The objective of this health impact assessment study was to estimate the risks and benefits to health of travel by bicycle, using a bicycle sharing scheme, compared with travel by car in an urban environment. Setting was the public bicycle sharing initiative, Bicing, in Barcelona, Spain. Participants were 181 982 Bicing subscribers. The primary outcome measure was all cause mortality for the three domains of physical activity, air pollution (exposure to particulate matter <2.5 µm), and road traffic incidents. The secondary outcome was change in levels of carbon dioxide emissions. Compared with car users the estimated annual change in mortality of the Barcelona residents using Bicing (n=181 982) was 0.03 deaths from road traffic incidents and 0.13 deaths from air pollution. As a result of physical activity, 12.46 deaths were avoided (benefit:risk ratio 77). The annual number of deaths avoided was 12.28. As a result of journeys by Bicing, annual carbon dioxide emissions were reduced by an estimated 9 062 344 kg. It was concluded that public bicycle sharing initiatives such as Bicing in Barcelona have greater benefits than risks to health and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. (Author/publisher) Correction to Rojas-Rueda et al. 343, BMJ 2011; 343:d5306 doi: 10.1136/bmj.d5306 (Published 17 August 2011), Cite this as: BMJ 2011; 343:d5306. Correction: The health risks and benefits of cycling in urban environments compared with car use: health impact assessment study In this research article by David Rojas-Rueda and colleagues (BMJ 2011;343:d4521, doi:10.1136/bmj.d4521) the ninth reference was incorrect. It should have been: 9. De Hartog JJ [not Johan H], Boogaard H, Nijland H, Hoek G. Do the health benefits of cycling outweigh the risks? Environ Health Perspect 2010;118:1109-16. Notes: Cite this as: BMJ 2011;343:d5306
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