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.