Why You Should Walk or Cycle to Work: Insights from a New Study

By Adebowale Bello. Freelance Health Writer.

People cycling to work in an African city. Click on image to enlarge. Photo by Kikomeko Jackson

We all love comfort, especially when it comes to transportation. It’s tempting to jump in your car, take a bike or stop a cab, even for short trips. Although you may get to your destination faster, new research has shown that walking or cycling to work keeps you healthier and in top shape.

Walking and cycling have always been linked with numerous benefits such as improved heart health, a healthy weight and muscular strength. Additionally, research shows that people who walk or cycle regularly are 11% and 10% less likely to die prematurely, respectively.

Even though walking and cycling are more beneficial, fewer Africans especially in the middle and lower upper class view these as alternatives when heading to work.

An 18-year study led by a team of researchers in Scotland, UK, focused on the significant health benefits of walking and cycling to work. 

The study was based on census data, from which 82,297 individuals aged 16–74 years were selected. The individuals were followed-up between 2001 and 2018 and linked to their hospitalisation, death and prescription records. It controlled for a range of pre-existing health conditions, population statistics and socioeconomic types as it compared people who cycle and  walk to work with those who don't for a range of health outcomes.

The study found that young city-dwelling women who lived close to their workplaces preferred walking, while young men favoured cycling.

Here are the benefits highlighted in the study:

If you walk, you're:

• 10% less likely to have a heart disease

• 9% less likely to be hospitalised for any reason

• 7% less likely to be diagnosed with a mental health condition

If you cycle, you're:

• 51% less likely to die of cancer

• 47% less likely to die early

• 30% less likely to be prescribed drugs for a heart condition

• 24% less likely to be hospitalised because of heart disease

• 24% less likely to be diagnosed with cancer

• 20% less likely to receive prescription for mental health problems

• 10% less likely to have a heart disease

However, cycling to work did come with an increased risk of traffic accidents. This is more so in most cities of sub-Saharan Africa where dedicated cycling routes on roadways are lacking and driving behaviors and rules are mostly chaotic and unregulated.

What can this mean for you as an African?

Small lifestyle changes can lead to big health improvements. Walking or cycling to work can boost both your mental and physical health and it’s not just for those without other options.

Start by choosing one day a week to walk or cycle to work. As you get more comfortable, gradually increase the number of days. Embracing walking or cycling to work is more than just a transportation choice; it’s a step towards a healthier, more active lifestyle.

Be mindful and always take the peculiar hazards of walking or cycling on roadways in your specific location into consideration. Wear a safety helmet and comfortable but bright coloured topware when cycling on the road.

Source:

Catherine Friel, David Walsh, Bruce Whyte, Chris Dibben, Zhiqiang Feng, Graham Baker, Paul Kelly, Evangelia Demou, Ruth Dundas, John Weller - Health benefits of pedestrian and cyclist commuting: evidence from the Scottish Longitudinal Study: BMJ Public Health 2024;2:e001295. Available from here

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Published: July 22, 2024

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