A new study finds that biking to work does wonders for reducing stress levels throughout the day. Too bad most it's so hard to fund biking infrastructure.
Lloyd Alter reports on a study out of the Calming Technology lab that finds bike commutes can improve stress. The researchers collected data using Spire breathing monitors from over 20,000 commutes by 1,000 commuters. "Not only did cyclists arrive at work less stressed, but an hour later were still more relaxed than those who came by transit or car," reports Alter. "They are also in better shape when they reverse the commute and go home…"
Alter acknowledges that the new study is only the latest in a growing body of work connecting bike commutes to reduced stress levels. Alter begs the question, after linking to several previous studies, of when politicians will catch up with the science and start spending money on infrastructure that supports healthy commutes, rather then more and bigger freeways.
FULL STORY: Stressed at work? Commute by bike.
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City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research