essay on benefits of cycling

Cycling: The untapped potential for improving our health (and the climate)

Maître de conférences en épidémiologie, Conservatoire national des arts et métiers (CNAM)

Senior lecturer, Imperial College London

Postdoc Fellow, Institute for Fiscal Studies

Directeur de recherche, économie, Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS)

Disclosure statement

Kévin Jean is a member of the board of the association Sciences Citoyennes (volunteer activity). His team has received research funding from the ADEME and the ANRS-MIE.

Audrey de Nazelle has received funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

Philippe Quirion est président de l'association Réseau Action Climat France (activité bénévole).

Marion Leroutier does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Conservatoire national des arts et métiers (CNAM) provides funding as a member of The Conversation FR.

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When the French government recently announced a plan to cut state spending by 10 billion euros , the budget for ecology, development and sustainable mobility was first on the chopping block, with cuts totalling 2.2 billion euros . At first glance, health appears to have been relatively spared, facing a cut of 70 million euros in its budget – a big number, but less than 1% of the total. Cutting state funding targeting sustainable mobility will, however, also contribute to deteriorating public health, in addition to increasing greenhouse gas emissions.

In a recent study, we evaluated the benefits for public health and the climate of cycling in France . Here’s what we learned.

The French don’t cycle very much

Our work consisted of analysing data from the decennial personal mobility survey , conducted by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE). It aims to describe people’s mobility practices and to assess how and why the French travel , on a daily basis as well as longer trips. The 2019 edition was based on a nationally representative sample of nearly 14,000 people interviewed in 2018 and 2019.

The first finding is that the French don’t cycle very much – just over 2km per week on average for those aged 18 and over. By comparison, Dutch people aged 75 and over cover an average of 13.7km per week , almost seven times more.

We also found that men are responsible for three quarters of the kilometres travelled by bicycle in France, whereas the practice is much more gender balanced in the Netherlands .

The health benefits of cycling in 2019

Second, we looked at the chronic diseases and deaths avoided by the levels of cycling in 2019. To do this, we used the quantitative health impact assessment method , which makes it possible to calculate the extent of the health consequences of exposure to a risk factor or, on the other hand, the health benefits of a protective factor within a given population.

In the case of cycling, the summary of epidemiological studies tell us that 100 minutes of cycling per week reduces all-cause mortality by 10% in adults . This relationship between cycling time and mortality risk can then be extrapolated and applied to observed levels of cycling.

In the same way, we selected five chronic diseases for which an association with physical activity had been reported in meta-analyses: cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, cancer of the prostate and dementia.

We were able to demonstrate that, while the levels of cycling observed in 2019 were modest, if they remained constant, they would make it possible to avoid nearly 2,000 deaths and 6,000 cases of chronic disease each year.

Significant costs avoided

These avoided deaths and chronic diseases also result in reduced health spending for the community. The direct medical costs that cycling helps avoid – hospitalisations, medical treatments, paid sickness leave – can be quantified using health insurance data: they amount to nearly 200 million euros each year.

If these direct medical costs have the advantage of being “tangible”, in the sense that they are monetary expenses, they represent only the tip of the iceberg: avoiding illness or death has a value for society, even in the absence of treatment or compensation. Indeed, illnesses and deaths have intangible consequences that affect not only the person concerned, but also those around them and the community. These include emotional damage, loss of well-being, impact on the lives of loved ones (especially caregivers), loss of productivity, and more.

To take this into account and consistently evaluate the costs of avoided diseases and deaths, health economists generally use the notion of “intangible health costs” , in other words, social health costs.

Based on this notion of intangible health costs, the commission – chaired by the economist Émile Quinet – recommended in 2013 to use the value of 3 million euros per death avoided (the equivalent of 3.48 million euros in current money) for the evaluation of public policies.

For our work, we thus estimated that cycling had made it possible to avoid 4.8 billion euros in social health costs in 2019. By taking the number of kilometres travelled by bike in the year of the survey (4.6 billion kilometres), we were able to estimate that each kilometre travelled by bike helps avoid around 1 Euro in social health costs.

What are the consequences of shifting short trips to cycling?

If our analysis provides information on the current health benefits of cycling, it can also tell us more about the benefits to be expected from policies to promote cycling. This is particularly relevant in the French context, since there is significant potential for the development of cycling. In fact, in France, more than half of journeys of less than 5 km are made by car.

Here, the detailed individual data from the personal mobility survey makes it possible to model a scenario in which a portion of journeys of less than 5 km made by car would be made by bicycle. In our study, we simulated the effects of a 25% shift from the car to the bicycle for such journeys. Our results indicate that while quite modest, this switch would make it possible to prevent 1,800 more deaths and avoid an additional 2.6 billion euros in social health costs.

To put this in context, road safety policies over the last 10 years would have prevented around 1,500 deaths per year .

Finally, this simulation allowed us to estimate that such a modal shift scenario would reduce CO 2 emissions by 250 kilotonnes per year. This corresponds more or less to double the emissions avoided by the tax credits granted for energy-saving renovations of housing which were implemented in 2015 and 2016.

A potential that remains to be exploited

Despite long-standing scientifically documented benefits, it is distressing to note that cycling has not benefited from significant investments, at least over the decade 2010-2019.

As a result, between the 2008 and 2019 personal mobility surveys, the proportion of journeys made by bicycle has not increased: instead, it stagnated at around 3%. Local authorities often present investments in cycling infrastructure from a cost perspective, but our study reveals the extent of the benefits that can be expected in terms of health, as do numerous other studies on the advantages of cycling in an urban context.

It can therefore be a valuable ally in reducing air pollution and travel times . Promoting bicycle mobility is also a way of reducing the role of the automobile in the city, the harmful effects of which on health are often underestimated .

Furthermore, most energy-climate scenarios compatible with France’s climate commitments, whether developed by the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME) or the non-profit négaWatt, foresee a significant increase in the use of bicycles. In such a context, public authorities would have everything to gain from highlighting the convergence of the climate and health benefits of cycling.

We have shown in other studies that the implementation of the low-carbon transition scenario described in 2021 by négaWatt would make it possible to avoid around 10,000 deaths per year by 2050 , which would translate to 40 billion euros in economic benefits. Conversely, achieving carbon neutrality by relying essentially on the electrification of the vehicle fleet would completely miss the health benefits of physical activity linked to active transport .

This would represent a tremendous missed opportunity to mobilise this possible synergy between climate change mitigation and improvement of public health.

This article was co-written by Émilie Schwarz, scientific project manager within the investigation unit of the “Processing and data analysis support” directorate of Santé publique France, the French national agency for public health.

This article was originally published in French

• Public health
• Health costs
• Bicycling to work
• Bicycle infrastructure
• Active transportation
• The Conversation Europe

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The Health Benefits of Cycling

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”

Those healthy-living words of wisdom come from none other than Albert Einstein. He was a cycling enthusiast of sorts; most of us have probably seen the photo of him riding a bicycle with a great big grin on his face. It’s widely believed that he conceived the theory of relativity while riding a bike .

One of the glories of bicycles, however, is that they’re not rocket science. In fact, they’re almost the opposite: simple, earthbound tools offering myriad wellness benefits. Here, we explore three key healthy aspects of cycling — all backed by research — plus offer a few insights from Einstein and other cycling aficionados .

Explore this article:

• Buff Up Your Physical Health
• Boost Your Brain
• Build a Better World

Cycling and Recovery and Rehabilitation

Cycling and your immune health, cycling and joint health, 1. buff up your physical health.

“Get a bicycle. You will not regret it, if you live.” So advised Mark Twain in the essay “Taming the Bicycle” (which he only just managed to do).

Bicycles were a relatively newfangled thing in the late 1800s, but people quickly hopped on. They enjoyed the speed and sense of freedom — and soon also realized the health benefits the two-wheelers delivered .

You need to keep moving not only to maintain your balance, as Einstein recommended, but to improve your health as well. Physical activity works like magic, yet it’s scientifically proven in study after study. Understanding the benefits of movement has become a huge area of research in recent decades, to the point where progressive healthcare providers are even prescribing activity .

And bicycling — along with walking, running, and swimming — is one of the simplest forms of movement. “It sounds trite, but the adage ‘It’s just like riding a bike’ exists for a reason: Cycling isn’t complicated,” says Life Time Academy master instructor Emily Booth. “The nature of cycling makes it uniquely accessible and effective for a wide variety of individuals. All you need to do is get on the bike and pedal.”

“Get a bicycle. You will not regret it, if you live.” – Mark Twain

“And with all of the innovation in bike technology, there are options for individuals of nearly every fitness level to engage in some form of cycling,” Booth explains. “There are traditional road bikes , mountain bikes , gravel bikes , commuter bikes, recumbents, adaptive bikes for those with disabilities, a variety of stationary bikes, and, most recently, e-bikes. Different pedal strokes for different folks!”

For such a simple activity, cycling is a boon for health, she adds — and other experts agree.

“Cycling 30 to 60 minutes per day has been linked with numerous health benefits,” explains Appalachian State University professor David C. Nieman, DrPH, FACSM, a pioneering researcher in exercise and nutrition immunology. He lists some of the key benefits of cycling:

• Fights chronic inflammation, which can play a role in conditions including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, cancer, and Alzheimer’s, as well as depression and other mental-health issues .
• Lowers all-around risk of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and cardio­vascular disease .
• Decreases risk of cancer, such as bladder, breast, colon, endometrial, esophageal, kidney, lung, and stomach cancer.
• Improves joint health , cardio function, and metabolism.
• Helps maintain weight by burning fat and by building lean muscle mass, particularly in the core and legs.
• Boosts mobility and all-around physical function while also reducing the risk of falls and related injuries, which is especially important for older adults.
• Enhances sleep quality.
• Lowers all-cause premature mortality.

