We've all heard that biking is good for your health and the environment, but how many of us actually do it? Many people don't bike because they don't feel safe riding on busy streets or roads. However, if you live close enough to work (and can safely access biking infrastructure), taking a bike to work can be a fun way to get some exercise while saving money on gas and parking fees.
It's low impact.
We've all heard the phrase, "No pain, no gain." While it can be motivating to push yourself and push your limits, there's nothing more discouraging than aching muscles and sore joints. Running puts an inordinate amount of stress on your body, especially if you tend to run long distances or fast paces. Biking is much lower impact than running, so it's easier on the body and can help with joint health over time.
Biking is also great for getting exercise without putting too much pressure on your muscles or joints—which means that even if you have mobility issues or have had injuries in the past, biking might just be the perfect way for you to get some fresh air and exercise without putting undue stress on any problematic areas!
It will save you money on gas, parking and more
Gas prices have been climbing in recent years — so much so that driving costs more than ever before. According to AAA, the average price of a gallon of regular gas was $2.82 in 2016 — up from $2.30 just two years earlier. That's an increase of more than 25 cents per gallon! At those rates, it doesn't take long for your commute to add up. And if you live close enough to work that you can bike there daily, you'll save on parking fees as well!
The hidden benefits of biking to work are numerous, but they don't stop at saving money on gas and parking. When you bike to work, you will also save time. This means that if you normally leave at 8:00 am every day and get paid $20 per hour, by biking five days a week for three months, you'll earn an extra $1000!
Biking saves money on maintenance because it keeps your commute fun and safe. It's much cheaper for your car to sit in the garage all week than it is for them to drive around town getting potholes fixed or new tires installed (and then pay for gas).
Bikes aren't just good for commuting—they can also help save money on accessories too! For example, if your bike has flat tires or needs repairs often then consider buying a better quality one with puncture resistant tires instead so that there won’t be any more surprises when riding around town doing errands all day long."
Biking to work is the ultimate bootstrap approach to commuting. You can use it to get around town, go shopping, visit friends' houses or even take a bike ride. Unlike driving or taking public transit, biking is 100% free. No ticket needed.
It builds muscles.
You might think that biking is just a way to get from A to B, but it’s actually a full-body workout. You will build muscle in your legs and core as well as your arms—and this additional strength can help you do more things in your life.
As you ride, you are increasing the circulation of blood and oxygen to the muscles being used, which helps them grow. Your heart rate will also increase and then decrease once you reach your destination or stop pedaling. That means that biking will keep your heart healthy while maintaining a good weight for years to come!
Social relationships
Biking to work is a great way to meet people. You can make new friends, and get to know people who are interested in the same things you are. These connections can help you find other activities that you enjoy and offer opportunities for collaboration, which can turn into lifelong friendships.
If you’re not into meeting new people, however, biking to work also gives you an excuse not to talk much at all—the weather is typically pleasant enough that riders are comfortable with their clothing choices (which means there’s no need for small talk about what one might be wearing), and most bike commuters will probably be listening intently on their headphones as they ride anyway!
It's good for the environment.
Biking is a great way to keep fit, get some exercise, and enjoy the outdoors. But did you know that biking also has benefits for the environment? Here are some ways biking helps reduce your carbon footprint:
CO2 emissions savings – Riding a bike instead of driving a car can save up to 1,500 pounds of CO2 emissions per year. This can add up to more than 1 million pounds of CO2 emissions over the course of your lifetime!
Reduction of air pollution – Biking produces no emissions other than those produced by your body. No pollution means cleaner air for everyone!
Reduction of noise pollution – The quiet hum of a bicycle engine is much quieter than the roar of an automobile motor. Less noise pollution means that people can enjoy nature without having their ears blasted by loud engines.
Less soil and water pollution – Bikes don't use fossil fuels like cars do, so there's less soil and water pollution from car exhaust.
Technology and design
In cities like Amsterdam and Copenhagen, biking is an integral part of daily life. And in other places, like New York City and San Francisco, it's quickly becoming an essential part of urban transportation.
But in many places where biking is growing in popularity, there's still one big problem: Bikes are expensive! Even lightweight folding bikes can cost hundreds of dollars — and if you want something sturdy enough for commuting or touring, expect to pay even more. As a result, many people who would love to bike don't have access to quality bikes at affordable prices.
Fortunately there's hope on the horizon: Electromobility. Although electric bikes have been around for decades, they've never really taken off as mainstream transportation because they were expensive, heavy and unreliable. But now that technology has caught up with our needs (and desires), e-bikes are finally ready for prime time!
One of the most exciting developments in electromobility is bike sharing programs — like those found in Paris or London — which allow people to enjoy biking with less cost.
It could be fun.
Let's face it: biking is fun. It's also a good way to get some exercise, but that's not exactly why you should do it. It's just fun! And when you're having fun, it doesn't seem like you're working out at all.
You can ride your bike with other people, which makes the whole experience even more enjoyable and social. The best part? You don't even have to be a pro biker to enjoy this activity. If you haven't ridden much before, just take your time getting used to riding in traffic and following the rules of the road as best as possible (you'll get there). When riding with others (instead of on your own), try not too get ahead or behind so that everyone stays together for safety reasons — remember: safety first!
You'll never be late to work again.
Riding your bike to work is like waking up in a dream. You'll never be late for work again, because the only reason you'd ever be late is if something goes wrong with your bicycle or if you run into traffic. Otherwise, you'll roll in early enough that you can sit around and enjoy breakfast at the café across from your office building (or drink coffee from an old thermos mug that's been sitting in your car for three years). It's relaxing; it takes away some of that pressure we all feel when we're getting ready for work every day.
You might even find yourself enjoying a long weekend ride home rather than driving back on Monday morning—or taking an actual vacation! And since biking doesn't require any new clothes or accessories beyond what already fits in your closet, there's no need to purchase anything special either: just throw everything on and go!
Not only will biking make cycling easier but also safer because drivers are more aware of cyclists than they used to be (even though they still don't always pay attention). That means less stress when riding too - which makes sense considering that being stressed out while biking can lead people towards bad decisions."
Biking is good for your body, your wallet and the world around you!
If you’re already a regular biker, you know how great it feels to ride. And if you’re not, let me tell you: biking is one of the best ways to exercise without even realizing it. Cycling can burn up to 600 calories per hour (that's equivalent to walking three miles), but does so without stressing the joints and muscles like running does.
Bicycling actually saves money in many ways: by reducing car maintenance costs, parking fees or gas expenses; by reducing health care costs; and by saving time that would be spent sitting in traffic jams on your daily commute. It also reduces stress from long hours behind the wheel - which means lower insurance premiums!
So, if you’re looking for a way to make a positive impact on your life and the world around you, take a look at the benefits of biking. If you’re not quite ready to ditch your car or public transit just yet, that’s okay! There are plenty of ways to incorporate biking into your current routine so that it doesn’t feel like such an overwhelming change. We hope these tips have inspired some ideas for how they can help make biking more accessible as well as fun—and if nothing else, we know they'll be good for your body and soul!
As GRIDAL Inc, we commute to holistic sustainability which covers social, environmental and economical topics. Small steps can make a big difference in large quantities. See our "one tree planted" policy here.
Further reading:
