ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the health benefits of cycling, taking a broad definition of health to include physical, mental and psychosocial health, and community health, and assesses cycling benefits across the lifespan. In only a few countries is cycling behavior prevalent enough to stratify active commuting into walking and cycling. Cycling to school was associated with higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness compared with those traveling to school by passive (motorised) transport. As cycling is an efficient form of moderate to vigorously intense physical activity, one can assume that any physical and mental health benefits of cycling are mediated through achieving greater amounts of physical activity. Cycling injuries in children and adults have declined since 2010 in high-income countries. For children, the decline may be related to declines in the number of children cycling to and from school. Other health risks of cycling are rare.
