Cycling in S?o Paulo, Brazil (1997–2012): Correlates, time trends and health consequences

摘要

The purpose of the study was to describe cyclists and cycling trips, and to explore correlates, time trends and health consequences of cycling in S?o Paulo, Brazil from 1997 to 2012. Cross-sectional analysis using repeated S?o Paulo Household Travel Surveys (HTS). At all time periods cycling was a minority travel mode in S?o Paulo (1174 people with cycling trips out of 214,719 people). Poisson regressions for individual correlates were estimated using the entire 2012 HTS sample. Men were six times more likely to cycle than women. We found rates of bicycle use rising over time among the richest quartile but total cycling rates dropped from 1997 to 2012 due to decreasing rates among the poor. Harms from air pollution would negate benefits from physical activity through cycling only at 1997 air pollution levels and at very high cycling levels (≥ 9 h of cycling per day). Exposure-based road injury risk decreased between 2007 and 2012, from 0.76 to 0.56 cyclist deaths per 1000 person-hours travelled. Policies to reduce spatial segregation, measures to tackle air pollution, improvements in dedicated cycling infrastructure, and integrating the bicycle with the public transport system in neighborhoods of all income levels could make cycling safer and prevent more individuals from abandoning the cycling mode in S?o Paulo. Highlights ? Cycling rates increased between 1997 and 2007 but decreased in 2012. ? Cycling decreased in the 25% poorest and increased in the 25% richest people. ? Strong gender and age inequalities were observed, favouring men and young people. ? In current air pollution levels, benefits from cycling outweigh harms in the city. ? Exposure-based road injury risk decreased between 1997 and 2012.