A study published in the BMJ in 2017 found that regular cycling cut the risk of death from all causes by more than 40 percent, lowered the risk of cancer by 45 percent, and reduced the risk of heart disease by 46 percent among 263,450 study participants. (For more on the many benefits of activity, see “ Made to Move “.)

Other forms of exercise are also beneficial, though, so what is it about cycling that makes it such a health promoter?

One of the key factors is that the bicycle — and not your hips, knees, or feet — bears most of your weight as you move. And because your legs work in a single plane, those joints also experience less lateral stress.

Plus, cycling is often considered a “ life sport ”: You can experience its benefits over the long term because there’s less wear and tear on the body.

In one study, Nieman compared cyclists and runners during a three-day period of intense training and found that cyclists experienced substantially less muscle damage, muscle soreness, and systemic inflammation for the same amount of effort. “Cycling is easy on the muscles,” he explains. Cyclists can put in longer workouts “and won’t feel as sore the next day.”

As for Twain’s “if you live” quip, bicycling — especially commuting — can indeed be dangerous . But that threat is far outweighed by the health benefits.

A 2018 study found that bicycle commuters are exposed to fewer toxic air pollutants compared with car drivers, who tend to sit in traffic longer. In regard to the potential for accidents, a study published in the BMJ in 2020 involving 230,390 British commuters concluded that “the benefits offset the risks.”

If you remain concerned about the outdoor downsides, there’s a whole world of indoor cycling to explore .

2. Boost Your Brain

“When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking.”

This prescription for mental health was published in Scientific American magazine in 1896 by a doctor named Arthur Conan Doyle, a provincial British physician who spoke of what he knew: He often pedaled a bicycle on his rounds to visit patients (or as a break from creating another confounding case for Sherlock Holmes — but that’s another story).

Like most other physical activities, cycling enhances cognitive function, making us smarter, happier, and more resilient. Some scientists even believe building muscles and conditioning our hearts and circulatory systems are side effects: Exercise is really about our brain .

“The real reason we feel so good when we get our blood pumping is that it makes the brain function at its best,” says John Ratey, MD, associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and author of Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain .

Abundant studies support this view. Ratey says that research has found that exercise heightens alertness and perception, reinforces movement and coordination, enhances attention and concentration, aids learning and memory, and keeps the brain young.

“When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking.” — Arthur Conan Doyle

Along the way, physical activity also protects our cognitive health : It induces the brain to create enzymes that chew up the beta-amyloid plaque associated with Alzheimer’s disease, and reduces inflammation. It may help slow cognitive decline, too.

Cycling, in particular, has long been known to help hone our executive functions of coordination, planning, and working memory. Plus, a PLOS ONE study published in 2019 found that along with aiding our cognitive function, it boosts our overall sense of well-being.

This type of exercise “balances” our brain, too, Ratey explains. Movement helps our brains stabilize hormone levels, inoculating us against toxic stress, easing anxiety, helping to alleviate ­depression, protecting our mental health , and balancing our mood. (Movement and exercise also gives you a healthy, glowing look and an unmistakable va-va-voom that you just can’t get any other way. See “ 8 Ways Exercise Makes You Gorgeous ” for more.)

A 2018 analysis in the American Journal of Psychiatry that reviewed 49 studies involving 266,939 individuals of all ages concluded “physical activity is associated with a decrease in the risk of developing depression.”

Doyle’s prescription was correct, based on his anecdotal experience, but it’s now official — cycling can make you happier . A meta-review published in the Journal of Happiness Studies in 2018 found that even a small amount of exercise can have an outsize effect on our happiness: People who exercise even once a week or for as little as 10 minutes a day tend to be more cheerful than those who never exercise.

In sum, you’re just a bike ride away from a better mood.

3. Build a Better World

“Let me tell you what I think of bicy­cling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world.” So proclaimed abolitionist and suffragist Susan B. Anthony in an 1896 newspaper interview.

Bicycling continues to help bring change today — on even more fronts. When we consider the benefits of the activity, we usually think of our health, but we can’t overlook the environmental, economic, and even social impacts .

Cycling offers the chance to combat the climate crisis with every pedal stroke: Commuting by bicycle benefits the environment, explains cyclist and activist Monica Garrison.

“Do your part to save the planet by adding carbon-neutral cycling to your bag of tricks,” she says. “Bikes are simultaneously ideal for short trips and long journeys of self-discovery. Arriving at your destination with only the power generated by your legs, your pumping heart, and your determination is amazingly satisfying.”

Cycling can do more than even that, as Garrison is proving: It can make the world a better place for all. When, as an adult, she rekindled her childhood love for biking, she discovered firsthand the health benefits of cycling, and she sought to share them. So, in 2013, she started a Facebook group called Black Girls Do Bike; it has since blossomed into a movement boasting more than 100 chapters from Alaska to Antigua to London. The group promotes cycling advocacy, self-care, and camaraderie.

“The bicycle has been called a joy machine — some enthusiasts say riding a bike is almost like flying,” Garrison says. “A bicycle ride is one of the best ways to clear your mind and feed your soul — all while taking in the sounds, smells, and textures of your environment .”

A 2015 Rice University exploration of cycling’s social effects found that it builds community while empowering diverse age, racial, and socioeconomic groups: Bikes “can become powerful vehicles for breaking down economic and social barriers to equality as well.”

“Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world.” — Susan B. Anthony

“Cycling can build a community,” says Kristi Mohn, marketing manager for Life Time’s UNBOUND Gravel, Big Sugar, and The Rad events, as well as podcast cohost of Girls Gone Gravel . “ It truly brings people together , being active and outside.”

And during the pandemic, cycling boomed — as a mode of transportation, a pastime, and simply an escape.

A meta-review published in the journal Sustainability in 2021 cheered for the changes and suggested them as a road map for the future: “A mono­lithic pro-car ethos, and an urban-­development narrative strongly tied to it, is something that we need to leave behind; this was simply not good enough, and this is an oppor­tunity for a positive and permanent change fueled by the success stories of active mobility, in general, and cycling, in all its facets, in particular.”

Such possibilities were not lost on cycling enthusiasts of yore, either. British author H.G. Wells wrote The Time Machine , The War of the Worlds , and other pioneering science-fiction novels in the 1890s, but when it came to prophesying times to come, he was hopeful. In a 1905 novel titled A Modern Utopia , he augured that “cycle tracks will abound in Utopia.”

He’s also oft-quoted as having stated, “Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the ­human race.” Whether he actually wrote those words or not, the sentiment is certainly inspiring.

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On the Bike

“Next to a leisurely walk I enjoy a ‘spin’ on my tandem bicycle. . . . The rapid rush through the air gives me a delicious sense of strength and buoyancy, and the exercise makes my pulses dance and my heart sing for gladness.”

Disability-rights activist Helen Keller wrote this in her 1903 autobiography The Story of My Life . Her joyfully poetic description just touched on bicycling’s health benefits; below are a few more.

Bicycling is body-friendly: Riding a bike is largely non-load-bearing, so it’s easier on our muscles and joints , explains exercise physiologist Anoop T. Balachandran, PhD, NSCA-CSCS, assistant professor at the City University of New York’s Queens College.

But it also offers another benefit that makes it ideal for recovery: “Cycling mainly involves concentric contraction with no eccentric contractions, compared to running or walking,” he adds.

In concentric contractions, muscles shorten while generating force and overcoming resistance; in eccentric contractions, they elongate. “Eccentric contractions are more damaging to muscles than concentric contractions.”

All these benefits make cycling ideal for recovery as well as cross-training . Riding a bike indoors or out offers endurance athletes as well as weightlifters a thorough cardio workout . The simple movement also flushes your muscles with fresh blood, helping to speed along supercompensation, or the rebuilding of muscles.

Life Time Academy master instructor Emily Booth attests to these benefits. She recently injured her anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, one of the key ligaments connecting the thighbone (femur) to the shin (tibia) and supporting the knee. “While it was painful to walk, I could comfortably ride at a relatively hard intensity — cycling saved me.”

Biking — especially on a stationary model — can be an ideal recovery strategy for many injuries, Booth explains. “Because of its low-impact nature, cycling is an excellent way to improve circulation to the muscles. It is also one of the few activities that many individuals who have undergone a surgery such as hip or knee replacement can engage in to accelerate their recovery and maintain their fitness.”

(For more on recovery, see “ Why Workout Recovery Days Are Essential for Optimal Fitness “.)

We not only are made to move but need to move to support our immune system in fighting everything from stress and chronic inflammation to routine colds and viruses, including COVID-19. Our lymph system is a network of organs, tissues, and vessels that transport lymph fluid throughout the body with white blood cells to fight off infection.

This system requires the helping hand of contracting muscles to support circulation , making exercise key. And again, cycling is an easy, low-impact form of exercise that’s safe for most people, regardless of fitness level or health status.

A long-term study published in JAMA Internal Medicine in 2021 including 7,459 people with types 1 and 2 diabetes found a 24 percent lower mortality rate among cyclists and a 35 percent lower risk of mortality in those who took up cycling over a five-year period.

