People who bike to work have fewer sick days

From a Dutch study

The mean total duration of absenteeism over the study year was more than 1 day shorter in cyclists than in non-cyclists. This can be explained by the higher proportion of people with no absenteeism in the cycling group. A dose-response relationship was observed between the speed and distance of cycling and absenteeism. Compared to people who cycle a short distance (<or=5 km) three times a week, people who cycle more often and longer distances are absent for fewer days on average. CONCLUSION: Cycling to work is associated with less sickness absence. The more often people cycle to work and the longer the distance travelled, the less they report sick.

Comments

[dand]

This surely needs a big "correlation does not imply causation" warning. People with chronic health problems and disabilities are less likely to bike commute, and more likely to miss work every now and then.

[freewheel]

Maybe this is why the Dutch pay bike commuters.

[John]

I turn this on its head. If I am too sick to bike to work, I'm too sick to go to work in the first place.

[SJE]

I agree from my unscientific self study. Not only that, but I work better at work. Of course, if I fall off the bike and break some bones, all of this is pretty much off the table.

[Scott F]

dand: I agree. I suspect it's the other way around, i.e., people who get sick more often are less likely to bike commute.

[Scott F]

dand: I agree. I suspect it's the other way around, i.e., people who get sick more often are less likely to bike commute.