Introduction and objective:
The bicycle as a means of transport gains popularity among the inhabitants of European cities, being not only an alternative to cars, but also a way to improve health and wellbeing. The aim of the study is to identify and provide an in-depth analysis of health benefits, as well as potential environmental and traffic hazards resulting from regular commuting to work by bicycle.

Material and methods:
The study, conducted in the form of a diagnostic survey, included 285 adult inhabitants of Lublin, Poland. The criterion of purposive sampling was the respondents’ occupational activity and choosing a bicycle as a means of commuting to the place of work. The study was carried out using an author-constructed questionnaire and a standardized research tool – Satisfaction with Life Scale. Statistical analysis was performed by means of χ2 test for independence; the p values p≤0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results:
Most respondents evaluated their overall health as good (55.4%) or very good (31.9%), and their self-assessed immune status as high (57.9%) or very high (23.5%). Year-round cycling was significantly associated with a higher self-assessment of health (p<0.01). Commuting by bicycle was associated with improved physical fitness (43.9%) and immunity (21.4%). Cyclists achieved a mean SWLS score of 23.4, indicating above-average life satisfaction. The main identified traffic hazards were cars/drivers (60%) and insufficient infrastructure (41.8%).

Conclusions:
Regular commuting to work by bicycle is positively associated with perceived health benefits, including higher self-assessed fitness, higher self-assessed immune status, and fewer reported colds, as well as with above-average satisfaction with life. However, road safety concerns and insufficient cycling infrastructure remain significant barriers to active and safe commuting.