Bicycle-rental schemes save lives by increasing physical-activity levels among city dwellers and should be expanded across Britain's cities, according to research in the British Medical Journal.
A study of the Barcelona equivalent of London's "Boris bikes" found that short, regular cycle rides by users have reduced the number of annual deaths - despite the increased risk from accidents and exposure to air pollution.
The increase in cycling also reduced greenhouse gases as fewer people travelled by car, the study found.
Low-price urban bike-rental schemes are increasingly popular in countries such as France, China and Canada. The trend has largely been motivated by a desire to reduce traffic congestion.
The Spanish study analysed the health impact of the Barcelona scheme by comparing cycling with driving. It found that 12 deaths were avoided every year as a result of the benefits of increased physical activity, which decreases the risk of obesity, stroke and heart disease.
