The lives of more than 500 Londoners a year could be saved if cycling in the capital increased to the level in Copenhagen, a major health report has claimed.
The World Health Organisation said that an estimated 542 premature deaths from pollution and road collisions would be avoided if 26 per cent of journeys were made by bike, the rate in the Danish capital.
At present, only three per cent of journeys in London are by bicycle.
As part of a “call to action” across Europe, WHO researchers forecast that 8,196 jobs would be created in London if it could dramatically increase its cycling rate.
The report’s release follows public health chiefs in Britain admitting last week that an estimated 3,389 Londoners die prematurely every year as a result of air pollution. In 2012, 659 cyclists were seriously injured in London and there were 14 deaths.
The health organisation said about 76,600 jobs would be created and 10,000 lives saved every year in Europe if cycling rates in major cities rose to match those in Copenhagen.
Today’s Unlocking New Opportunities report was compiled with Oxford university and released to coincide with a three-day conference in Paris on transport, health and the environment.
Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO regional director for Europe, urged countries to agree a “Paris declaration”, committing to investing in green transport.
“The pay-offs from these investments are enormous and include new jobs and healthier people from more physical activity, fewer road traffic injuries, less noise and better air quality,” she said.
The organisation said that air pollution in Europe caused mainly by traffic leads to almost 500,000 deaths a year, while road collisions result in 90,000 premature deaths.
