WORK STRESS: CYCLING HELPS

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WORK STRESS: CYCLING HELPS

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A study from Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business suggests that cycling to work doesn’t just get your blood pumping—it helps you start the workday with less stress.

The research, led by Stéphane Brutus along with Roshan Javadian and Alexandra Panaccio, compared how cycling, driving, and taking public transit affected how people felt when they got to work. Their findings, published in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management, show that those who cycled in had much lower stress levels during the first 45 minutes on the job than coworkers who drove.

Interestingly, the study didn’t find that the mode of commute had much effect on overall mood. The researchers made a point of distinguishing stress—your body’s response to demands—from mood, which can swing based on everything from your personality to how well you slept.

To get their data, the team used a web-based survey filled out by 123 employees at Autodesk’s Old Montreal office. They asked about stress, mood, and how people got to work. But here’s what set this study apart: the survey only counted answers from people who responded within 45 minutes of arriving at work. Brutus says this was key because stress and mood soon after arriving can set the tone for the rest of the day. “They can shape how subsequent events are perceived, interpreted, and acted upon for the rest of the day,” he explains.

This focus on immediacy gave the researchers a clearer picture of the real impact of the morning commute, without the results getting muddied by whatever happened later in the day.

The study also confirmed what earlier research suggested: cyclists tend to see their commutes as less stressful than drivers do. And there are other upsides. Cycling is cheap, it’s good exercise, and it’s better for the environment. According to a 2015 study by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, if cities prioritized bikes, urban transport emissions could drop by 11 percent by 2050, saving society $24 trillion over 35 years.

Still, only about 6 percent of Canadians biked to work in 2011, and while that number is climbing, it’s still far behind rates in many European countries.

Brutus, himself a cyclist, sees an opening for policymakers. As cities grapple with congestion and pollution, governments are increasingly encouraging alternatives like walking and biking. He hopes research like this will push more towns to invest in ways to make cycling to work a viable option for more people.

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