Find out some reasons to start biking to work
Most of us have experience of being stuck in rush hour traffic on our way to and from work, yet many of us could easily cycle instead. Bike commuting doesn’t have to mean cycling every day, or even riding the whole way in. You can combine cycling with public transport or drive part of the commute and cycle the final leg. The benefits of cycling to work many. The positive results will have you extending your cycling commute before long.
Here are our reasons why you should bike to work:
The cost of a bike with lights and a lock will be much less than your daily commute in your car. You will save money on fuel, on maintenance and repair charges since you will be using your car less often. With parking fees, or time wasted looking for a parking spot, it makes financial sense to cycle, particularly if you can reduce your insurance premiums by not using your car for work.
If you haven’t already got a bike in your garage or a friend who can lend you a bike, a hybrid bicycle is good value. A basket, rack or pannier bags will carry your gear if you don’t want to wear a backpack.
When you bike to work, your daily physical activity removes the need to visit the gym. A flat, 5-mile commute will burn around five-hundred calories a day. Research shows that cycling improves energy levels by twenty percent and decreases fatigue by sixty-five percent. You will sleep better and the increased circulation through cycling delivers oxygen and nutrients to skin cells more effectively, while flushing harmful toxins out, reducing the appearance of wrinkles.
Researchers found that passengers in buses, taxis and cars inhaled substantially more pollution than cyclists who are not directly in the line of exhaust smoke.
In a city commute, it is likely you’ll frequently be sitting in your car stuck in traffic jams. Cycle lanes will keep you moving, reducing frustration levels. With no searching for a parking spot, cycling is likely to be faster than driving. Even if if is not as fast, you can enjoy the fact that you’re saving gym time combining exercise with your commute.
Follow the rules of the road to stay safe. Cycle lanes act as a buffer between you and the vehicle traffic and as more cyclists take to the roads, drivers increasingly accept the need to share the road, making it even safer. Whilst the number of cyclists on the road have increased, the rate of accidents involving cyclists has not.
For every mile you pedal rather than drive, you’re saving the planet from the effects of carbon-dioxide. Inspire your co-workers by your actions and watch them join you in protecting the planet whilst keeping fit or getting fitter.
It is likely your employer offers incentives to cyclists, with good reason. Employees who exercise before work improve their time and workload management, increasing productivity by up to fifteen percent. Cycling also boosts motivation and your ability to deal with stress.
Ask if your employer is signed up to the “Cycle to Work” scheme, saving you up to forty-two percent on the cost of a bicycle. This government scheme was launched to protect the environment and as an incentive to get more people cycling since research shows that people who cycle for 30 minutes, five days a week take less sick days than those that do not.
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