Saturday, March 21, 2009

Reduced sickness in commuter cyclists

I've previously mentioned that cyclists are unusually clever, but here's one more poke in the eye for those who insist that cycling is too dangerous:

Employees who cycle regularly to work are less frequently ill, with on average more than one day per year less absenteeism than colleagues who do not cycle to work

Although as xkcd pointed out recently, correlation does not imply causation. (But it does waggle its eyebrows suggestively and gesture furtively while mouthing 'look over there'.)

5 comments:

EliRabett said...

It is well known that commuter cyclists are thin, in good shape and not much fun. As is the case for those on extreme low calorie diets, this raises the question about whether they enjoy their extra time or more to the point, do we? (OK OK....)

Nosmo said...

Eli,
I think you would be hard pressed to find cyclists who are not happier after cycling.

As for the low calorie diets... as granny used to say, "Health food doesn't make you live longer it just makes it seem longer

James Annan said...

Eli is just jealous cos his ears catch the wind.

Unknown said...

Well... Cycling to work did make me happy, and helped with my fitness... Until a lady ran a red light, shattered my left tibia, broke my fibula, tore some ligaments and cartilage. Now I've been off work for a year as a result :(

James Annan said...

Sorry to hear it Sy. Your reward is the knowledge that the law of averages means that other cyclists did not have the accident...