12 Reasons Why we should be Cycling more

We're continuing our look at Smart ways to start saddling up and using bicycles for real

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. Thanks to the recession, auto

loans are hard to find these days — even if you have good credit. But for the price of a

single car payment, you can buy a well-made bicycle that should outlast most cars. Add a

few hundred euros 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 car. 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 euros a year using a bicycle for workday

commuting and weekend little jobs in households which might otherwise be forced to

maintain two cars. Get a Basket this will help transport your items.

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 is more expensive compared to last year. All you

burn on a bicycle is FAT.

9) Cycling may be faster and more efficient than taking a car. 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 if needed . 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.

Regards

Eamonn Marrey

24th February 2014