Biking Is 6 TImes Cheaper Than Driving
ByNew research suggests that getting around on a bike might be more practical than driving.
Researchers at Lund University and the University of Queensland found that traveling by car is six times more expensive for society, and for people individually, than cycling, phys.org reported.
For the study, researchers examined a cost-benefit analysis used by the Copenhagen Municipality to determine whether new cycling infrastructure should be built. They considered the price of purchasing a car and insurance and how they compare o bicycles in terms of air pollution, climate change, travel route, noise, road wear, health and congestion in Copenhagen.
They found that have a significantly "greater negative impact on the economy than bicycles," ENN reported.
When the costs to society and the costs to private individuals are added together, "the impact of the car is EUR 0.50 per kilometer and the impact of the bicycle is EUR 0.08 per kilometer," ENN reported.
"The cost-benefit analysis in Copenhagen shows that investments in cycling infrastructure and bike-friendly policies are economically sustainable and give high returns," researcher Stefan Gössling said in a statement.
The findings are detailed in the journal Ecological Economics.