{ "abstract": "Many pregnant women worldwide use bicycles as a mode of transportation. However, there is limited evidence regarding attitudes toward and the safety of cycling as a mode of transportation during pregnancy. This study aimed to clarify the prevalence of cycling as a mode of transportation before and during pregnancy and the adverse events associated with cycling during pregnancy. An anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted among pregnant women who owned a bicycle, were at 37 weeks of gestation, and agreed to participate in the study at 14 institutions managing deliveries in Japan in 2024. Participants were provided with request forms containing a QR code linking to an anonymous questionnaire on Google Forms™. Among 1,130 women, the proportion who cycled for transportation decreased significantly from 80.8% before pregnancy to 51.2% during pregnancy (P < 0.001). One-third (34.2%) of women who cycled during pregnancy continued cycling until 37 weeks of gestation. The incidences of threatened abortion and preterm labor were similar regardless of cycling status during pregnancy. Of the 579 women who cycled during pregnancy, 21 (3.6%) fell off a bicycle, of whom 15 were injured. Eight women (1.4%) were involved in a bicycle accident during pregnancy, of whom four were injured. These adverse events occurred irrespective of gestational age. Logistic regression analysis showed that women who cycled ≥5 days per week during pregnancy had a significantly higher risk of falling off a bicycle (odds ratio, 3.17). Pregnancy was associated with a significant decrease in cycling as a mode of transportation; however, cycling-related adverse events during pregnancy were uncommon. Women who cycle ≥5 days per week during pregnancy should exercise particular caution to avoid falls. Safe cycling practices and helmet use should be more widely promoted during pregnancy.", "abstract_shown": true, "affiliations": [ "Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata City, Osaka, Japan", "Graduate School of Health and Welfare Sciences, International University of Health and Welfare, Tokyo, Japan", "Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Narimoto Lady’s Hospital, Hirakata City, Osaka, Japan", "Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fujimoto Hospital, Neyagawa City, Osaka, Japan", "Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Orino Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic, Hirakata City, Osaka, Japan", "Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Akise Women’s Clinic, Hirakata City, Osaka, Japan", "Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ashihara Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic, Hirakata City, Osaka, Japan", "Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Inoue Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic, Daito City, Osaka, Japan", "Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hirakata City Hospital, Hirakata City, Osaka, Japan", "Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Iito Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic, Kadoma City, Osaka, Japan", "Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osamura Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic, Yawata City, Kyoto, Japan", "Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fujiwara Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic, Katano City, Osaka, Japan", "Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kayashima Ikuno Hospital, Kadoma City, Osaka, Japan", "Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kamiya Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic, Kadoma City, Osaka, Japan", "Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kansai Medical University Medical Center, Moriguchi City, Osaka, Japan" ], "article_type": "Research Article", "arxiv": null, "author_total": 15, "authors": [ { "affs": [ 0 ], "name": "Mamoru Morikawa" }, { "affs": [ 1 ], "name": "Yuki Morikawa" }, { "affs": [ 2 ], "name": "Shintaro Yasuda" }, { "affs": [ 3 ], "name": "Shuji Tei" }, { "affs": [ 4 ], "name": "Ichiro Orino" }, { "affs": [ 5 ], "name": "Hikari Akise" }, { "affs": [ 6 ], "name": "Kozo Ashihara" }, { "affs": [ 7 ], "name": "Takeshi Inoue" }, { "affs": [ 8 ], "name": "Tadashi Okazaki" }, { "affs": [ 9 ], "name": "Goichi Iito" }, { "affs": [ 10 ], "name": "Kohei Osamura" }, { "affs": [ 11 ], "name": "Yasuhisa Fujiwara" }, { "affs": [ 12 ], "name": "Shun-ichiro Nakanishi" }, { "affs": [ 13 ], "name": "Takao Kamiya" }, { "affs": [ 14 ], "name": "Tomoo Yoshimura" } ], "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/b1x67vq57g9yd.bib", "cited_by": 0, "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0358856", "fulltext_url": null, "id": "b1x67vq57g9yd", "issns": [ "1932-6203" ], "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0358856", "language": null, "licence": "CC-BY-4.0", "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0", "licence_source": "journal", "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/", "metadata_licence": null, "native_subjects": [ [ "openalex", "3313|Urban Transport and Accessibility" ], [ "plos", "/Engineering and technology/Transportation" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Critical care and emergency medicine/Trauma medicine/Traumatic injury/Head injury" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Epidemiology/Medical risk factors/Traumatic injury risk factors" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Epidemiology/Medical risk factors/Traumatic injury risk factors/Falls" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Public and occupational health/Traumatic injury risk factors" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Public and occupational health/Traumatic injury risk factors/Falls" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Women's health/Maternal health/Birth/Preterm labor" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Women's health/Maternal health/Pregnancy" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Women's health/Obstetrics and gynecology/Birth/Preterm labor" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Women's health/Obstetrics and gynecology/Pregnancy" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Women's health/Obstetrics and gynecology/Termination of pregnancy" ], [ "plos", "/Research and analysis methods/Research design/Clinical research design/Adverse events" ] ], "openalex": "W7214004727", "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0358856&type=printable", "pmcid": null, "pmid": null, "published": "2026-09-22", "publisher": "Public Library of Science", "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/b1x67vq57g9yd.ris", "sources": [ { "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:43Z", "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pone.0358856", "source": "plos", "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0358856" } ], "subjects": [ { "field": "medicine", "origin": "plos:epidemiology", "subfield": "epidemiology-public-health" }, { "field": "medicine", "origin": "plos:women's health", "subfield": "reproductive-child" } ], "title": "Using cycling as transportation and related adverse events during pregnancy: An anonymous questionnaire survey in urban Japan", "title_text": "Using cycling as transportation and related adverse events during pregnancy: An anonymous questionnaire survey in urban Japan", "type": "peer-reviewed", "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:43Z", "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/b1x67vq57g9yd", "venue": "PLOS One", "versions": [] }