[Determinants and patterns of bicycle use and traffic accidents among bicycling workers in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil].

A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Pelotas, southern Brazil, focusing on the determinants and patterns of bicycle use as a mode of commuting by workers. Accidents during commuting and use of safety equipment were also studied. The sample included 1,705 workers (> 15 years of age) living in the urban area of Pelotas and using various modes of transportation during commuting. Crude and adjusted analyses were performed using Poisson regression, taking the design effect into account. Prevalence of bicycle use was 17.2% (95%CI: 15.4%-19.0%). Male workers and those with low schooling and low income presented higher prevalence. Less than 1.0% of the bicycles featured the safety equipment required by the Brazilian Traffic Code, and 15.0% did not even have brakes. Nearly 6.0% of workers who commuted by bicycle had suffered accidents resulting in injuries during the previous 12 months. The authors conclude that bicycling workers are a priority for interventions aimed at reducing traffic accidents.

[1]  S. M. Andrade,et al.  [Traffic accidents in a city in Southern Brazil: an evaluation of coverage and quality of data]. , 2001, Cadernos de saude publica.

[2]  G. B. Rodgers.  Bicyclist deaths and fatality risk patterns. , 1995, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[3]  Aluísio J. D. Barros,et al.  Acidentes de trânsito com vítimas: sub-registro, caracterização e letalidade , 2003 .

[4]  S C Stiles,et al.  Bicycle safety behavior in Paris and Boston. , 1998, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[5]  M. J. Spink.  O autor responde , 2001 .

[6]  Regina Kazue.  Características da mortalidade por acidentes de trânsito em localidade da região Sul do Brasil Characteristics of mortality in traffic accidents in an area of Southern Brazil , 2006 .

[7]  M Nankervis,et al.  THE EFFECTS OF WEATHER AND CLIMATE ON URBAN BICYCLE COMMUTERS' DECISION TO RIDE: A PILOT SURVEY , 1999 .

[8]  S P Baker,et al.  Injuries to bicyclists in Wuhan, People's Republic of China. , 1997, American journal of public health.

[9]  M. Schroll,et al.  All-cause mortality associated with physical activity during leisure time, work, sports, and cycling to work. , 2000, Archives of internal medicine.

[10]  Guan Ying,et al.  CHARACTERISTICS OF BICYCLE USERS IN SHANGHAI, CHINA , 1993 .

[11]  A. Bauman,et al.  Updating the evidence that physical activity is good for health: an epidemiological review 2000-2003. , 2004, Journal of science and medicine in sport.

[12]  Jack Tigh Dennerlein,et al.  Occupational injuries among Boston bicycle messengers. , 2002, American journal of industrial medicine.

[13]  M. Baltes.  Factors influencing nondiscretionary work trips by bicycle determined from 1990 U.S. census metropolitan statistical area data , 1996 .

[14]  K. Patrick,et al.  Physical Activity and Public Health: A Recommendation From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Sports Medicine , 1995 .

[15]  D. F. Soares,et al.  [Characteristics of mortality in traffic accidents in an area of Southern Brazil]. , 1998, Revista de saude publica.

[16]  Hisashi Kubota,et al.  ANALYSIS OF BICYCLE-DEPENDENT TRANSPORT SYSTEMS IN CHINA: CASE STUDY IN A MEDIUM-SIZED CITY , 1994 .

[17]  A. Nissinen,et al.  Physical activity during leisure and commuting in Tianjin, China. , 2002, Bulletin of the World Health Organization.

[18]  Susan Hanson,et al.  EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF WEATHER ON BICYCLE USE , 1977 .

[19]  J. Pucher,et al.  Bicycling renaissance in North America? Recent trends and alternative policies to promote bicycling , 1999 .

[20]  John Pucher,et al.  Making Walking and Cycling Safer: Lessons from Europe , 2000 .

[21]  Jennifer Dill,et al.  Bicycle Commuting and Facilities in Major U.S. Cities: If You Build Them, Commuters Will Use Them , 2003 .