Oxford Brookes University led a three-year study into supporting and prolonging cycling among the UK’s older population, the key recommendations of which have just been published.
A representative for the University said: “The research has found that older people who currently cycle, or who have tried cycling, recognise the positive benefits it can make to their health, however they find infrastructure in the UK generally unsupportive of their needs.”
The study involved participants from Oxford, Bristol, Reading and Cardiff taking part in an eight-week ‘cycling and wellbeing’ trial involving electric bikes. The group pledged to cycle for at least half an hour, three times a week. Participants were made up of those currently cycling, non-cyclists as well as a group of people who wished to take up cycling again after a break.
Study participants were asked to keep a diary during the trial, as well as complete a survey several months later to see if they had continued to cycle. Around two thirds of the group thought their wellbeing had improved and that they had become more physically active. On average each participant made 30 separate journeys, with many cycling more than the required 90 minutes each weeks and going on to purchase an e-bike once the trial period ended.
Full story (& some rather lovely quotes from participants about their new e-bike experiences at the end) here:
http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/news/50s-cycling-wellbeing-study-calls-support-growing-e-bike-market/
A representative for the University said: “The research has found that older people who currently cycle, or who have tried cycling, recognise the positive benefits it can make to their health, however they find infrastructure in the UK generally unsupportive of their needs.”
The study involved participants from Oxford, Bristol, Reading and Cardiff taking part in an eight-week ‘cycling and wellbeing’ trial involving electric bikes. The group pledged to cycle for at least half an hour, three times a week. Participants were made up of those currently cycling, non-cyclists as well as a group of people who wished to take up cycling again after a break.
Study participants were asked to keep a diary during the trial, as well as complete a survey several months later to see if they had continued to cycle. Around two thirds of the group thought their wellbeing had improved and that they had become more physically active. On average each participant made 30 separate journeys, with many cycling more than the required 90 minutes each weeks and going on to purchase an e-bike once the trial period ended.
Full story (& some rather lovely quotes from participants about their new e-bike experiences at the end) here:
http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/news/50s-cycling-wellbeing-study-calls-support-growing-e-bike-market/
