Historical patterns and sustainability implications of worldwide bicycle ownership and use
Journal article
Chen, Wu, Carstensen, Trine, Wang, Ranran, Derrible, Sybil, Rojas Rueda, David, Nieuwenhuijsen, Marius Joannes and Liu, Gang. (2022). Historical patterns and sustainability implications of worldwide bicycle ownership and use. Communications Earth & Environment. 3, pp. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-022-00497-4
Authors | Chen, Wu, Carstensen, Trine, Wang, Ranran, Derrible, Sybil, Rojas Rueda, David, Nieuwenhuijsen, Marius Joannes and Liu, Gang |
---|---|
Abstract | Bicycles are widely recognized as an effective solution for reducing short-distance trip-related climate impacts and addressing sedentary lifestyle-caused chronic diseases. Yet, the historical patterns of global bicycle production, trade, stock, and use remain poorly characterized, preventing thorough investigation of its role in sustainable road transport transition. Here, based on a dynamic model and various data sources, we have compiled, to our knowledge, the first global dataset for bicycle ownership and use by country from 1962 to 2015. Our comparison between the historical development of per-capita bicycle ownership and car ownership reveals five varying types in an S-curve among different countries. High bicycle ownership does not necessarily lead to high bicycle use, which is instead still marginal in daily trips worldwide (<5% for most countries). A worldwide pro-bicycle policy and infrastructure development enabled modal shift like the Netherlands and Denmark can lead to significant untapped climate and health benefits. |
Keywords | car ownership; cycle transport; historical perspective; lifestyle; sustainability; transportation history |
Year | 01 Jan 2022 |
Journal | Communications Earth & Environment |
Journal citation | 3, pp. 1-9 |
Publisher | Nature Publishing Group |
ISSN | 2662-4435 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-022-00497-4 |
Scopus EID | 2-s2.0-85136533343 |
Web address (URL) | https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-022-00497-4 |
Open access | Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access |
Research or scholarly | Research |
Page range | 1-9 |
Publisher's version | License File Access Level Open |
Output status | Published |
Publication dates | |
Online | 18 Aug 2022 |
Publication process dates | |
Deposited | 17 Jan 2023 |
Additional information | © 2022, The Author(s). |
The Author(s) acknowledge financial support from Natural Sciences Foundation of China (71991484, 72088101, and 71991480), China Scholarship Council (201708510095), and Independent Research Fund Denmark (ReCAP). | |
Place of publication | United Kingdom |
https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8y94x/historical-patterns-and-sustainability-implications-of-worldwide-bicycle-ownership-and-use
Download files
Publisher's version
OA_Nieuwenhuijsen_2022_Historical_patterns_and_sustainability_implications_of.pdf | |
License: CC BY 4.0 | |
File access level: Open |
78
total views43
total downloads0
views this month0
downloads this month