Netherlands: the value of cycling in one of the world’s bicycle capitals

The Netherlands is famous across the world for implementing policies that have led to a high regular use of bicycles for transport. Two researchers from the Netherlands teamed up with a colleague from Australia to use the HEAT to quantify the population-level health benefits accruing from Dutch cycling levels.

Approximately 27% of all trips in the Netherlands are made by bicycle. The researchers used data about cycling levels from a travel diary survey that was conducted among a nationally representative random sample of about 50 000 persons each year. The survey found that Dutch adults spent an average of 74 minutes of cycling per week.

The researchers calculated that cycling prevents about 6500 deaths each year, valued at €19 billion per year.

They also used life table calculations to estimate that Dutch people have a life expectancy that gains one additional half-year because of cycling.

In total, the health benefits correspond to more than 3% of the Dutch gross domestic product.

The study also showed that investments in bicycle-promoting policies, such as for improved bicycle infrastructure and facilities, will likely yield a high cost-benefit ratio in the long term.