Cyclists 'exposed to less air pollution than drivers' on busy routes

Study shows people in cars and buses spend longer in toxic air, as do walkers on main roads

Cyclists are the least exposed to air pollution on daily commutes into a congested city centre, research has shown. People in cars and buses spent longer in toxic air, as did walkers unless they made detours to avoid main roads.

The work, conducted in Leeds, supports the investment in cycle lanes to both reduce air pollution by cutting vehicle journeys and improve citizens' health. It also found that air pollution reached relatively high levels inside cars, echoing a recent warning that cars are "boxes collecting toxic gases".