Exercise and social contact give ‘feel-good appeal’ to city cycling

New Zealand’s cyclists are the country’s “happiest commuters”, combining regular exercise with greater opportunities for social interactions, a University of Auckland study has found.

Despite poor road conditions and traffic stress, cyclists are “consistently shown to have the highest levels of satisfaction with the trip to work”.

The study was conducted by environmental sociologists Kirsty Wild and Alistair Woodward from Auckland’s faculty of medical and health sciences. It involved detailed interviews with 24 cyclists in Auckland and a review of transport psychology and exercise science research papers.