“There is no medication or nutritional supplement that even comes close to having all of the effects exercise does,” says David C. Nieman, DrPH, FACSM, an exercise and nutrition immunology researcher. “It’s truly the best medicine we know of.”

(For more on how exercise supports the immune system, see “ The Ultimate Guide to Supporting Your Immune System “.)

Staying active is a great way to preserve, and even improve, joint health as we age. The hips, knees, and feet involve complex joints, and cycling helps keep the knees in particular mobile, supple, and ­lubricated with synovial fluid.

In fact, researchers now find that many of the joint issues we consider chronic or a result of aging can be prevented or ameliorated by activity. And the Arthritis Foundation recommends cycling as one of the most effective workouts for people with arthritis — ­whether you ride indoors or out, and ­whether you break a sweat or not.

Cycling’s benefits don’t necessarily carry through to bone strength , though. Studies published in 2011 and 2018 find that athletes competing in non-weight-bearing sports like cycling and swimming can be at risk of developing low bone-mineral density.

To offset this, experts advise supplementing cycling with weight-bearing exercise, such as walking or dancing, and resistance training. Strength training is ideal for building sturdier bones: It can include both low-impact and weight-bearing movements.

Cycling By the Numbers

The year the first bicycle was invented. A steerable, two-wheeled, human-propelled contraption was first designed by Karl von Drais in Germany. Early bicycles were known as draisines, velocipedes, and dandy horses.

Proportion of people worldwide who know how to ride a bicycle, according to the World Bank.

Estimated number of bicycles in use around the globe — although other sources, such as the World Bank, report that there are more than 2 billion.

Miles of dedicated bicycle routes in the United States . This includes 17,734 miles of official U.S. Bicycle Route System roads connecting urban and rural communities, as of 2021. It also includes 24,825 miles of rail-to-trail routes; an additional 9,175 miles are currently being developed. There’s no official tally of the myriad miles of city and state bicycle pathways and lanes yet available.

48.9 million

Number of bicyclists in the United States as of 2019. This is about a 23 percent increase over 2006. And while statistics are not yet available, the number of cyclists is believed to have skyrocketed during the pandemic, growing so fast it’s been difficult to count.

This article originally appeared as “Healthy Revolutions” in the April 2022 issue of Experience Life.

Michael Dregni is an Experience Life deputy editor.

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Great article! Been biking for years but when the pandemic hit I started riding 3 days a week 32 miles each outing. I have not had a cold or flu and I feel outstanding. I will be biking until I drop dead.

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Advantages And Disadvantages Of Cycling

As a easy-available and healthy exercise, cycling suits people of all ages. Besides being a pollution-free and cheap mode of transportation inside your city, cycling offers many health benefits.

If you are someone who tries to blend regular exercise with your daily lifestyle, riding to the market or even work turns out to be a viable option. Statistics reveal that more than 1 billion people use bicycles for sports, recreation, and transportation purposes each day .

As an avid rider, I have been trying different bicycle models over the last decade. Collecting my experiences, I would like to give you some ideas on how cycling can be good or bad for you .

Although you cannot achieve the speed of a car or bike on a bicycle, you cannot possibly overlook the benefits of this amazing joyride that MAKES YOU FLY! Let’s explore the advantages and disadvantages of cycling to find out if a bicycle will suit you.

Advantages Of Cycling

1. riding a bicycle helps you lose weight.

Being a top-notch cardio workout , bicycling can help you burn as much as 400 calories per hour. In case you work out at the gym, you should lose at least 2000 calories per week through exercise. Since it helps to increase the metabolic rate and reduce weight, cycling for five to six hours a week can give you the same impact in terms of weight loss.

I highly recommend cycling as an effective means to lose weight if you are obese. This way, you can burn the excess fat and maintain your system agility . Most importantly, if you are reluctant to involve in weight-bearing activity while working out, you have a viable alternative in cycling.

Strong back and abdominals are necessary to support your spine. It also increases stability and comfort to a significant extent. Cycling burns body fat and helps in building muscle. Combine your diet chart with a regular cycling schedule for an effective weight loss remedy.

2. Cycling Enhances Overall Health Conditions

Cycling goes a long way in enhancing your health conditions. While exercise is necessary to maintain body fitness, we don’t get adequate time to work out each day. Here’s how cycling can benefit your health conditions.

• Regular cycling keeps the cardiovascular system in proper shape.
• You can reduce your cholesterol level in the blood.
• Cycling is a powerful weapon for fighting obesity.
• It enhances the lung capacity, delivering better blood flow.
• Cycling is a great way to ditch the sedentary lifestyle.
• As an exercise, cycling enhances muscle strength.
• Cycling also helps in enhancing motor coordination.
• It increases bone mass, giving you stronger bones.
• Cycling improves mood and keeps anxiety at bay.

3. Cycling Boosts Mental Health

After interviewing several avid cyclists, I found that most of them benefitted from this exercise to enhance their mental health conditions. Amidst the hectic daily chores, work pressure and depression often weigh heavy on our minds .

Besides, many people encounter different mental issues. Being overwhelmed mentally is also an effect of genetics. With smartphones and computers around, most people encounter an information overload problem. This additionally leads to mental issues and stress.

Well, cycling can give you a break from your sedentary lifestyle and soothe your discomfort . I would advise you to cycle in a park or green zones so that you can distract your mind from the uncomfortable surroundings.

4. Cycling Helps To Maintain A Good Body Shape

Cycling has an intense impact on the body shape . Based on the part of your body you wish to target, you need to choose your bicycle. Sometimes, you can tailor your exercises to suit your system’s requirements.

Cycling fosters effective resistance training that can strengthen your mind and body. Besides developing the muscles in your legs and lower part of the body , cycling strengths your hamstrings, hips, and glutes. Cycling also helps to increase the height if started at an early age.

I have closely observed that avid cyclists have leaner and slimmer legs. At the same time, cycling can also help you tone your arms. As you apply the pressure on the handlebar, you eventually tone the biceps, deltoids, and triceps.

5. Cycling Combats Type 2 Diabetes

Among gnawing health concerns, you cannot possibly overlook type 2 diabetes. The dearth of adequate physical activity can lead to this type of diabetes . Even people as young as 30 are developing diabetic problems. This is primarily due to their sedentary lifestyle in front of their computers.

As an exercise, riding a bicycle is a good option. A research reveals that if you cycle at least half an hour daily, you can slash the probability of developing diabetes by as much as 40%.

6. It Strengthens Your Bones And Develops Balance

Cycling serves as a great way to enhance your balance, strength, and coordination. Besides, this exercise goes a long way in preventing falls that can potentially lead to fractures.

Even aged people experiencing osteoarthritis can engage in cycling since it is a low-impact exercise. So, when you spend your time cycling, your joints wouldn’t come under stress. In the end, exercise helps in strengthening bones in young people. By enhancing bone mass, cycling strengthens your bones.

7. It Reduces The Chances Of Cancer

Several kinds of research have shown a direct relationship between this disease and exercising. According to National Library of Medicine , cycling helps in reducing the chances of cancer, particularly breast and colon cancer.

Besides, cycling involves exercise of your abdomen , which helps in reducing the chances of bowel cancer. At a time when the number of people experiencing these ailments is increasing, you have a positive solution in cycling.

8. No Parking Fines

Well, we all are familiar with the hassles involved in parking cars. With cycles, you won’t encounter such difficulties. Neither would you have to shell out parking fines if you keep your cycle in the wrong place. Considering the sleekness of cycles, you can easily make space for them.

Besides, you need not fork out parking fees each time you park your cycle in the lots. When it comes to ongoing charges and fees, cycles score a point over other means of transportation.

9. Cheap Alternative To Cars

Well, you won’t achieve the speed of a motorbike on your bicycle . However, if speed isn’t your priority as you go around your city, you should consider cycles as a cost-effective alternative to other means of transportation . With rising fuel costs, I have observed office commuters in many Indian metro cities traveling to their workplaces on cycles.

Apart from the initial investment, you don’t have much of a maintenance cost. Of course, you need to check tire pressure and get your brakes and a few other parts replaced from time to time. Altogether, this is a far more intelligible investment in terms of affordability.

10. Ditch Traffic Snarls

If you use public or private transportation while commuting to your workplace, you know how nightmarish traffic snarls can be. With cycles, you can use the narrower lanes and alleys to get across to your destination. Using bicycles happens to be a great way to combat traffic jams in your city.

Disadvantages Of Cycling

1. cycling accidents.

Compared to cars, you are more susceptible to accidents while you use bicycles. With cars, you have more coverage and protection around you. Besides, not all the cities have proper infrastructure for bicycles to ply the main roads.

One of the best ways to secure yourself against cycling accidents is to invest in branded cycling accessories like helmets and paddle safely.

2. Overestimating Your Strength

Cycling serves as a great socializing activity and happens to be pollution free. I have interviewed young cyclists who ended up overestimating their strengths. Also, if you go off-roading or mountain biking, make sure to get a proper mountain bike. Overestimating your strength can sprain your calf muscles and ankles, leading to accidents.

3. Not Suitable For Handicapped People

Well, cycling can be quite inspiring, but not for all people. Disabled individuals or people of older generations often need to refrain from cycling as it involves significant physical strength. However, if you start cycling young, you can continue with this amazing endeavor till your old age.

