Lets face it; the more we move, the healthier we are. That is how we are designed. Using cars has taken away some of that desire to move due to its use being so widespread and more efficient in terms of time. Sadly, it does not seem to click with people that cars are not worth the investment in certain circumstances. If applicable, such as in a city or a small town, the healthiest and most eco-friendly way to get around is with a bike. It gets in your cardio for the day and you leave less of a footprint on the planet. On the flip side, there are valid arguments related to the dangers of riding a bike. To name a few examples, there is increased vulnerability to irresponsible drivers, inhaling toxins in heavily polluted areas, and not being as fast as its auto counterpart.
Before we get into the fluctuating dangers of bicycling, we shall look at the good it brings. Like any other type of exercise, it is great for burning off those extra calories, reducing fat, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease by 14% according to People for Bikes Statistics Library, and improving mental health because of more brain activity and blood flow. Running or walking provides the same benefits, but bicycling is a more efficient way of achieving the same results while doubling as a means to commute to work. For all the older folks on their way to the office, it is great for their bones since it alleviates the stress of their weight off the bones and joints. With such great health benefits both for the young and old, we have no excuse to not use such a convenient way of transportation. We save money both on the gym and at the pump.
Now if some are fine with spending some extra bucks on a gym membership while believing that a car is a better way to get to work, we shall take a look at the costs. Using a bicycle to commute is overwhelming cheaper than operating and maintaining a car. According to Queensland Government: Department of Transport and Main Roads, it takes fifty-five cents per kilometer to run a car in Australia, for example, while a bike only takes one percent of that for obvious reasons like gas and maintenance. Also, having your best friend idling in traffic contributes to $28 million wasted per year while taking advantage of a bike eliminates that cost and is faster than sitting on the highway. Looking at the strain on the environment, increasing biking commutes from 12% to 15% would save 3.8 billion gallons of gas plus reduce gas emissions by 33%, meaning less not-so-nice stuff in our lungs. Lastly, the United States releases more CO2 due to our use of cars than any other economy except China, which contributes to the greenhouse effect and global warming. With the evidence presented here, It is clear to see that bicycling wins hands down in terms of our wallets and our health.
However, it would be very irresponsible for me to say that bicycling is the saving grace for our health, bank accounts, and the environment. Bicycling does come with its downsides. News has reported a rise in bicycling fatalities by 8.7%, which poses as concern since the stats show we are not as safe on a bike as we might in a tin can of a car. That figure equates to 677 fatalities and 48,000 people injured. Using Britain for example, bicyclists are the second most threatened group of road users since many have died because of drivers. The biggest concern, however, is the inhalation of pollution. UC San Diego conducted a study on bicyclists and bus commuters to measure how much pollution they have inhaled. Compared to those who commuted by car, they experienced the highest levels of pollutants, proving detrimental to their health.
I understand that bikes do not solve all our problems when it comes to getting to work. In many cases, there are individuals who live very far away from work and are limited to taking the family car in the garage. However, with the risks listed above, some things need to be put into perspective. With all the bicyclists that were either injured or killed, fault is placed on both drivers and bicyclists who are not looking and not following the rules of the road. We could have a bicyclist cross the street when they are supposed to be stopped or have a driver running a red light over the crosswalk. The safety of a bicyclist is up to whether they are responsible enough to obey all the laws and wear all the safety gear to minimize injuries. The same responsibility is placed on car drivers. In reference to the exposure to pollutants, that is not the biker’s fault. In fact, the cars we drive and our careless industries are to blame. If cars were traded in for bicycles, the air we breathe would be thousands of times healthier for any breathing creature. Sadly, not many are going to take that initiative, which is why bikers have to be more careful about when and where they choose to commute. Because of the choices of the majority, those of us who want to benefit ourselves and the environment suffer. But that is a completely separate topic to be discussed at a later date. Moving on to the costs of using both types of commute, biking wins. Its cheaper, nicer on the environment, and better for our bodies. If anyone is willing, you can be part of the change to benefit your body and change our economy that is more mindful of the choices we make.
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/cycling-health-benefits#lp-h-1
https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Travel-and-transport/Cycling/Benefits.aspx
http://peopleforbikes.org/our-work/statistics/statistics-category/?cat=environmental-statistics
https://www.minnpost.com/cityscape/2013/01/how-cycling-can-be-dangerous-your-health/
https://mainorwirth.com/blog/driverless-car-fatality/
https://mainorwirth.com/blog/sharing-the-road-with-cyclists/
https://mainorwirth.com/blog/crash-course-in-bicycle-safety/
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