Bicycle Commuting can lead to significant savings

The local NGO dedicated to bicycle commuting has revised its estimation on the savings that can be made in view of the recent study by the University of Malta’s Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development into the external costs of congestion.

“It is well known that people using a bicycle as transport benefit the country in terms of lower health care, lower pollution and congestion costs,” it said.

The group had previously used the European Cyclists Federations estimate that gave a figure of €2,640,000 per annum for the projected 2020 target of a 2% modal share.

However given the Institute’s initial findings that placed Malta’s congestion problem well above that of other EU states, the group had said that this estimate now stood as closer to €6.34million per annum.

The group said that its previous estimate of current savings based upon the 2010 modal split of 0.5% of bicycle commuters of €660,000 in congestion, pollution and health savings by people who use bicycles as transport, has also been revised to €1.37million per annum.

“The benefits of cycling outweigh the risks by 19 to 1,” the group said. “This is a saving for everyone, not just people who ride bicycles and it is a positive spin on bicycles helping the wider community as a sustainable form of transport.”

The group encourages further study into the savings that can be made in various forms of sustainable transport, helping to make commuting easier for everyone.