A National Cycling Strategy: A Triple Win for Public Health

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) declares its support for a National Cycling Strategy, arguing it would provide a "triple win" for public health by reducing chronic diseases, mitigating air pollution, and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

• A National Cycling Strategy could lower the prevalence of chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, which are increasing across Canada. Cardiovascular disease specifically costs Canada $12 billion annually. Active transportation like cycling addresses the primary barrier to physical activity—lack of time—by integrating exercise into commutes. One study indicated that walking or cycling to work reduces the risk of chronic disease by 11%, though safety, specifically protected bike lanes, is a prerequisite for many users, including women and children.
• Implementing a National Cycling Strategy would mitigate health issues caused by air pollution, which the CMA estimated in 2008 caused 21,000 premature deaths annually in Canada and cost $10 billion per year in lost time and direct health care. Because the transportation sector is a major pollution source, particularly in major traffic corridors and large urban centers, replacing short car trips with bike trips can reduce these health impacts and associated costs.
• A National Cycling Strategy would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with the transportation sector currently accounting for approximately 25% of all such emissions in Canada. This is framed as a public health necessity because climate change is described by the WHO as the most significant public health threat of the 21st century. In Canada, climate change is already manifesting as increased frequency and intensity of floods, droughts, heat waves, severe storms, and wildfires, as well as the spread of Lyme Disease and West Nile Virus.

APA

Perrotta, K. (2017). A National Cycling Strategy: A Triple Win for Public Health. Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. https://cape.ca/a-national-cycling-strategy-a-triple-win-for-public-health/

Chicago

Perrotta, Kim. A National Cycling Strategy: A Triple Win for Public Health. Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, 2017. https://cape.ca/a-national-cycling-strategy-a-triple-win-for-public-health/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Perrotta |first1=Kim |title=A National Cycling Strategy: A Triple Win for Public Health |publisher=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |date=6 June 2017 |url=https://cape.ca/a-national-cycling-strategy-a-triple-win-for-public-health/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{perrotta2017national, author = {Perrotta, Kim}, title = {{A National Cycling Strategy: A Triple Win for Public Health}}, publisher = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, year = {2017}, month = jun, url = {https://cape.ca/a-national-cycling-strategy-a-triple-win-for-public-health/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }