There are plenty of reasons for people of all political stripes to support biking from a fiscal responsibility angle. Check out the results of a new study of biking in 11 Midwestern cities:
They found that if the Midwesterners ran half of their short-distance errands by bike rather than by car, 1,100 deaths would be avoided each year, and $7 billion would be saved in reduced health-care costs. The trips were 2.5 miles one way; less than a 25-minute bike ride, the researchers figure.
The benefits were based on a presumed reduction in air pollution particulates and ozone, which increase the risk of heart attack, strokes, and asthma. They also factored in the health benefits of increased exercise, and applied that to the 31 million people living in the Upper Midwest.
I believe now is the appropriate time for a Doug Merrit infographic we ran back in June:
“Study by bike advocacy group finds that bikes are good”
“The benefits were based on a presumed reduction in air pollution particulates and ozone, which increase the risk of heart attack, strokes, and asthma. They also factored in the health benefits of increased exercise, and applied that to the 31 million people living in the Upper Midwest.”
Clap. Trap.
Science says a lot of things I choose to ignore to my detriment, why is this new?
I bought a car in September. Despite making me feel guilty, it’s kind of awesome.
Of course it’s 12 below zero there, so good luck with that.
Portland has a GDP of $105.5 Billion. $90 million is a drop in the Pacific Ocean. Cars pollute and lead to injuries and deaths but they contribute to the economy way more than bikes ever will unfortunately.
@ J. Freeman:
An earthquake, or me burning down your house, would also contribute to the GDP in all kinds of different ways. The way we count what really matters is extremely out of whack.
And 90 million is about 1/1000 of 105.5 billion so saying “a drop in the Pacific Ocean” is an exaggeration of pretty huge proportions. Anyway, so what? Did you expect some silver bullet solution? Maybe it being a small figure just means a lot more people should get on board with it.
What’s with all these nay-sayers? It’s bikes, people! This is Portland! Is biking in Portland such a common thing now that it’s gone all the way around to being not cool again?
Smirk you forgot to count all those bike thieves in employment numbers.