4. Some Bicycles Are Expensive

The different types of cycles are priced from low to high range. Well, while you try to cut down your expense in the long run by investing in a bicycle, be ready to shell out a sizable upfront cost.

Branded bicycles can serve you for more than a decade, but they can be equally expensive. In India, purchasing a hybrid bicycle can cost you anything between ₹4,000 to ₹15,000. The cost of a mountain bike, folding cycle and electric bicycle are even higher.

5. The Risk Of Theft

Compared to cars or motorcycles, bicycles are more susceptible to theft. Practically, it’s easy to lift a bicycle or ride it away if you fail to lock it properly. To mitigate this risk, make sure to invest in proper bicycle security accessories like disc brake locks.

Is Cycling Good Or Bad For You?

Well, I have closely compared the perks and downsides of using a bicycle, and the answer is clear. The advantages of using a bicycle significantly outweigh the drawbacks . Even if you have certain downsides to using a bicycle, you can overcome the same. I have already recommended my tried-and-tested tactics to prevent accidents, theft, or injuries.

While cycles are not suitable for navigating long distances, you can easily cover at least five to ten kilometers around your home with practice. Most importantly, if you don’t like working out at the gym or struggle with heavy weights, you have a viable alternative that won’t rob you of any excess time. Check out the best cycles to buy in India and customize the model as per your requirement.

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Essay on Advantages of Cycling

Students are often asked to write an essay on Advantages of Cycling in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Advantages of Cycling

Introduction.

Cycling is a fun activity enjoyed by people of all ages. It is not just a mode of transportation, but also an excellent way to stay fit and healthy.

Health Benefits

Cycling is a great exercise. It strengthens your muscles, improves cardiovascular fitness, and helps in weight management.

Environment Friendly

Cycling is a green mode of transport. It doesn’t emit harmful gases, thus helping to reduce pollution.

Cycling saves money. It doesn’t require fuel and maintenance cost is low.

Convenience

250 words essay on advantages of cycling.

Cycling, a simple yet profound activity, offers a multitude of benefits. It’s not just a mode of transportation or a leisure activity, but a holistic practice that can transform our health, environment, and society.

Cycling is an excellent form of cardiovascular exercise, enhancing heart health and lung capacity. It also aids in weight management, as it burns calories efficiently. The low-impact nature of cycling makes it suitable for all age groups, reducing the risk of injury compared to high-impact exercises.

Environmental Impact

As a zero-emission mode of transport, cycling significantly reduces our carbon footprint. It’s a sustainable alternative to motorized vehicles, contributing to cleaner air and lower noise pollution.

Psychological Advantages

Cycling can also be a therapeutic activity, helping reduce stress and improve mental well-being. The sense of freedom and exploration it offers can boost mood and foster a positive mindset.

Economic and Social Benefits

From an economic perspective, cycling is cost-effective, requiring less investment and maintenance than cars. It also promotes social interaction, fostering a sense of community among cyclists.

500 Words Essay on Advantages of Cycling

Cycling, an activity often associated with childhood memories or professional athletes, has far-reaching benefits that transcend these boundaries. It is a mode of transport, a form of exercise, and a leisure activity that has significant advantages for individuals and society. In this essay, we delve into the multifaceted benefits of cycling.

Health and Fitness

Cycling is a low-impact exercise that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Regular cycling has been proven to improve cardiovascular fitness, increase muscle strength and flexibility, improve joint mobility, decrease stress levels, improve posture and coordination, strengthen bones, decrease body fat levels, and prevent or manage diseases. The aerobic workout provided by cycling helps boost the immune system and contributes to mental well-being, reducing the risk of experiencing mental health issues.

Economic Benefits

Cycling can also have considerable economic benefits. The cost of purchasing, maintaining, and operating a bicycle is significantly lower than that of a car. Moreover, cycling infrastructure, like bike lanes and parking racks, is less expensive for cities to implement than infrastructure for cars. This can lead to substantial savings for both individuals and municipalities.

Social and Community Advantages

Cycling can foster a sense of community, as it often involves interaction with other cyclists or pedestrians. This can enhance social cohesion, contributing to a more inclusive society. Furthermore, the accessibility of cycling makes it a viable mode of transport for all, regardless of socioeconomic status, thus promoting social equality.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

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Essay on Bicycle

500 words essay on bicycle.

A bicycle is a useful vehicle that helps us reach a destination without polluting the environment. It is composed of steel and has two wheels. In addition, it has got a seat and handle with two pedals and also a bell. Some bicycles have a carrier while some don’t. It is a popular choice amongst poor people and students . Essay on bicycle will help us understand its importance.

Importance of Bicycle

Bicycles have become even more important in recent times. While they have been offering us many advantages for a long time, they are very vital now. It is because of the rate at which pollution is growing in the world, they offer a greener way to commute.

In other words, bicycles do not require any petrol or diesel which harms our atmosphere. Further, it does not leave a carbon footprint as well. Thus, it is a great choice for everyone especially those who are environment-friendly.

After that, we see that bicycles do not possess the potential to harm anyone, unlike bikes, cars and buses. If you ride a bicycle, you are less likely to hurt someone or get in an accident as compared to ones who ride bikes or drive cars.

Most importantly, bicycles are great for our health. There are numerous benefits which cycling offers to ensure a healthy life. It is not only a great alternative to gym workouts but also helps prevent cardiovascular diseases .

Therefore, bicycles help to preserve our health. Similarly, they do not harm the environment. Moreover, they are also very beneficial as we can go through narrow roads with a bicycle which we cannot do with bikes or cars.

I have a bicycle which is red and black in colour. My father gifted it to me on my birthday and it is my most cherished present. The name of my bicycle is Turbo Thunder and it has many interesting features.

It comes with different gears and a basket as well. Moreover, it also has a bottle holder and a lock. I cycle every evening with my friends from the neighbourhood. It is very liberating to me to be able to cycle in the pleasant weather without any care.

My father ensures that I always wear my protective gear while cycling to prevent any injuries. I have decorated my cycle with stickers as well to make it more personalized. In addition, I go to my coaching classes on my bicycle only.

Therefore, I love my bicycle and I wish to keep it with me even after growing up. As cycling is good for the environment and our health, I plan to keep cycling for a long time to lead a healthy life and make the environment clean.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Conclusion of the Essay on Bicycle

To sum it up, bicycles are great in every aspect, whether it is regarding our health or the health of nature. Moreover, it is also not heavy on the pocket. With the world getting polluted at a faster rate day by day, it is essential for us to switch to bicycles for a healthier life and greener future.

FAQ of Essay on Bicycle

Question 1: What is the importance of a bicycle?

Answer 1: Bicycles are very important as they offer us many health benefits if we cycle regularly. In addition to that, it serves as a great workout session. Most importantly, they are great for the environment as they do not pollute it.

Question 2: Who invented the bicycle?

Answer 2: Karl von Drais was a German who invented the first bicycle. He developed it and named it the ‘swiftwalker’ which hit the road in the year 1817. The early bicycle came with no pedals and the frame was a wooden beam. It has two wooden wheels with irons rims and leather-covered tires.

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27 reasons to take up cycling | How bike riding can boost your brain power, fitness and more

Essential reasons to take up cycling

Ian Linton / Our Media

Taking up cycling could be one of the best decisions you ever make, with the benefits covering improved health, happiness, relationships and much more.

We’ve put together the top 27 reasons to start cycling, which should convince you to ride a bike.

While many of these benefits apply to all bikes and types of cycling, we also have a guide to the benefits of riding an ebike .

27 reasons to take up cycling in 2024

1. helps you get fit and healthy.

We’re starting with the obvious, but the health benefits of cycling are manifold and it can help you get fit. You don’t even have to be a Lycra-clad, century-riding enthusiast to unlock this benefit. Riding outdoors or indoors , or even just cycling to work can pay huge dividends for your fitness.

A 2017 study found commuting by bike is associated with improved cardiovascular functioning and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.

The study also says those who cycle often or incorporate it into their physical activities are typically fitter than people who do other physical activities.

It’s also an easy way to achieve physical activity guidelines. The study shows how 90 per cent of cycle commuters and 80 per cent of mixed-mode cycling commuters hit activity guidelines. In comparison, only 54 per cent of waking commuters and approximately 50 per cent of mixed-mode walking commuters hit activity guidelines, according to the study.

2. Beats illness

Is cycling good for you? Yes! Forget apples, riding’s the way to keep the doctor at bay.

“Moderate exercise makes immune cells more active, so they’re ready to fight off infection,” says Cath Collins, chief dietician at St George’s Hospital in London.

In fact, according to research from the University of North Carolina, people who cycle for 30 minutes, five days a week take about half as many sick days as those who do no exercise.

3. Boosts your bellows

The lungs work considerably harder than usual when you ride.

Generally, an adult cycling uses 10 times the oxygen they’d need to sit in front of the TV for the same period.

Even better, regular cycling will help strengthen your cardiovascular system over time, enabling your heart and lungs to work more efficiently and getting more oxygen where it’s needed quicker. This means you can do more exercise for less effort. How good does that sound?

4. Increases your brain power

Cycling will power up your grey matter. Exercise stimulates the growth of new connections between cells in cortical areas of the brain.

A UCLA study showed exercise makes it easier for the brain to grow neuronal connections. This helps with the general power of the brain but also aids the regrowth of axons on damaged cells after a nerve crush injury, the study revealed.

