Promote the use of bicycle as a means of transport to go to work should be a matter of state. In this way, the phrase may seem too tremendous and somewhat exaggerated, but the truth is that the impact it would have at the economic, health and environmental level would be huge.
As huge as,
Using the bicycle to go to work could save 990 million euros in sanitary spending to a year, another 2.5 billion in productive losses, more than 2.7 million tons of CO2 emissions to the atmosphere and even 13.4 percent of the deaths that occur in Spain.
You do not believe it? Well, keep reading, that we are going to unravel this data one by one to convince you of the importance of promoting the use of the bicycle to go to work.
Almost one billion to Social Security
First advantage of promoting the use of the bike to go to work: almost half of the Spaniards do not do any physical or sports activity. Specifically, 42 percent of the population is. According to the report "The economic cost of sedentary lifestyle in Europe" prepared by the International Sports and Culture Association, physical inactivity generates in Spain a sanitary expense of 990 million euros (
fountain).
Introduce a simple habit, such as going to work by bicycle instead of sitting in the car,
It would help save social security almost one billion in sanitary coverage as a result of the ailments and diseases associated with sedentary lifestyle.
Besides,
One in three Europeans acknowledges that going to work by car generates more stress that your work activity (
fountain). Therefore, bike to work would not only improve the physical health of Spaniards, but also mental health.
2.5 billion in productivity
Companies would also notice an increase in labor productivity if their employees use the bicycle more and less the car. The study "Physical Activity and Sports: a new approach to the well -being" by Lese points out that
The loss of productivity attributable to diseases and ailments caused by sedentary lifestyle can be estimated at 2.5 billion euros per year (
fountain).
In addition, this study indicates that 13.4% of deaths in Spain could avoid physical exercise. And concludes that
"A euro invested exclusively in sports promotion produces approximate savings of 50 euros in accumulated health expenses for 15 years".
In short: going to work by bicycle is not only good for health, but also for the improvement of labor productivity.
Environmental impact
The contamination generated by the gases of motor vehicles begins to be a public health problem in some cities. Some cities, such as Madrid, have banned parking in the center as a measure to deter the use of the car on days of maximum pollution peaks.
According to the I Study of Edenred transport habits 60 percent of the Spaniards use the car to go to work every day. Throughout the year this translates into
more than 2,200 kilometers traveled and more than € 800 spent on fuel. 41 percent of them takes more than an hour to complete a journey that in most cases does not exceed 9.8 kilometers.
There are 17 million Spaniards affiliated with Social Security, 60 percent goes by car, the distance they travel after a year between their home and the work is 2,200 kilometers and the average emissions of CO2 per car enrolled in Spain is 123 grams/kilometer. With the calculator in the hand,
Using the bicycle as a means of transport to go to work, more than 2.7 million tons of CO2 emissions could be saved to the atmosphere.
Conclusion: More bike and less car
If most of the displacements to go to work are within the same city, and there are reports, studies and analysis that suggest that replacing the car with the bike would save billions of euros, would reduce pollution, and increase productivity,
What do the rulers expect to promote the use of the bicycle as a means of transport to go to work?
