Skip to main content

Main menu

  • About Us
    • Leadership
    • Our Team
    • Vision, Mission and Values
    • Health and Economic Impact
    • Strategic Plan
  • Our Research
    • Research Focus
      • Brain Health
      • Cancer
      • Cardiovascular Conditions and Diseases
      • Digital Health
      • Health Policy
      • Immunity and Infectious Diseases
      • Joint Health and Mobility
      • Respiratory and Lung Health
      • Spinal Cord Injury and Rehabilitation
    • Research Centres and Programs
      • BC Centre on Substance Use
      • Centre for Aging SMART
      • Centre for Cardiovascular Innovation
      • Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation
      • Centre for Lung Health
      • Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health
      • Immunity and Infection Research Centre
      • International Collaboration On Repair Discoveries
      • Ovarian Cancer Research Centre
      • Vancouver Prostate Centre
      • Community Research Program
      • Emergency Medicine Research Program
      • Hematology Research Program
      • Skin Research Program
      • Other Research Focus Areas
    • News and Stories
    • Researcher Directory
    • Events and Workshops
  • Research Services
    • New to VCHRI
      • Working at VCHRI
      • Regulations and Training
      • Membership with VCHRI
    • Starting Your Project
      • Research Facilitation
      • Awards and Funding
      • Grant Management
      • Operational Approval
      • CST Cerner
    • Developing Your Project
      • Clinical Trials Administration
      • Clinical Research Unit
      • Research Privacy
      • Financial Policies and Procedures
    • Additional Support
      • Education and Training
      • Communications and Branding
      • Media Relations
      • Study Recruitment Support
      • Innovation and Industry Partnership
    • Internal Awards
    • Clinical Research
    • Innovation and Partnership
  • Participate in Research
    • Reasons to Participate
    • Participant Stories
    • Find a Study
    • Recruitment Support

User menu

  • Log in

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Our Research
  3. News and Stories
  4. Ask an expert: Should I continue to cycle to work when the weather’s bad?

Ask an expert: Should I continue to cycle to work when the weather’s bad?

Stories Sep 7, 2018 3 minutes

Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute research scientist Dr. Michael Brauer answers questions about the health benefits and risks of year-round cycling.

Q: I biked to work all summer but now that the days are shorter, wetter and colder, is it still safe?
A:
The most important factor for safe cycling is infrastructure that separates bikes from cars. Here in the Lower Mainland, our separated bike lanes mean more people can bike safely year-round. Ice and snow can be hazardous for cyclists, but there is no scientific reason to stop biking because it is raining. It does however require a bit more planning to keep warm and dry. Having a place to change out of wet clothes and layers at work can also be an issue.  There are now many clothing options to keep you dry and comfortable, and many workplaces have designated changing rooms. Be sure to use bike lights and wear bright and reflective clothing to be visible at night, and even during the day.

Q: I have heard that biking is good for my mental health. Is that true?
A:
Exercise in general is key to maintaining good mental health. Spending time in nature is very beneficial for conditions such as chronic depression. The greener your bike route, the more you will reap the rewards of biking outdoors, and the likelier you will be to spend your day in a better frame of mind. If you compare driving to cycling, cycling is generally much less stressful.

Q: I would like to exercise more. How good is cycling for my physical health?
A:
There is a lot of evidence that people who cycle to work have lower rates of mortality than those who do not. A large 15-year study of adults in Denmark showed a 40 per cent lower death rate for cycle commuters. People who switched to cycling have better cholesterol levels and heart health; research shows that driving in congested traffic can trigger heart attacks. Cyclists also have a reduced risk for many types of cancer. 

Q: What about breathing in car and truck exhaust year-round? Is that bad for my health? 
A:
Even in quite polluted cities, it is still far better to cycle. The physical benefits greatly outweigh any possible negative impacts from breathing in some air pollution. When you sit in your car in traffic, you are also breathing in exhaust from other vehicles, but not experiencing the benefits of physical exercise. Additionally, many bike lanes are built away from heavy traffic.

Q: Apart from better health, are there other benefits to cycling?
A:
Another benefit, which we need to advertise more, is that biking makes things better for car drivers! If you have 5,000 bikes going over a bridge that’s 5,000 fewer cars. That is a huge impact on congestion. We spend a lot of our tax dollars on maintaining roads. Bikes create much less wear and tear on roads, and end up saving governments money that they can divert to other things. More cyclists make cities more liveable—less traffic and noise is better for everyone. 

Dr. Michael Brauer is a professor in the School of Population and Public Health in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. Brauer and his colleagues have developed an online tool bicycle commuters can use to plan the safest, least polluted, greenest and easiest routes to get to where they need to go.

 

Researchers

Michael Brauer

Related Articles

New healthy aging program to supercharge digital health for seniors

Exercise improves cognitive function for chronic stroke patients

Exercising to keep breast cancer from coming back

Share:

  • Facebook
  • Linkedin
  • X
  • Email

Get the latest research headlines in your inbox

Subscribe

Recent News and Stories

Type
Stories

Sniffing sleuths: Canine disease detectives

Sep 9, 2023 innovation, COVID
Type
Stories

Introducing the 2023/24 VCHRI Trainee Committee

Sep 7, 2023 trainee, people feature
Type
Stories

Community care for complex health needs

Sep 5, 2023 community support, HIV, substance use
See more news

Get updates!

Join our newsletter mailing list to stay up to date on features and releases.

Subscribe

Quick Links

  • News and Stories
  • Careers
  • Events
  • Media Enquiries

Follow Us

  • X
  • LinkedIn

© 2023 VCHRI. All rights reserved.

  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy