Car Dependency: A Threat to Human and Environmental Health — Promoting Cycling is a Solution

Updated: 5 June 2024

Firas Mohamed, Takemi Sugiyama, Manoj Chandrabose*

Healthy Cities Research Team, Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of Technology

* Available for media contact (mchandrabose@swin.edu.au)

In recognition of the United Nations World Bicycle Day (3 June), the Healthy Cities Research Team of the Centre for Urban Transitions (CUT) at Swinburne University organised an online seminar, focusing on ‘Promoting Cycling to Reduce Car Dependency: Research and Advocacy for Mobility Transitions’. The seminar featured five presenters who showcased recent research evidence and advocacy efforts that can support mobility transitions from car use to cycling. It attracted over 60 attendees from academia, industry, and government organisations.

Car dependency is an underlying cause of many problems we face today, such as poor health, pollution, excessive resource use (not just for cars but also for infrastructure) and congestion. This problem is becoming increasingly urgent, as Australian cities expand horizontally to accommodate urban population growth. If we do not challenge the status quo, the issue of car dependency will worsen in future. Researchers and advocates from diverse disciplines need to start working together to advocate for the mobility transition, from car use to active travel modes.

One of the presentations at the seminar featured Mr. Firas Mohamed, a PhD candidate at CUT. He presented a study on the proportion of car trips that can be replaced by cycling.

The study used data from Victoria's household travel survey and found that over 80% of home-based (i.e., to/from home) utilitarian trips (e.g., shopping and errands) by adults in Victoria were made by car, while only 1% were made by bicycle. Some of these trips were short. The study identified that the majority of cycling trips by adults were shorter than 4 km (4.3 km for men, 3.4 km for women). Using these as cut-off values, it is found that 34% of home-based utilitarian car trips were short enough to be cycled. (Note that trips to give someone a ride were not considered 'bikeable' trips). The findings suggest that cycling is a promising mode of transport that can contribute to reducing car dependency, especially for short home-based utilitarian trips. However, in terms of the distance of car trips, only 8% of the total car trip distance for home-based utilitarian trips can be replaced by cycling.

Image obtained from unsplash.com

To advance the mobility transition, concerted efforts between researchers, advocates, and

policymakers are needed to encourage people to replace short car trips with cycling. One potential strategy is to promote e-bikes. Motor-assisted bicycles, which help people to manage hills and cycle longer distances, are becoming popular in many countries.

Image obtained from unsplash.com

Given that safety concerns are a major barrier to cycling, producing cycle-friendly environments near shopping districts is another way to facilitate the mobility transition. Considering the low level of cycling in Australia (and the potential interest in cycling that was nurtured during the COVID pandemic), such policies can sway at least those who are concerned with the negative health and environmental impacts of car dependency.

Watch the seminar video here: