12 Reasons to Use a Bicycle for Transportation We've always taken the greenness of bike transport
as a given. But if you're just getting started — or perhaps trying to convince an employer
that bicycle commuting is a good thing — we've rounded up a dozen reasons to leave that car
in the driveway and start covering pavement on two wheels. Let's ride!
1. It's Easier to Finance a New Bicycle Than a New Car
For the price of a single car payment, you can buy a well-made bicycle that should outlast
most cars. Add a few hundred dollars more for rain gear, lights and accessories, and
you have all-weather, anytime transportation. 2. A Bicycle Has a Tiny Manufacturing Footprint
When Compared to a Car All manufactured goods have environmental
impact, but bicycles can be produced for a fraction of the materials, energy and shipping
costs of a car. 3. Bicycles Produce No Meaningful Pollution
When in Operation Bikes don't have tailpipes belching poisonous
fumes into the atmosphere. They also eliminate the oil, fuel and hydraulic fluids dripped
by automobiles onto the road surface — which means less toxic runoff into local waterways.
4. Bikes Save Taxpayers Money by Reducing Road Wear
A 20-pound bicycle is a lot less rough on the pavement than a two-ton sedan. Every bicycle
on the road amounts to money saved patching potholes and resurfacing city streets.
5. Bicycles Are an Effective Alternative to a Second Car
Perhaps you're not in a position to adopt a bicycle as primary transportation. But bikes
make great second vehicles. You can literally save thousands of dollars a year using a bicycle
for workday commuting and weekend errands in households which might otherwise be forced
to maintain two cars. 6. Using a Bike for Transportation Can Help
You Lose Weight and Improve Your Overall Health The health benefits of regular aerobic exercise
are well known. Depending on your riding style and local road conditions, you could easily
burn 600 calories an hour through brisk cycling. Most bike commuters report losing 15 to 20
pounds during their first year in the saddle without changing their eating habits.
7. You Can Store a Dozen Bicycles in a Single Automobile-Sized Parking Place
Parking lots have enormous environmental and financial impact, particularly in urbanized
areas. The more bikes you can get on the road, the fewer parking spaces you need to build.
8. Bicycles Don't Burn Gasoline Fuel prices fluctuate. A healthy bike culture
will help ease pressure on supply when demand increases.
9. Bicycling May Be Faster and More Efficient Than Taking a Car
We're not talking about the crazy — and illegal — antics of New York bicycle messengers.
But bikes are often faster than cars in urban areas, especially when city designers have
set aside proper bike lanes. There's nothing more satisfying as a bicycle commuter than
breezing past a long line of gridlocked traffic. 10. Bikes Cost Much Less to Maintain and Operate
Than Automobiles You'll never throw a rod on a bicycle, and
dropping a transmission on a bike usually means replacing a bent derailleur hanger or
worn-out chain. Bicycles do require service, but you can learn to perform most of it yourself.
Even if you have a shop do things for you, costs will be trivial compared to a car.
11. Bicycles Provide Mobility for Those Who May Not Qualify or Afford to Drive
Not everyone can get a driver's license (or wants one), and the cost of purchasing, insuring
and maintaining a car is out of reach for a lot of people. Almost everyone can afford
some sort of bike. Other than walking, bicycles are the most cost-effective transportation
on the planet. 12. Studies Show That Bicycle Commuters Are
Healthier, More Productive, and Require Less Time off at Work
This is why most enlightened employers are eager to accommodate commuting cyclists. Healthy
workers are better workers — and that's good for the bottom line. Bikes are smart
business. So there are some great reasons to dust off
that bicycle in your garage in time for Bike to Work Day (the third Friday in May) or any
time of year.