Pedal Power, The Healthiest Form of Alternative Energy
July 9th, 2008 by Damon Clifford
With gas prices rising, more and more people are biking to get to work, go to the grocery store, or visit friends and family.
Increasingly, people who used to view bicycles as playthings or exercise tools now see them as workhorses. So they’re outfitting them with fenders, racks, bags — anything that will make them more functional.
So, pull out that old bike out of your garage and get pedaling! You’ll be glad you did.
Here are just a few benefits of biking:
1. You’re going to save money on gas
2. You’re going to become more healthy
3. You may be able to reach your destination faster
4. Your stress levels will be reduced
5. You’ll get better muscle tone, bone mass improvement, and clearer skin
Here are 40+ benefits of bike commuting
Both drivers and bikers need to learn how to share the road. Fortunately, biking has been a big thing in Austin for quite some time so everyone’s already used to it. The other areas around the country will need to learn how to get along so everyone will be safe.
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July 10th, 2008 at 8:20 am
I heard some statistics recently on the radio regarding commuters. I don’t have the stats handy but basically commuting distances have been steadily growing. I would expect to see that change considering the current cost of fuel. Also, the combination of growing gas prices and new technology will most likely cause a growth in virtual business.
July 10th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Yes, with cities growing, they’ve had to build housing further out which creates longer distances to get to work.
With the growing gas prices, more businesses are changing to 4 day work weeks and more telecommuting for their employees. As gas prices increase, both of these strategies will as well.
The Oil Drum wrote a great article on why we should have a four day workweek.
July 10th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
I started biking to work last spring. I initially started because I thought it would be good training for a triathlon I was doing. What I found was that I really enjoyed it, it’s a great way to start the day, and now I’m really saving at the pump. I don’t save time, but it doesn’t take all that much longer anyway. Nice article. I wish the area I live in (Wisconsin) was more bike friendly. Sadly, just yesterday two bikers were killed in car/bike accidents (two completely separate accidents) near where I am at. Maybe this will help to make our area more bike friendly.
Thanks for getting the word out about the benefits of biking!
July 10th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Thanks Lance,
Doing my first triathlon got me into biking as well and I really enjoy it!
As more and more people bike on the roads, there should be more PSA’s to educate both drivers and cyclists on how to share the road.
July 15th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
I agree on all counts. Biking beats driving in many, many ways. As a cyclist myself, I’ve been surprised at how many US towns and cities simply don’t make room for cyclists. Hopefully increasing gas prices will push civic committees to fund bike paths, wider bike lanes, and other biker-friendly perks.
July 15th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
This article says US cities are finally becoming bike-friendly
July 18th, 2008 at 10:26 am
An interesting article on the issue: Bikes or cars – who rules the road?
I can relate to these: Seven Things Bike Commuting Has Taught Me
Check it out: 21 best cycling cities in the U.S.
August 2nd, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Here’s a new widget that I found that will calculate how much you can save in gas by riding a bike
The widget was designed by CommuteByBike.com