Bicycle use could reduce SUS (Brazilian public healthcare system) spending in São Paulo by R$ 34,4 million.

By Daniel Mello - Reporter for Agência Brasil

Expanding bicycle use could reduce public health spending and even boost the economy of São Paulo, according to a study by the Brazilian Center for Analysis and Planning (Cebrap). The Impact of Bicycle Use in the City of São Paulo study estimated that the Unified Health System (SUS) could save R$ 34,4 million per year by reducing hospitalizations for circulatory problems and diabetes if active transportation by two wheels were used to its full potential.

To make the estimate, the study evaluated the percentage of bus and car trips that could be replaced by bicycle trips. These are trips that are either pedalable or easily pedalable, journeys of up to 8 kilometers made between 6 am and 20 pm by people aged 50 or younger. This category includes 31% of trips made by bus, a mode of transport used in 35% of all trips in the city of São Paulo; and 43% of those made by car, a mode of transport used in 31% of trips in the capital. The remaining 34% of trips are made by less polluting means, such as the subway, or by combining more than one mode of transport.

According to the study, using a bicycle could reduce the risk factor of lack of physical activity for the development of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. People who do not engage in physical activity are twice as likely to have a heart attack compared to those who exercise regularly. For hypertension and diabetes, the risk is 50% higher for sedentary individuals compared to those who exercise frequently.

This resulted in an estimated 13% savings on the R$ 255,2 million spent annually by the SUS (Brazilian Public Health System) in the municipality on treating circulatory system diseases. Regarding diabetes, the potential reduction was 8% of the R$ 6,2 million used to treat complications caused by the disease.

Business

According to the research, replacing cars and buses with bicycles would also bring a series of positive impacts on the wealth produced by the city, measured by the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The gains would come from reduced travel time and decreased transportation costs, allowing the money saved to be used for other products and services. The reduction in traffic congestion alone could increase the municipal GDP by 0,035%, injecting R$ 225 million into the city's economy.

According to the research, the time saved by replacing bus trips with bicycles would represent a gain of R$ 623 million per year, in addition to the R$ 18,7 million that would no longer be lost due to time saved on car travel. The research indicates that by using a bicycle, bus passengers save an average of 19 minutes per day in traffic, while for car drivers the time saved is approximately 9 minutes per day.

Difficulties

However, bicycle commuting still faces a number of obstacles in the city of São Paulo. Aline Cavalcante, director of the São Paulo Urban Cyclists Association (Ciclocidade), highlighted the need to expand infrastructure geared towards this mode of transport. “Beginner cyclists demand more infrastructure than experienced cyclists. Therefore, to encourage bicycle use, especially among those who are beginning to transition to a different mode of transport, cycling infrastructure is necessary,” she emphasized in an interview with Agência Brasil.

Furthermore, Aline highlights the importance of continuing to expand the city's cycling network. "Today, the biggest problem for urban cyclists is how to cross rivers," says the cyclist, referring to the lack of connections between bike paths in some parts of the city. "Currently, there isn't really a well-established network. We have bike lanes scattered throughout the city," she emphasizes.

According to the activist, planning problems are also one of the obstacles to making use of dedicated bike lanes. "Often, that infrastructure isn't being used, either because it's not the best place for cycling, because it has a lot of hills and there's a flatter alternative; or because it's not connected to the network," she explains.

According to the association's director, the expansion of the cycle path network must be accompanied by other measures that make circulation more bicycle-friendly, such as reducing speed limits on streets and avenues. "Traffic calming would mean reducing speeds on urban roads. This is a global policy to reduce the number of pedestrian and cyclist deaths," she adds.

This process of changing the logic of transportation takes time, Aline points out. That's why it's so important to establish short, medium, and long-term projects to improve mobility in the metropolis. "I would say that public policies to change a culture like the one we've had in Brazil over the last 50 years need to be planned over a period of about 50 years."