Collection of Cycle Concepts 2012.pdf - Fietsberaad

HEALTH AND CYCLING
Inspiration to exercise
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very low fitness level, 4 participants a low fitness
level, and 2 participants an average fitness level.
At the project’s conclusion they all had a very
high fitness level. This voluntary test indicates
that daily exercise has a powerful effect on
people who formerly used a car as their primary
transport mode.
The exercise argument for biking
For many people exercise is already one of the
main reasons for cycling on a daily basis. A
number of councils have carried out bicycle
account surveys or other opinion polls about
people’s reasons for cycling, from which it
is evident that the exercise aspect plays an
what could get them to bike more. Faced with
important role. In Frederikshavn 92% cite exercise daily time pressure, the opportunity to combine
as a reason for cycling while the fact that it is fast exercise with transport may be a determining
and convenient comes in second with 71%. In factor when choosing to cycle.
Copenhagen and Frederiksberg exercise and fresh
air are cited as the second most important factor In other words, adding a health benefit focus
while the fact that biking is fast and convenient to behavior campaigns aimed at adults and
is number one. In Frederiksberg 83% cite
children is an excellent idea, and at the same
exercise as one of their reasons for cycling. The time cross-disciplinary collaboration within
same pattern emerges when citizens are asked local administrations should be strengthened,
100%
50%
Daily cyclists Non-daily cyclists
Men
Women
Men
Women
combining the traditional traffic and
environmental arguments for cycling (i.e. cycling
is faster, results in less congestion and has no
negative environmental impact) with the health
benefits.
HEALTH POLICIES
In many areas cycling promotion is an integral
part of the community’s health policy and
preventive health strategy. Effective crossadministrative
collaboration creates a synergistic
effect between cycling itself and the use of
cycling as an active preventive element for all
age groups. Politicians as well as the general
population are increasingly focusing on health
and prevention, and specially earmarked funds
are often allocated for the purpose. Collaboration
can mean increased value for money. It activates
the inactive, encourages more children and
commuters to bike, and creates better conditions
for those who bike already.
0%
Poor
Fair
Good
Very good
Excellent
A survey carried out by the city of Odense shows that people who cycle feel they are in better shape
than people who don’t. 6.10
A good example of this is the city of Aalborg.
In 2007 Aalborg formulated a health policy
for the entire municipality. Health policy work
was broadly based involving all municipal
administrations, and focused on diet, smoking,
alcohol and exercise. Cycling was one of the
focus areas and the following was made
explicit: “… it is important that there are green
recreational areas available to all citizens and
that there are safe roads and cycle tracks to cycle
on.” The policy serves as a guideline for crossdisciplinary
initiatives; the different professional
administrations cooperate, thereby generating
increased value across administrative boundaries.