Exercise can also aid brain function later in life. “It boosts blood flow and oxygen to the brain, which fires and regenerates receptors, explaining how exercise helps ward off Alzheimer’s,” says Professor Arthur Kramer of the University of Illinois.

A 2019 study also found cycling improved executive functions. These are the processes that enable planning, attention focus and observation, to name just three.

5. It can make you live longer

King’s College London compared more than 2,400 identical twins and found those who did the equivalent of just three 45-minute rides a week were nine years ‘biologically younger’ even after discounting other influences, such as body mass index (BMI) and smoking.

“Those who exercise regularly are at significantly lower risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, all types of cancer, high blood pressure and obesity,” says Dr Lynn Cherkas, who conducted the research.

“The body becomes much more efficient at defending itself and regenerating new cells.”

6. Helps your gut

According to experts from Bristol University, the benefits of cycling extend to your gut.

“Physical activity helps decrease the time it takes food to move through the large intestine, limiting the amount of water absorbed back into your body and leaving you with softer stools, which are easier to pass,” explains gastroenterologist Dr Ana Raimundo.

In addition, aerobic exercise accelerates your breathing and heart rate, which helps to stimulate the contraction of intestinal muscles. “As well as preventing you from feeling bloated, this helps protect you against bowel cancer,” Dr Raimundo says.

7. It’s good for your mental health

Cycling is good for your mental health .

Neil Shah, of the Stress Management Society, says cycling “is one of the most effective treatments for stress and in many cases has been proven to be as effective as medication – if not more so”.

Shah says there is a “Mountain of scientific evidence” pointing towards cycling as a stress-busting property.

8. Reduces your carbon footprint

20 bicycles can be parked in the same space as one car. It takes around 5 per cent of the materials and energy used to make a car to build a bike, and a bike produces zero pollution.

Bikes are efficient, too. You travel around three times as fast as walking for the same amount of energy and, taking into account the ‘fuel’ you put in your ‘engine’, you do the equivalent of 2,924 miles to the gallon.

You have your weight ratio to thank: you’re about six times heavier than your bike, but a car is 20 times heavier than you.

Riding one of the best electric bikes can prove even more environmentally friendly than non-assisted bikes .

9. Helps you avoid pollution

As well as reducing your carbon footprint, cycling will help you avoid pollution.

Researchers at Imperial College London found passengers in buses, taxis and cars inhaled substantially more pollution than cyclists and pedestrians.

On average, taxi passengers were exposed to more than 100,000 ultrafine particles – which can settle in the lungs and damage cells – per cubic centimetre. Bus passengers sucked up just under 100,000 and people in cars inhaled about 40,000.

Cyclists, meanwhile, were exposed to just 8,000 ultrafine particles per cubic centimetre. It’s thought cyclists breathe in fewer fumes because we ride at the edge of the road and, unlike drivers, aren’t directly in the line of exhaust smoke.

10. Improves your sex life

Being more physically active improves your vascular health, which has the knock-on effect of boosting your sex drive, according to health experts in the US.

One study from Cornell University also concluded male athletes have the sexual prowess of men two to five years younger.

Staying active can also delay menopause by a similar amount of time. Some females can find menopause impacts sexual desire, so staying active could be a way to ward off reduced arousal.

Meanwhile, research carried out at Harvard University found men aged over 50 who cycle for at least three hours a week have a 30 per cent lower risk of impotence than those who do little exercise.

11. Helps with pregnancy

Cycling while pregnant could serve you and your pride and joy well, as long as you do it safely, of course.

According to research from Michigan University in the US, mums-to-be who exercise regularly during pregnancy have an easier, less complicated labour, recover faster and enjoy better overall mood throughout the nine months.

“There’s no doubt moderate exercise such as cycling during pregnancy helps condition the mother and protect the foetus,” says Patrick O’Brien, a spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

12. Heals your heart

Studies from Purdue University in the US have shown regular cycling can cut your risk of heart disease by 50 per cent. And according to the British Heart Foundation, around 10,000 fatal heart attacks could be avoided each year if people kept themselves fitter.

Cycling just 20 miles a week reduces your risk of heart disease to less than half that of those who take no exercise, it says.

13. Makes you motivated and helps you deal with stress

A study of 200 people carried out by the University of Bristol found employees who exercised before work or at lunchtime improved their time and workload management. It also boosted their motivation and ability to deal with stress.

The study also reported workers who exercised felt their interpersonal performance was better and found it easier to finish work on time.

14. Can help ward off cancer

Plenty of evidence suggests any exercise is useful in warding off cancer, but some studies have shown cycling is specifically good for keeping your cells in working order.

One long-term study carried out by Finnish researchers found men who exercised at a moderate level for at least 30 minutes a day were half as likely to develop cancer as those who didn’t.

And what was one of the moderate forms of exercise they cited? Cycling to work. Other studies have found women who cycle frequently reduce their risk of breast cancer by 34 per cent.

15. Lose weight through cycling

Cycling is a great way to lose weight. It’s efficient and unlike many forms of exercise, it can be integrated easily into your daily life.

Weight doesn’t have to be a barrier to cycling and it’s worth approaching weight loss with caution. We’ve put together an in-depth guide on how to lose weight through cycling safely and effectively.

16. Bike riding means guilt-free snacks

Upping your sugar intake is seldom your doctor’s advice, but in the few hours after a big ride, that’s exactly what you should do. This gives you the perfect excuse to munch on sweets you might normally avoid.

Dr Tim Podlogar, a nutritionist at Bora-Hansgrohe WorldTour cycling team, recommends Haribo. The sugar in them helps rapidly replenish your body's glycogen stores, so you can recover, adapt to the training stimulus and get fitter.

17. It's good for many sports

Whether you want to keep in prime shape or just improve your weekly tennis game, a stint in the saddle is the way to begin.

A medical study from Norway carried the title Aerobic Endurance Training Improves Soccer Performance, which makes it pretty clear the knock-on benefits to other sports are immense.

18. It's good family time

Cycling is an activity the whole family can do together . The smallest tyke can clamber into a child’s bike seat or tow-along trailer .

Moreover, your riding habit could be sowing the seeds for the next Tom Pidcock or Marianne Vos. Studies have found, unsurprisingly, kids are influenced by their parents’ exercise choices.

Put simply, if your kids see you riding regularly, they’ll think it’s normal and will likely want to follow your example.

It’s not just the kids who can join in. The NHS says cycling is kind on joints and there are plenty of bikes suitable for older people, so the grandparents can join in, too.

19. Helps with creativity

Writers, musicians, artists and all kinds of other professionals use exercise to solve mental blocks and make decisions, and science backs this approach up.

A study found 25 minutes of aerobic exercise boosts at least one measure of creative thinking. Credit goes to the flow of oxygen to your grey matter when it matters most, sparking your neurons and giving you breathing space to come up with an inspired line, guitar lick or brush stroke.

20. Can be used for a good cause

Many cyclists turn their health, fitness and determination into fundraising efforts for the less fortunate. The London to Brighton bike ride has raised over £40 million for the British Heart Foundation since the two became involved in 1980, with countless other rides contributing to the coffers of worthy causes.

21. Burns more fat

Burning fat isn’t the same as losing fat from your body, but you can improve your endurance and V02 Max by training in the fat-burning zones .

Sports physiologists have found the body’s metabolic rate – the efficiency with which it burns calories and fat – is not only raised during a ride, but for several hours afterwards.

“Even after cycling for 30 minutes, you could be burning a higher amount of total calories for a few hours after you stop,” says sports physiologist Mark Simpson of Loughborough University.

As you get fitter, the benefits are more profound. One recent study showed cyclists who incorporated fast intervals into their ride burned three-and-a-half times more body fat than those who cycled constantly but at a slower pace.

22. It gets you (legally) high

The ‘runner’s high’ is a sensation post-exercise of euphoria and relaxation. Despite the name, this high is applicable to all endurance athletes.

To test the idea, neurologists at the University of Bonn visualised endorphins in the brains of 10 volunteers before and after a two-hour cardio session using a technique called positive emission tomography.

Comparing the pre- and post-run scans, they found evidence of more opiate binding of the happy hormone in the frontal and limbic regions of the brain – areas known to be involved in emotional processing and dealing with stress.

“There’s a direct link between feelings of well-being and exercise, and for the first time this study proves the physiological mechanism behind that,” explains study coordinator Professor Henning Boecker.

23. It’ll make you happy

Cycling can make you happy . Even if you’re miserable when you saddle up, cranking through the miles will lift your spirits.

“Any mild-to-moderate exercise releases natural feel-good endorphins that help counter stress and make you happy,” explains Andrew McCulloch, chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation.

That’s probably why four times more GPs prescribe exercise therapy as their most common treatment for depression compared to three years ago.

“Just three 30-minute sessions a week can be enough to give people the lift they need,” says McCulloch.

24. It can ease fatigue

This sounds counter-intuitive, but if you feel too tired for a ride, the best thing you can do is go for ride.

Physical activity for even a few minutes is a surprisingly effective wake-up call. A review of 12 studies on the link between exercise and fatigue carried out between 1945 and 2005 found exercise directly lowers fatigue levels.

25. Helps you make friends

The social side of riding could be doing you as much good as the exercise and health benefits. With a burgeoning scene of inclusive cycle clubs , it's becoming easier to meet people through cycling.

Researchers at the University of California found socialising releases the hormone oxytocin, which buffers the ‘fight or flight’ response.

