People who exercise more are healthier and can score higher on cognitive tests, for one thing.
But that will only work if people feel safe swapping their two-ton deathmobiles for a pair of pedals.
And it may well mean providing cyclists with bike lanes protected from vehicle traffic with more than a coat of paint.
In fact, a study from Monash University in Australia suggests that merely painting bike lanes onto the roads may be counterproductive.
The researchers conducted an observational study, gathering data from 60 cyclists in Melbourne, Australia.
Somewhat worryingly, drivers were also more likely to get closer (60 inches/154cm) to cyclists when passing in 100km/h (62mph) zones.
Our results demonstrate that a single stripe of white paint does not provide a safe space for people who ride bikes," said Dr. Ben Beck, lead author of the study. »