    *of

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    Mute Griska
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    Aug 25th 2014, 3:07 PM

    Really? You don’t link disadvantage to hunger?
    Do you think teachers in prosperous areas are bringing breakfast in for their pupils?

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    Mute Ahippo
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    Aug 25th 2014, 11:25 AM

    Seeing as how we have such a terrible government I wonder who should get the credit for this – I know Sinn Fail and Fianna Fein. Let’s vote them into power at the election !

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    Mute Alan O'connor
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    Aug 25th 2014, 3:54 PM

    Yes I meant Shinners. And while not obsessed I certainly don’t want them anywhere near power in the country I live in. Which is why any economic good news is always welcome as it undermines their constant negativity in pursuit of votes.

    Thanks for playing.

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