A study from Harvard Medical School found those with the most friends cut the risk of early death by more than 60 per cent, due to a reduction in blood pressure and a stronger immune system.

The results were so significant that researchers concluded not having close friends or confidants is as detrimental to your health as smoking or carrying extra weight. Add in the fitness element of cycling too and you’re onto a winner.

26. Improves your sleep

Hill reps or a daily commute by bike won’t just help with your fitness but your sleep, too.

Reducing regular sleep by an hour a night can lead to a spike in the hormone cortisol, which can then make it harder to sleep.

Exercise can redress that imbalance and set you on your way to a healthy dose of shut-eye.

There is of course the added benefit of a good night’s sleep aiding performance on the bike .

27. You can explore the world

Yes, cycling is great for your mind, your health and the planet. But the power of two wheels also has another huge benefit: it helps you explore the world.

Whether riding on local lanes, bikepacking or taking part in the Silk Road Mountain Race , a bicycle will help you discover what's around you and places that are much further away.

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Health benefits of cycling: a systematic review

Affiliation.

• 1 UKK Institute, Tampere, Finland. [email protected]
• PMID: 21496106
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2011.01299.x

The purpose of this study was to update the evidence on the health benefits of cycling. A systematic review of the literature resulted in 16 cycling-specific studies. Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies showed a clear positive relationship between cycling and cardiorespiratory fitness in youths. Prospective observational studies demonstrated a strong inverse relationship between commuter cycling and all-cause mortality, cancer mortality, and cancer morbidity among middle-aged to elderly subjects. Intervention studies among working-age adults indicated consistent improvements in cardiovascular fitness and some improvements in cardiovascular risk factors due to commuting cycling. Six studies showed a consistent positive dose-response gradient between the amount of cycling and the health benefits. Systematic assessment of the quality of the studies showed most of them to be of moderate to high quality. According to standard criteria used primarily for the assessment of clinical studies, the strength of this evidence was strong for fitness benefits, moderate for benefits in cardiovascular risk factors, and inconclusive for all-cause mortality, coronary heart disease morbidity and mortality, cancer risk, and overweight and obesity. While more intervention research is needed to build a solid knowledge base of the health benefits of cycling, the existing evidence reinforces the current efforts to promote cycling as an important contributor for better population health.

© 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

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• Purposeful exercise, including bicycle transportation, improves health. Maitland ME. Maitland ME. Clin J Sport Med. 2012 May;22(3):292-3. doi: 10.1097/JSM.0b013e318256e797. Clin J Sport Med. 2012. PMID: 22544063 No abstract available.

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Essay on Cycling in English for School Students

• Updated on  
• Feb 1, 2024

Essay on Cycling: As part of their curriculum, students are frequently assigned a range of topics to write essays on. Essay on my favorite hobby , activity, athlete, etc. An essay on cycling is one of them. A lot of students have cycling as one of their hobbies, as they enjoy chasing winds and racing with their friends. Here we will provide an essay on cycling in English for school students, which will provide you with some interesting details about cycling, its history, benefits, sporting activity, etc. 

Table of Contents

• 1 Essay on Cycling as a Hobby
• 2 Essay on Cycling in 250 Words
• 3 Benefits of Cycling
• 4 Paragraph on Cycling

Master the art of essay writing with our blog on How to Write an Essay in English .

Essay on Cycling as a Hobby

‘One of my hobbies is cycling. Every day, I cycle for about 1 hour with my friends, where we take a tour of our neighborhood, the nearby cricket stadium, and the central market. My mother always warns me to ride safely as she is worried about me. For me, cycling is not just a hobby. It is my stress reliever. It allows me to explore the world and be physically active. I bring all my grocery items by bicycle, visit the nearby temple on it, and go on little trips with my friends. 

Cycling is one of the most preferred choices for people who want to lose weight and those who have knee problems. Some people are not able to jog or run. When we run or job, we have to push our feet against the ground, it is quite exhausting. Cycling can be the best alternative for these people to stay physically active.

A bicycle is a very useful vehicle for both humans and the environment. While riding a bicycle, we are generating kinetic energy using our legs. There is no fuel or battery required, meaning it is 100% environmentally friendly. 

Every cycle is made of two wheels, a steel body, a handle with two sides, and two pedals. There is a leather or plastic seat in the middle. Some bicycles even have gears for better control and handling. 

Cycling is for everyone and every person must know how to ride a bicycle. There is no age or gender discrimination in cycling. To promote cycling among people, cycle stations and cycling tracks have been constructed, where we can safely ride. 

Cycling can be a hobby of anyone and it is a basic physical activity, offering many health and social benefits. On top of that, it is environmentally friendly and requires very low maintenance.’

To improve your essay writing skills, here are the top 200+ English Essay Topics for school students.

Also Read: Essay on National Sports Day

Essay on Cycling in 250 Words

‘Cycling is one of the basic and popular fun activities, where a person rides on it using his legs and hands. A German inventor Karl von Drais, invented the bicycle in 1817 and he called it ‘swiftwalker .’ Later on, modifications were made to bicycles and it was transformed into the types of bicycles we have today. 

The person who rides a bicycle is known as a cyclist. As the name implies, a bicycle consists of two wheels, two pedals, a metal or aluminum body, one seat, and one handle. A bicycle is one of the simplest modes of land transportation, as it is cheap, low maintenance, environmentally friendly, and keeps you physically fit. 

Cycling is a fun and healthy activity that everyone must practice. It has been proven that people who daily ride bicycles have better cardiovascular systems than those who are not into physical activity. 

Cycling is a great way to strengthen your legs, shoulders, and core muscles. It builds stamina and endurance and helps in maintaining our weight. Cycling is the best alternative option for old, obese, people with knee problems, as they don’t have to push their feet on the ground surface like in running. 

At the professional level, there are international and national cycling competitions, such as the WCI World Tour and Tour de France. People from different countries represent their nation and are filled with passion and energy. They are not only testing their body strength and cycling skills but also representing their countries at global competitions. 

Cycling doesn’t require any additional equipment or investment. It’s a simple and environment-friendly exercise built for everyone.’

Also Read: Essay on the Importance of Sports

Benefits of Cycling

Here are some of the benefits that you can enjoy while riding a bicycle:

• Cycling is an excellent cardiovascular exercise that increases heart rate and improves blood circulation.
• Cycling is a great way to burn calories and manage weight.
• Cycling can help you build your legs, core, and upper body muscles.
• Cycling stimulates the release of endorphins, reducing stress and anxiety.
• Regular cycling can help with better sleep quality.
• Cycling can help boost your immune system.
• Cycling is an eco-friendly mode of transportation with zero emissions.
• Cycling builds stamina and endurance.

Also Read: Essay on Football Match

Paragraph on Cycling

Also Read: Essay on My Favourite Sport

Ans: Cycling is one of the most preferred choices for people who want to lose weight and those who knee problems. Some people are not able to jog or run. When we run or job, we have to push our feet against the ground, it is quite exhausting. Cycling can be the best alternative for these people to stay physically active.

Ans: ‘One of my hobbies is cycling. Every day, I cycle for about 1 hour with my friends, where we take a tour of our neighborhood, the nearby cricket stadium, and the central market. My mother always warns me to ride safely as she is worried about me. For me, cycling is not just a hobby. It is my stress reliever. It allows me to explore the world and be physically active. I bring all my grocery items by bicycle, visit the nearby temple on it, and go on little trips with my friends. 

Ans: Cycling is a simple physical exercise, which requires us to use our legs for peddling. The parts of a bicycle include 2 wheels, a strong metal body, two pedals, one handle, and one seat. As kids, we all have ridden bicycles and some might even have gotten injured while learning. I guess that’s how we grow, we fall so that we can pick ourselves and learn how to grow. Young children, aged 10 to 16 years have the highest craze of cycling.

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Shiva Tyagi

With an experience of over a year, I've developed a passion for writing blogs on wide range of topics. I am mostly inspired from topics related to social and environmental fields, where you come up with a positive outcome.

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5 Scientific Reasons Why Cycling Is the Single Best Way to Get Around Your City

Your transportation choices seriously impact your mental and physical health. Here’s why research shows biking is best

We don’t have to sell you on cycling: If you’re here, you already know the myriad benefits of riding a bike . Now, a group of scientists have discovered even more good news regarding two-wheeled transportation. In short, when it comes to mental and physical health benefits, nothing beats getting around by bike.

The findings, which were published in Environment International , were part of the European Union-funded—and awesomely named—PASTA (Physical Activity through Sustainable Transport Approaches) study that included surveys of thousands of people (8,802 completed the baseline survey; 3,567 answered the final questionnaire) from seven European cities over a two-year period.

The focus of the study was how various forms of transportation influence how people feel about their general health and wellness. The researchers asked participants how often they used various forms of transportation including public transportation, car, motorcycle, e-bike, conventional bike, and walking, along with a slew of questions about their mental and physical health, including energy levels, fatigue, stress, depression, and social wellbeing.

In the end, bicycle riders hit the transportation jackpot, with those pedaling to and fro on traditional bikes yielding the best results in every analysis. Here are the top findings the researchers teased out.

You feel healthier

No surprise here. Related PASTA project research found that daily cyclists weigh less than their peers, and that people who switch from driving to cycling for their daily commute lose weight and have healthier body mass indexes (BMIs). Cycling also helps keep your immune system stronger as you age and can slow down the aging process. All that shows in how good you feel.

