With more employees back in the office, they’re spending more time sitting in traffic and behind desks, raising their risk for a range of health problems, including obesity and cardiovascular disease. This sedentary time also comes at a cost to business, driving up healthcare costs. New research suggests that choosing a bike instead of a car may help support cardiovascular health — including a lower risk of stroke.
The high cost of sitting still
For many employees, inactivity is built into the workday. Nearly half (49%) of employees say they spend most of their workday sitting, and the average American sits for 6 or more hours a day — not only at a desk, but also commuting, watching television or playing video games, and relaxing at home. When long periods of sitting are combined with too little physical activity, the health risks add up. Physical inactivity is associated with multiple preventable chronic conditions, including overweight/obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease.
Those conditions carry a cost for employers, too. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, physical inactivity accounts for about 12.6% of U.S. healthcare expenditures — approximately $192 billion a year. Healthcare spending for an inactive adult is nearly $2,000 higher per year than for someone who is physically active.
Chronic disease is one factor contributing to rising employer healthcare costs. In KFF’s 2025 Employer Health Benefits Survey, 69% of large employers said the prevalence of chronic disease contributed to higher health insurance premiums. The average annual premium for employer-sponsored family coverage reached $26,993 in 2025, a 6% increase from the previous year, with employers paying the majority of that cost.
Moreover, total health plan costs, including employer and employee contributions, are expected to rise by an average of 8.2% next year. For smaller businesses in particular, rising premiums can make providing coverage increasingly difficult. In 2026, just 59% of employers with 10-199 workers offered health coverage compared to 67% in 2021.
Healthcare spending is only part of the equation. Gallup has estimated that 75% of medical costs are largely associated with preventable conditions and has linked employee well-being to absenteeism, healthcare utilization, performance, and turnover. In short, poor health affects not only what employers spend on benefits but also how often employees are at work and how well organizations perform.
Reduce stroke with every pedal
A 2026 population-based study published in the European Stroke Journal followed more than 107,000 people in Sweden over an average of 17 years. Researchers examined how participants traveled to work and whether commuting mode and distance were associated with the risk of stroke.
People who cycled to work had an 11% lower risk of stroke compared with those who drove. Among drivers, stroke risk increased as commuting distance increased.
The results were striking: People who cycled to work had an 11% lower risk of stroke compared with those who drove. Among drivers, stroke risk increased as commuting distance increased. Cyclists, meanwhile, showed lower risk at moderate commuting distances.
The researchers noted that the association between cycling and stroke risk weakened after accounting for participants’ physical activity outside the commute. That points to a bigger takeaway: active commuting can be one way to incorporate movement into an overall physically active lifestyle — something already known to help reduce cardiovascular risk.
And the potential benefits don’t stop with stroke prevention. Previous research following commuters in Scotland found that cycling to work was associated with lower risks of hospitalization and death from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other causes. The study also found benefits associated with walking to work, reinforcing the value of making physical activity part of everyday travel.
Read our blog Pump Up Your Workforce & Power Up Business to learn how exercises like bicycling and walking can also improve employees’ mental health and positivity.
Get a move on Biketober
Creating more opportunities for employees to move — including active commuting such as biking and walking — can support workforce well-being.
Biketober is a friendly monthlong bike challenge that gives metro Atlanta employers an easy way to promote getting physically active. Encourage employees of every experience level to ride throughout October, whether they’re biking to work, connecting to transit, heading out for exercise, or simply taking a ride for fun. Cyclists can ride anywhere, anytime to earn points and chances to win prizes, including a new e-bike!
Want to help get your team’s hearts and legs pumping but not sure where to start? Check out these Three Metro ATL Bike Trails You Need to Experience!
Hundreds of businesses participate each year! Why not help your employees find their rhythm and discover just how good the ride can be for them — and for your business. Reach out to your commute consultant to get started at info@georgiacommuteoptions.com or go to Biketober.com to learn more.
Georgia Commute Options — a program made possible by the Atlanta Regional Commission and Georgia Department of Transportation — works with businesses, property managers, CIDs and local transportation management associations to develop and implement commute programs and services that reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality across the region.