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Active transport: "Potential for decreasing emissions is huge" concludes study

Researchers advocate “doing more of a good thing combined with doing less of a bad thing – and doing it now”

Cycling, e-biking and walking can help tackle the climate crisis, according to a new study led by the University of Oxford’s Transport Studies Unit. “Our findings suggest that, even if not all car trips could be substituted by bicycle trips, the potential for decreasing emissions is huge,” said co-author Dr Audrey de Nazelle.

The study followed nearly 2,000 people in seven European cities (Antwerp, Barcelona, London, Rome, Vienna, Zurich and Orebro in Sweden), collecting data on daily travel behaviour and journey purpose.

The team then performed statistical modelling to assess how changes in active mobility, the ‘main mode’ of daily travel, and cycling frequency would influence mobility-related CO2 emissions.

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Those who already cycled were found to have 84% lower CO2 emissions from all daily travel than non-cyclists.

The greatest benefits resulting from switching to active modes of transport from driving were for business travel. Strikingly, this was followed by social and leisure trips and only then commuting.

Lead researcher Dr Christian Brand, from the University of Oxford, said: “We found that those who switch just one trip per day from car driving to cycling reduce their carbon footprint by about 0.5 tonnes over a year, representing a substantial share of average per capita CO2 emissions.

“If just 10% of the population were to change travel behaviour, the emissions savings would be around 4% of lifecycle CO2 emissions from all car travel.”

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He added: “A typical response to the climate crisis is to ‘do something’, such as planting more trees, or switching to electric vehicles. While these are important and effective, they are neither sufficient nor fast enough to meet our ambitious climate targets.

“Doing more of a good thing combined with doing less of a bad thing – and doing it now – is much more compliant with a ‘net zero’ pathway and preserving our planet’s and our own futures. Switching from car to active mobility is one thing to do, which would make a real difference, and we show here how good this can be in cities.”

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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4 comments

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Seagull2 | 3 years ago
5 likes

I am lucky to have 13 mi/21 km commute to work on mostly reasonable to good cycle lanes, with some short stretches that require more defensive cycling. Due to lockdown in Dublin with reduced traffic volumes , last Monday i cycled home mostly in the middle of the bus lane, with a tail wind , it was the most enjoyable spin I've had in a while. In Ireland, we are on a 5 km leash, so sadly the Dublin mountains and beyond are off limits for me, hence the increased commuting by bike,  but i feel it is something i will maintain even when lockdown eases, as it reduces my car use, and is great for the head. 

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hawkinspeter replied to Seagull2 | 3 years ago
4 likes

Seagull2 wrote:

I am lucky to have 13 mi/21 km commute to work on mostly reasonable to good cycle lanes, with some short stretches that require more defensive cycling. Due to lockdown in Dublin with reduced traffic volumes , last Monday i cycled home mostly in the middle of the bus lane, with a tail wind , it was the most enjoyable spin I've had in a while. In Ireland, we are on a 5 km leash, so sadly the Dublin mountains and beyond are off limits for me, hence the increased commuting by bike,  but i feel it is something i will maintain even when lockdown eases, as it reduces my car use, and is great for the head. 

Pshaw! Obviously fake as there's no such thing as a tail wind.

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nikkispoke | 3 years ago
6 likes

I wonder if this startling and surprising news (not really) will make a headline in any of the media especially certain daily newspapers ! Oh well perhaps back to reality ?

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eburtthebike replied to nikkispoke | 3 years ago
4 likes

nikkispoke wrote:

I wonder if this startling and surprising news (not really) will make a headline in any of the media especially certain daily newspapers ! Oh well perhaps back to reality ?

Beat me to it!  I look forward to this being ignored by the media immediately, especially the BBC.  I've bunged a link to a couple of BBC progs, but I anticipate zero reaction, as per their corporate policy of not mentioning anything beneficial about cycling ever.

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