Wheels of Change

Pedalling to a better tomorrow

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The bicycle has been around since 1817 and its 204 years of existence have been nothing short of exciting. From Thomas Stevens’ infamous penny-farthing journey around the globe to it’s integral role in female emancipation, the bicycle has always been up for the ride. While we have largely been out of touch with our two wheeler friend, it’s time for a reunion, as we embark on our most daunting trail together.

Climate change is proving to be the biggest challenge we have had to face and our trusted old bicycle might just be the answer to a few of those problems. By simply transitioning to cycling as the preferred mode of travel, even if it’s just for short distances, countries can take significant steps towards achieving 6 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations.

Let’s start with the obvious - cycling is good for your health. In some cases, cycling can even help reduce the risk of diabetes, some forms of cancer, cardiovascular diseases and depression. But you probably already knew that, so on to the next obvious fact - air pollution is well... not so good for your health. In fact, it is estimated that on average, over 3.7 million people die per year from exposure to polluted air.

Mike Berners-Lee offers an incredibly interesting perspective on the impact of our individual travel choices on the health of those around us. In his book, ‘There Is No Planet B’, he concludes that for every mile (1.6km) that you drive in a congested city in your diesel combustion engine vehicle, you take away 12 minutes of life from the people you drive past due to your contribution to the air pollution in that area. His summary below can help you calculate your own personal impact.

There is No Planet B, Mike Berners-Lee

Notice how the cycle hasn’t even made it to the chart above? That’s because it’s time for obvious fact number three - cycling doesn’t cause any air pollution and actually helps lower greenhouse gas emissions. The transport sector currently contributes to over 23% of global energy related greenhouse gas emissions where switching from a car to a cycle as a mode of transport saves upwards of 150g of CO² per kilometer! Reports suggest that in a 5 year period, the Dutch people have avoided 7.05 million tonnes of CO² pollution though cycling which is equivalent to planting 272 million trees! Other than carbon emissions, cycling as a mode of transport also helps reduce noise pollution. Like a gift that just keeps giving, cycling benefits the quality of life of not just the one pedalling, but of those around as well!

To add to this, cycling is super fuel efficient, running solely on sheer pedal power, hence lowering the overall amount of fuel you’d need to get around. The more you travel by cycle, the more you help alleviate the pressure on fossil fuels and on the demand for energy which, in an open market, would result in lowered fuel prices, bringing down overall transportation costs, leading to lowered pricing of commodities, hence increasing individual purchasing power.

This reduced demand for energy could also help quicken the transition to renewable sources of energy, solving capacity issues.

And we haven’t even gotten to the best part! Cycling is also very cheap. UNEP estimates that the costs of cycling range from $ 200 to $ 340 per year, while the costs involved in driving a car range from $ 2,800 to $ 9,600 per year, based on an average annual mileage. It’s a clear win-win where what’s good for the planet is also good for your wallet!

Moving on to the broader picture, the cumulative associated economic benefits of cycling in the European Union alone have been estimated to be at least $ 232 billion. In Stone Town in Zanzibar, the climate value of cycling was estimated to be 1,062 tonnes of CO² per year which, if traded on the carbon markets, would be worth US $ 20,994 - 10 times the average income in the country! Cycling also has a positive social impact, yielding a social benefit of $ 0.77 per km whereas cars and buses have a social cost of $ 0.42 and $ 0.33 per km respectively. Cycling as a mode of transport is cheaper for the government as well, from an infrastructure maintenance cost. A 2018 report by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management indicates that the annual infrastructure costs per traveler per km were $ 0.03 for bicycles, $ 0.11 for cars, $ 0.16 for buses and $ 0.20 for trains. Cycling at scale also helps reduce noise pollution, road congestion and the ever increasing need for parking space.

So if saving the world is as simple as riding a bike, why aren’t more people doing it?

To put it simply, cycling takes effort. Not a lot of effort, but it isn’t as convenient as reaching for your car keys. To add to which, city and town infrastructure is often not conducive to safe cycling. Cycling to places instead of driving to them takes commitment and some level of organisation, but so do other things we seem to force ourselves to do, such as going to the gym, having a job and running our house.

“We don’t have to engage in grand, heroic actions to participate in change. Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.” Howard Zinn

You just need to start small. If you can, give cycling a go. Maybe you’ll find that you don’t need your car to visit that friend who lives a few blocks away, or that your office commute actually isn’t that long by bike. Whatever it is, even if it turns out it doesn’t work for you. Try it once? At the very least, you’ll have saved someone else’s 12 minutes.