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Health
Benefits
Transportation
Benefits
Environmental
Benefits
Economic
Benefits
Quality
of Life Benefits
Health
Facts
Travel
Facts
Pollution
Facts
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 Health Benefits
- The health benefits of regular physical activity are
far-reaching: reduced risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and
other chronic diseases; lower health care costs; and improved quality
of life for people of all ages.
- Physical activity need not be unduly strenuous for an
individual to reap significant health benefits. Even small increases
in light to moderate activity, equivalent to walking for about 30
minutes a day, will produce measurable benefits among those who are
least active.
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 Transportation Benefits
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Many of the trips that Americans make every day are
short enough to be accomplished on a bicycle, on foot or via
wheelchair. The 1995 National Personal Transportation Survey found
that approximately 40% of all trips are less than 2 miles in length
– which represents a 10 minute bike ride or a 30 minute walk.
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Bicycling and walking can help to reduce roadway
congestion. Many streets and highways carry more traffic than they
were designed to handle, resulting in wasted time and energy,
pollution, driver frustration, and gridlock. Bicycling and walking
require less space per traveler than automobiles.
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 Environmental Benefits
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Motor vehicles create a substantial amount of air
pollution. In fact, transportation is responsible for nearly 80% of
carbon monoxide and 50% of nitrogen oxide emissions in the U.S.
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Although individual cars are much cleaner today
than they were in earlier years, if total traffic continues to grow,
overall air quality will deteriorate. Moreover, cars and trucks burn
millions of barrels of oil, a non-renewable energy source, every
day.
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 Economic Benefits
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Bicycling and walking are affordable forms of
transportation. Car ownership is expensive, and consumes a major
portion of many Americans’ income.
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The cost of operating a car for one year is
approximately $5,170 (AAA Mid-Atlantic).
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The cost of operating a bicycle for a year is only
$120 (League of American Bicyclists).
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The average family has to work for more than 6
weeks to pay a year’s car expenses, compared to less than one day
needed to pay for a year’s bicycle expenses. (Based on U.S.
Census, 1998 median family income figures).
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Walking is FREE!
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 Quality of Life Benefits
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In a growing number of communities, bicycling and
walking are considered as indicators of a community’s livability
– a factor that has a profound impact on attracting businesses and
workers as well as tourism.
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In cities and towns where people can regularly be
seen out bicycling and walking, there is a palpable sense that these
are safe and friendly places to live and visit.
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 Health Facts
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60% of Americans lead completely sedentary
lifestyles, and 40% are clinically overweight.
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Research conducted in 1999 by the Centers for
Disease Control found that "obesity and being overweight are
linked to the nation’s number one killer – heart disease – as
well as diabetes and other chronic conditions." The report also
states that one reason for Americans sedentary lifestyle is that
"walking and cycling have been replaced by automobile travel
for all but the shortest distances."
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Regular physical activity may help maintain weight,
control blood pressure, raise the level of "good"
cholesterol, and reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
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 Travel Facts
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One in ten U.S. households do not own an
automobile.
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About one-third of all Americans cannot or do not
drive – they may be too young, too old, or unable to afford a car.
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About 40% of all trips are shorter than 2 miles –
a 10 minute bike ride or a 30 minute walk.
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 Pollution Facts
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Motor vehicle emissions represent 31% of total
carbon dioxide, 81% of carbon monoxide, and 49% of nitrogen oxides
released in the U.S.
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60% of the pollution created by automobile
emissions happen in the first few minutes of operation, before
pollution control devices can work effectively. Since "cold
starts" create high levels of emissions, shorter car trips are
more polluting on a per-mile basis than longer trips.
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A short, four-mile round trip by bicycle keeps
about 15 pounds of pollutants out of the air we breathe.
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Air pollution contributes to the deaths of 60,000
people nationwide.
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