Related: Want to fly up hills? Climb! gives you the workouts and mental strategies to conquer your nearest peak.

You’re less stressed

Exercise like cycling not only helps keep stress hormones like cortisol in check, but also makes you more stress-resilient over time, so you’re less likely to sweat the small stuff and more likely to feel more chill overall.

Other transportation research has echoed these findings: Those who bike to work arrive less stressed than those who arrive by car.

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You’re less lonely

Being on a bike makes you feel more at one with your environment, so you’re less likely to feel isolated and alone. Also, the more you wave and say hi to other pedestrians and cyclists, the less lonely you’ll feel (that’s actually not a scientifically-proven fact, but is an awesome idea).

You enjoy better mental health

The act of pedaling a bike triggers a cascade of feel good chemicals in your brain. So it makes total sense that the more you ride around, the happier you’ll feel . It’s well documented that even brief bouts of exercise can ward off depression.

A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine that analyzed 26 years of research concluded that as little as 20 minutes of activity like cycling a day—that’s a 10-minute one way commute—can prevent depression over the long term. Another recent study published in The Lancet found that regular cycling was one of the best activities for improving mental health.

You’ve got vitality!

This one says it all: Bicycle commuters rank highest for vitality—a measure of well-being, physical health, and energy levels. Interestingly, urban infrastructure surveys show that we two-wheeled commuters also improve a city’s vitality . That sounds like a win-win all the way around.

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The Road to Good Health: How to Write an Essay about Cycling

Cycling is one of the best forms of exercise and more and more people are becoming aware of its benefits. Cycling is a good topic to write about because it is something you’re probably familiar with, which will make your essay more believable.

You will need to choose what type of cycling essay you would like to write, decide on a topic, create an outline, come up with a rough draft and work on it to create your final essay.

What type of cycling essay do you want to write?

A descriptive essay is all about the language you use and how vividly you can describe what you want to write about. You could write about a specific riding adventure you experienced.

If you decide to write an argumentative essay, you will need to come up with an argument, use evidence to support it and draw a conclusion from it. For example, you could argue that doping is ruining professional cycling.

A narrative essay is a personal piece of writing that makes your point of view clear to the reader. In a narrative essay, you could write about how you learned to ride a bike.

Decide on a cycling topic

Once you have decided what  type of essay  you would like to write, you will need to decide on a specific topic. For example, if you want to write an argumentative essay, you could discuss the problem of racial diversity in cycling.

If you have a specific interest, using it to frame your topic will make it easier to write your essay. For example, if you have an interest in technology, you could write about different technological advancements in bicycles. If you’re having trouble coming up with a topic, using one of many online essay title generators may help you to find one.

Get writing help

At college, all the requirements for essays are important to follow. Students getting an education at college may find they are overwhelmed with the sheer volume of work and need writing help. They can get essay writing help from professionals with experience that understand what’s required in terms of originality, referencing etc. All students need to do is  ask for essay help  on Ca.Edubirdie. They will receive the essay within the required deadline done perfectly by the professionals.

Make an outline

When creating an outline for your essay on cycling, you will need to organize all your ideas into a logical sequence and then give your main points roman numerals, designate sub-points with capital letters and points under your subpoints in small letters and numbers.

If you decide to write about safety while cycling, you will start off your introduction with your main idea, which is that if you want to keep yourself safe while cycling, you need to wear protective clothing, follow the safety rules and stay aware of your surroundings. These three points and subpoints under them will form the body of your essay and you will sum up in your conclusion.

Write your rough draft

Once you have  your outline , it is easier to write your rough draft as you simply follow all the points in your outline. You don’t have to think too much about perfection at this point but just get all your ideas down in the structure you came up with within your outline.

For example, under your main point about personal protection, you will write about things like wearing a helmet because it reduces the chance of getting a head injury. You will discuss wearing clothes in bright colors to be more visible.

Polish it until you’re satisfied 

After writing your rough draft, let it sit for a while before reviewing it. Coming back to it with fresh eyes will help you to see where you can make improvements. You may find you have left out an idea you want to include. If you’ve written about the benefits of cycling, you may have left out the benefits of  team sports for learning , such as how cycling as part of a team can help to boost brain and mental health.

When writing an essay on cycling, you will need to choose a type of essay, decide on a topic, create an outline, write the first draft and then work on it. It is often helpful to write your introduction and conclusion last, as completing the body of your essay will give you more idea of what to say. Remember to run your essay through a spelling and grammar checker before submitting it.

Author’s Bio:

Brandon Kryeger works for a publishing company as a writer and editor and his job is to prepare textbook content for school and college students. He’s passionate about writing and after his work, he spends the time helping college students do their academic writing work. His hobbies are playing tennis, watching anime and doing pencil sketching.

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Everything You Need To Know About Carb Cycling

How it works, who it's for, and why it could help optimise your fitness goals

We all know that fuelling properly can be the difference between a good and a great workout. And that carbohydrates can be essential for both maximising workouts and recovering effectively. But what about carb cycling? If you've never heard of it, carb cycling is a method of eating based around adapting your carb intake according to your training.

Still not sure what we're talking about? Here we take a look at what carb cycling is, if it’s good for you or not, and what to eat if you are carb cycling.

What is carb cycling?

What are the benefits of carb cycling, how does carb cycling work, what role does timing play in carb cycling, is carb cycling suited to one type of person or someone looking to achieve specific goals, how does carb cycling affect metabolism, why focus on carbs as opposed to protein or fat, what are the cons of carb cycling, what to eat when carb cycling.

‘Carb cycling is where someone alternates their carbohydrate intake on different days, with the aim of weight loss or fitness and performance goals,’ explains London-based dietitian Reema Pillai.

‘It involves eating high carbohydrate foods, usually on the days where a person is exercising more intensely, followed by lower carbohydrate days, usually on rest days. The theory is that the change in carbohydrate intake can support muscle building and recovery, as well as fat metabolism and energy levels. By having days of low carb intake, the body switches to fat as its main source of fuel, therefore burning more body fat than normal.’

Dr Sam Impey, co-founder and chief scientific officer at personalised sports nutrition app, Hexis (previously head of nutrition at Great Britain Cycling Team) adds that carb cycling also known as carbohydrate periodisation in the world of sports nutrition – where you match the amount of carbohydrate that's in your diet before, during and after exercise in a way that matches the energetic demands of that training session.

A good example of this, he says, is if you’re going for a run in the evening after work, you might have some carbohydrates at lunch or as a snack in the afternoon, so that your muscle glycogen stores (which is the body's store of carbohydrates), is topped up enough so that you're able to complete the run.

‘The whole idea is that we don't want to over-fuel with carbs, because we know that potentially has negative effects from a training adaptation perspective. Instead, it’s about aligning your intake of carbohydrates to the duration and intensity of the training session.’

• Improved energy stores
• Supports muscle recovery and growth after exercise
• Reduced levels of fatigue

Simply put, ‘you can get fitter faster from the same amount of training, and it helps to achieve your body composition goals by managing your total calorie intake,’ says Dr Impey.

Low-carb days

On rest days or days with no training, opt for lower carbohydrate foods and make sure you're filling up on plenty of protein , fibre , fruits and vegetables (since you won’t have a high demand for carbohydrates on the body).

Typical carb intake can be between 75-125g carbs per day

High-carb days

Then on days when you do have training, increase the carbohydrate amount in the meals before and after training sessions.

‘So if you're training in the early afternoon, for example, you might have a lower carbohydrate breakfast and then a medium or high carbohydrate lunch to fuel up ready for that training session,’ Dr Impey explains.

‘After training, you'd opt for a medium carbohydrate snack in the afternoon, and then potentially a low carbohydrate dinner.’

Typical carb intake can be between 150-200g per day

But, there are no set rules when it comes to carb cycling...

‘It's not about “today is low carb, tomorrow is high carb”. Instead, it’s about creating that periodisation on a meal-by-meal basis, so that we're optimising how our bodies adapt to training. And that's the most powerful way to use carbohydrate periodisations,’ says Dr Impey.

Timing is really important. As mentioned, you need to make sure you're having carbohydrates before you train, as well as afterwards , so you’re able to get the most out of your training session and then recover effectively.

Dr Impey says carb cycling is pretty ubiquitously useful for everybody – and can be customised based on your goals ( fat loss , muscle gain , athletic performance etc).

‘Perhaps the only example of where it might not be useful is for people doing kind of multi-day ultra-marathon run, where you may want to shift the metabolism to burning predominantly fat,’ he adds.

‘But for the general population – for anyone exercising and looking to get better numbers at parkrun, improve their body composition , or do better at Hyrox or CrossFit – carbohydrate periodisation is a really beneficial tool that you can add to your training toolbox to help improve physical capacity.’

Pillai adds that carb cycling is best suited for ‘athletes and people who regularly perform high intensity or endurance workouts, or who are regularly strength training’. Why? Because those who are trying to build muscle can benefit from the higher carb days for energy, and lower carb days for fat loss.

‘People who struggle with a complete lower carb diet approach may find this works better, as you do not have to completely cut them out for ever,’ she adds.

According to a 2018 research paper, published in Sports Med – on which Dr Impey was a lead researcher – by starting your training sessions in an optimally fueled state, you’re able to get better adaptations from the same training.

So, properly fuelled training sessions = better performance, increase in metabolism or metabolic rate, and aided recovery .

