Choosing to commute to work on a bicycle is a great idea for many reasons. One of the main reasons people choose to cycle is for the health benefits that it provides.
By riding your bike you:
Reduce air pollution in your County
Save money
Based on an hourly wage of $10.00, a motorist must work 300 hours per year to pay for his or her annual commute. A bicyclist only has to work about 30 hours per year to operate his or her bike.
Environmental Benefits of Cycling - Fewer people cycle per capita in the U.S. than in many other parts of the world, and the U.S. is a leader in petroleum consumption. These high levels of consumption are leading to many negative effects on the environment, such as increased emissions of harmful gases including:
Carbon Dioxide
Carbon Monoxide
Methane
Nitrous Oxide
Volatile Organic Compounds
Hydrofluorocarbon
Perfluorocarbon
Sulfur hexafluoride
These emissions are believed to be causing warming through the "greenhouse effect", depletion of the ozone layer, and a reduction in general air quality. Vehicles also cause noise pollution.
Health Benefits of Cycling
Increased Fitness - Through cycling, you will be able to increase your heart and lung fitness, as well as your strength and stamina.
Weight Loss - The general population of the U.S. is becoming increasingly obese. Cycling is a great way to help lose weight. You will burn fat as you cycle, which will help you look and feel better.
Stress Reduction - Exercise in general has been shown to decrease anxiety and stress levels, and bicycling is a fun way to exercise. Keeping yourself out of traffic jams will also help in reducing stress.
Heart Benefits - Studies have shown that regular exercise, such as cycling, lowers your risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes.
Lowered Risk of Other Health Problems - In addition to heart disease, regular exercise can also help you to avoid other health problems such as non-insulin dependent diabetes, osteo arthritis and osteoporosis. Exercise also relieves symptoms of depression and increases your mental health.
Increased Life Expectancy - The end result of having better health through cycling is that you will live a longer and happier life!