Benefits of Bicycling
Health, Cost, Environment and Fun!
Walking through the parking lot, having just parked your car, you breathe the exhaust of the circling vehicles, stretch out your legs from their cramped position in the driver's seat, and wish there was a better way. We're here to tell you a better way does exist, and it can be found on the seat of a bicycle! Substituting bicycle travel for car travel can solve many of the factors that cause us all stress today. Bicycling is healthier, less expensive and better for the environment than driving a car. True, cycling may not be practical for all purposes, but if you replace even a few car trips with bicycle rides, you'll find it truly can make a difference.
The health benefits of bicycling seem obvious. After all, they make stationary bikes as exercise machines. Research by the Centers for Disease Control in 1999 found that a sedentary lifestyle leads to heart disease and other chronic conditions, and that "walking and cycling have been replaced by automobile travel for all but the shortest distances." Riding a bike is great cardiovascular exercise, but you shouldn't overlook the good it can do for your muscles either. In addition to pedaling, the balance involved with cycling helps improve strength and endurance. Anecdotal evidence also suggests that the fresh air and sunshine improves both physical health and mental health.
With the growing price of gas today, another obvious benefit to bicycling is the savings you incur by cutting down on your trips to the gas pump. Bicycles also cost significantly less than a car, and are much cheaper to maintain. Statistics by several organizations provided the following money facts about bicycling:
s The cost of operating a car for one year is about $5,170.
s The cost of operating a bicycle for one year is only $120.
We know that many of our customers place a high value on the environmental benefits gained by choosing bicycling. The most noticeable environmental impact, of course, is that bicycles don't create pollution through emissions like cars do. One study actually determined that 60% of the pollution created by automobile emissions happens during the first few minutes of operation, before the car's pollution control devices can work effectively, so shorter car trips pollute more on a per-mile basis than long trips. There are other environmental boosts by increasing bicycle traffic, as well. For example, more bicycle traffic can decrease congestion on the roads as well as wear on the roads, potentially resulting in less road repair and expansion. Bicycles also take up less space in parking lots so we could quit paving over so much green space to park our cars.
Finally, it is worth pointing out that many people actually ride their bikes because it's FUN! Yes, in addition to all of the practical, logical arguments for bicycling, it is also one of the most popular choices in outdoor recreation. Contrary to popular opinion, not everything that is fun is bad for you!
It all starts with small steps. Next time you jump in the car to run a quick errand a few blocks away, think about taking your bike instead. Your body, your wallet and your world will all thank you.