Cycling economy contributes to the contemporary society

Posted by tan xiao yan on

Cycling economy
Since 2011, the first introduction of the framework of “cycling economy” has been proposed. It keeps the cycling economy developing at the forefront of policy thought and its key concept is “Active Mobility”. Recently, cycling economy develops fast and a new economic model appeared to serve the need of people, not for financial organizations. Moreover, the human right also becomes an important factor to be a concern in the developing system of cycling economy. In the other hand, there is more and more evidence to prove that cycling can keep fit for people. Policymakers pay more attention to the economic effects that behind the benefit of cycling. Cycling itself pushes the development of the economy.

The benefits of being physically active outweigh the costs
There is no doubt that the benefits of being regular cycling or walking overweight the costs from it. The Health Economic Assessment Tools (HEAT), as an innovative and easily accessible online tool, estimates the economic value of reductions in mortality from physically active. Yet, with the positive factors, it still broadens wider discussion for the safety problem. Will cycling be exposed to increased health risks from injuries and air pollutants relative to other road users? In the past several years, a lot of research has made on this question and the results were reviewed by Bas de Geus (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium). Bas illustrated the benefits of being physically active greatly overweight the costs.



The impact of cycling for society
From ECF (the European Cyclists’ Federation), we can see cycling played an important role that replied the global financial and economic crisis that started in 2008. During the economic crisis, job creation became the main solution in EU. About this context, ECF made a study that quantifies the contribution of the cycling sector to job creation in Europe. This study realized with the support from ECF’s partner in the cycling industry club. So it can continue the work about the analysis on the cycling economy and estimation the economic effects.

So far, the factors of investments in cycling have tended to like the need of a more efficient transport system, congestion relief or health benefits. But the employment in the cycling sector was not considered an argument at the international level, except for cycling tourism. The purpose of the study is to show that the employment in cycling sector is a beneficial investment in cycling, also a benefit in its own right. The study shows the assessment of the economic value of the cycling sector in the European economy, especially on jobs and employment.

Also, as one part of cycling economy, E-bike derivatives from the bicycle and pushes the development of transportation. They are accessories infrastructure. Especially, it appears the public resource of bicycles and E-bikes which stimulates the development of cycling economy.


The impact of cycling for sustainability
With the global warming, we all have been required to try everything we can do to build a sustainable society. The automobile is one of the main reasons to push the development of fossil energy. The rise of cars is not only causing the traffic jam but also contributing the harmful gas to change the climate.

As a sort of aerobic exercise, cycling is one obvious green way to reduce the carbon footprint. The report showed if the UK increased the usage of the cycle to replace cars, it would reduce Britain’s total greenhouse emissions by 0.6m tons. So that is the reason why we longing a more sustainable transport system. The way to build a sustainable society successfully, it depends on the measure of government. The government has to invest heavily in supporting public service and infrastructure, including bike lanes. Thus, cycling is helpful to the public transport system. We should realize the changes and ensure the transition from non-sustainability to sustainability so that the next generation can inherit a more human and fairer world.

A global approach
It will be a trend that cycling economy changes into a powerful tool for decision-makers and investors. To develop more strong and sustainable economic concepts, human rights are one indispensable element for investment providing the primary objective and global approach. “Cycling economy grid” is a brief grid but combining the three levels which are concerning human and society-- business level, best asset level and human rights level. The ECF continuing to research and develop the concept of cycling economy will lead to more content in the future.

Conclusion
Sustainability and eco-friendly society remain the main purpose that we chase for. Owing to the harmful things we did to the earth, the earth started to reward us in her way. In the aspect of the economy, the development of cycling economy is a new pattern to reply the attack by the economy crisis in the future and build a sustainable world. In the other hand, driving on cycling economy can increase the quality of human’s life because it can improve the environment where we live.

The economic effect hiding in the cycling is foreseeable. According to the cycling economy framework, what we can do to the cycling world is to respect cycling, invest cycling and build a cycling friendly world!