Cycling to work makes for happy commuters

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Despite the fact many of us spend hours each week getting to and from work, we know very little about how people experience their commutes. Studies show that cyclists tend to be the happiest commuters, and to find out why researchers surveyed Auckland e-bike commuters about their daily rides. The cyclists highlighted several reasons they enjoyed their mode of getting to work: having control over their trip and arrival time, getting exercise outdoors and social interaction. Promoting these extra benefits of cycling to work could help encourage people to get on their bikes, the researchers say.

Journal/conference: Journal of Transport & Health

Link to research (DOI): 10.1016/j.jth.2019.05.008

Organisation/s: University of Auckland

Funder: Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment.

Media Release

From: Elsevier

Abstract

Introduction

This paper explores the reasons why cyclists are the happiest commuters. Cyclists are consistently shown to have the highest levels of satisfaction with the trip to work, yet the reasons for this contentment remain understudied. Exercise science points to the critical role that pleasure plays in motivating people to engage in and sustain physical activity, and we argue that efforts to ‘bring back the bike’ will rely as much on a keen appreciation of its pleasures as its perils.

Methods

We explore the emergent science of cyclist mode satisfaction: calling upon ethnographic research, transport psychology, exercise science, and in-depth interviews with 24 e-cyclists in Auckland, New Zealand.

Results

We conclude that research points to four important components of high commute satisfaction amongst cyclists: 1) A high degree of commuting control and ‘arrival-time reliability’; 2) Enjoyable levels of sensory stimulation; 3) The ‘feel better’ effects of moderate intensity exercise; and 4) Greater opportunities for social interaction.

Conclusion

We conclude that cycling planning and promotion should move beyond merely focusing on safety to explore how cycling infrastructure can protect and enhance the physical, social and psychological pleasures of cycling. Specific recommendations include designing cycling environments in ways that support sociable riding and relaxed engagement with natural landscapes and urban design features.

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