‘When people start to fuel their exercise correctly for the first time, they start to feel better, and that's because we're boosting their basal metabolic rate, and firing up their internal adaptation process to the training that they were doing,’ he adds.

‘Carbohydrates are the primary source of energy for most forms of exercise, so they actually have a bigger impact on the muscle and how it responds to training than protein or fat does in isolation,’ explains Dr Impey.

‘ Protein is obviously very important from a recovery perspective. It helps us build, sustain and maintain lean muscle mass, but its acute effects on our day-to-day training and our metabolism are much less than the impact of carbohydrates.’

If you get it wrong and eat low carb ahead of a heavy training session, that's going to hurt.

‘I think most of us have probably lived that experience of having a busy day at work and not getting enough fuel in and trying to go to the gym in the evening and you’ve just got nothing in the tank,’ says Dr Impey.

‘A lot of people can potentially push through that, and get through the session. But the quality of training is nowhere near what it should or could be.’

Pillai adds that cutting back on the carbohydrates can lead to side effects such as tiredness and low energy, constipation or changes in mood. ‘Carb cycling is not suited for everyone, as some may just prefer a more stable and regular carbohydrate intake with a balanced diet,’ she says.

‘And for some people, if they are not active enough, the higher carb days may lead to weight gain as it can be extra energy taken in that the body is not using.’

Because of the constant changes in carbs, carb cycling is not suitable for those who have an eating disorder or who are underweight, as well as those with medical conditions such as thyroid disease or diabetes, as it can further exacerbate these concerns.

If you decide to try carb cycling, remember to seek advice from a professional – such as a nutritionist or dietitian – to help determine the exact number of carbohydrates you need each day based on your workout schedule.

As an example, Dr Impey says if you’ve got a high intensity one-hour gym session after work at five o'clock, then your meal plan for the day may look something like this:

Low carb high protein breakfast: Three egg omelet with spinach and a little bit of feta.

High-carb lunch: Pasta and a banana or a couple of pieces of fruit

Afternoon snack pre-workout: Protein shake.

Post-workout dinner: Risotto with prawns.

‘You wouldn't need as many carbs for dinner as lunch, but you still want to put some carbs back in the system and eat a good amount of protein in the evening, so that you’re recovered and ready to go the next day,’ he explains.

The bottom line

Carb cycling is commonly used by endurance athletes and bodybuilders to adjust carbohydrate intake based on workout intensity and duration. But, it’s also suitable for those seeking fat loss through low-carb eating while staying active. Remember, to tailor carb intake to your exercise routine, it's best to consult an expert.

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Trump says he won’t tax your tips, OT or Social Security. Why critics see ‘gimmicks’ and a ‘sham’

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The last time Donald Trump was president, he delivered a massive tax cut , touting the many benefits of the 2017 law. But a slew of nonpartisan reviews found it mostly benefited the wealthy, expanded the federal deficit enormously and didn’t deliver promised economic benefits to the middle class.

Perhaps recognizing that his previous tax cut lacked populist appeal, the former president has spent the summer reeling off new tax-cut proposals — promising to exempt tips, Social Security benefits and overtime pay from federal taxes.

Trump used a rally Thursday in Tucson to roll out the latest proposal, to stop taxing overtime pay.

“People who work overtime are among the hardest-working citizens in our country,” the Republican presidential nominee said. “And for too long, no one in Washington has been looking out for them.”

He said his proposal meant “police officers, nurses, factory workers, construction workers, truck drivers and machine operators” would finally “catch a break.”

Tax and policy analysts from across the ideological spectrum quickly lambasted the Trump proposal, saying it would make an already massive federal budget deficit even larger. It wasn’t immediately clear how much eliminating the three taxes would cost the U.S. Treasury, though one group said the Social Security tax ban alone would deny the government $1.6 trillion over a decade.

Several critics said the proposals amounted to pandering to working-class voters whose support could tip the balance in several states. Offering breaks to those who earn tips and overtime felt like a “sham,” they added, coming from a man whose Labor Department failed to protect worker tips and enacted policies that made millions of employees ineligible for overtime pay.

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“Trump has a long anti-overtime record,” Heidi Shierholz, senior economist at EPI Action, a labor-oriented advocacy group, said in a statement. “While president, he stripped overtime protections from millions by refusing to defend the Obama-era overtime rule in court and instead publishing his own, much weaker rule.”

By shifting the income eligibility level at which the Labor Department requires workers be paid overtime, Trump helped push an estimated 3.2 million workers out of the category designated to get the extra pay, usually at time-and-a-half, Shierholz’s analysis showed.

An additional 5.2 million workers were subject to losing overtime payments from businesses that could misclassify them as managers or executives, a frequent maneuver employed by businesses, Shierholz said. And rules proposed by Project 2025 — written for a new Trump administration by Trump allies and former aides, but which the former president insists he will not follow — “would strip overtime protections from at least 8 million [additional] workers,” Shierholz said.

The promise to exempt tips from taxes also rings hollow to some employee groups. That’s because of another action by Trump’s Labor Department, which approved regulations that allowed businesses to “pool” tips, to be shared among employees, but without assuring the money wouldn’t go to management.

The Service Employees International Union said Trump-appointed bureaucrats cost workers an estimated $5.8 billion in tips each year. That “departs from long-standing practice and precedent and threatens the economic security of millions of working people and their families,” the union told the Labor Department.

After an outpouring of 375,000 comments, many of them from outraged restaurant servers and bartenders, Congress approved a bill amending the Fair Labor Standards Act. It made clear that employers could not keep tips earned by their workers.

The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment Friday. It has not rolled out detailed summations of the tax-cut proposals, including how the government would make up for the lost revenue or cut programs to make the changes “deficit neutral.”

J. Bradford DeLong, a UC Berkeley economist, said the twin economic crises of the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic made deficit spending warranted. “But that time has come to an end,” DeLong said via email.

“So the first question to ask of any promises about a tax cut is now: Is this going to be financed by cutting spending, and if so, on who, or is this to be financed by raising taxes on somebody else, and if so, on who?” DeLong said. “And if you do not cut spending and do not explicitly raise other taxes, then ultimately inflation will collect the taxes in a very unpleasant and destructive way.”

DeLong said it appeared Trump and his advisors had not thought through such questions, which he called “profoundly unserious” behavior.

Trump’s Haitian immigrant comments stir outrage in Florida

Former President Trump’s baseless comments about immigrants eating cats and dogs in Springfield, Ohio, have prompted outrage among Florida’s large Haitian population.

Douglas Holtz-Eakin , president of the center-right American Action Forum, said it seemed Trump cooked up his policy proposals on the fly, testing their popular reception at his rallies, without a sober assessment of their effect on the economy and the federal budget.

“He’s looking for the populist appeal,” said Holtz-Eakin, who once headed the Congressional Budget Office and advised President George W. Bush. “These are gimmicks and horrible ideas. Some pointy head like [me] can worry about the impact and the numbers. That’s not his problem.”

Not long after Trump called for an end to taxes on tips, Vice President Kamala Harris also said she would end tips on gratuities. The Democratic presidential nominee said she would simultaneously push for an increase in the federal minimum wage, now at $7.25 and unchanged since 2009.

Harris’ team said it was aware of concerns that high-income individuals might try to mischaracterize their income as tips, to lower their tax liability.

A campaign official who declined to be named to discuss internal policy discussions said: “As president, she would work with Congress to craft a proposal that comes with an income limit and with strict requirements to prevent hedge fund managers and lawyers from structuring their compensation in ways to try to take advantage of the policy.”

Holtz-Eakin said Harris, like Trump, also had made proposals — like a proposed $25,000 in down-payment assistance to first-time homebuyers and a $50,000 tax deduction for small businesses — that potentially could expand the deficit. He accused her and Trump of not taking the U.S. debt crisis seriously.

In the first seven months of this fiscal year, spending on net interest hit $514 billion, surpassing the amount that went to national defense. It was also more than the U.S. spent on Medicare.

“Yesterday, for the first time in U.S. history, interest costs exceeded a trillion dollars in a year,” Holtz-Eakin said, noting that the fiscal year ends on Sept. 30. “And the year’s not over, so hold on.”

The nonpartisan Tax Foundation estimated that Trump’s proposal to end taxes on Social Security benefits would increase the budget deficit by $1.6 trillion over 10 years and accelerate the insolvency of the Social Security and Medicare trust funds.

Trump’s continuation of his 2017 cuts — including on corporate tax rates and capital gains — would be another budget buster. In last week’s debate, Harris protested that the result would be “a tax cut for billionaires and big corporations, which will result in $5 trillion to America’s deficit.”

The Tax Foundation essentially concurred , saying that Trump’s tax cuts (prior to the most recent proposed reductions) would decrease federal tax revenue by $6.1 trillion over 10 years, and somewhat more modestly, when factoring in possible economic growth.

Harris has proposed increasing taxes on capital gains and other sources. Still, the Tax Foundation estimated her tax and spending proposals would increase deficits by $1.5 trillion over the next decade. That shortfall could grow to $2.6 trillion, considering the economic impacts of her policies, the nonprofit said.

Holtz-Eakin called the spiraling debt “appalling,” adding: “It is a paramount threat to the U.S. economy and to national security. Everybody who’s looked at it carefully has come to the same conclusion. But it’s hard work to deal with it, and [the candidates] don’t want to do the work.”

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