10 Reasons to Bike Commute
By Anna Brones
We believe in the power of two wheels, which is why we're celebrating National Bike to Work Day. Even for those working at home, it's an excuse to get out and ride. Fresh air, low carbon footprint, velo couture - what's not to love about a lifestyle that involves cycling? The bike is a vehicle for social change, and the more people we have in our army of riders, the more power we have to continue to build an infrastructure in all cities that promotes a two-wheeled lifestyle. Looking for some reasons that biking is good for our communities and the planet? We pulled together 10 good reasons to get on a bike.
Women who bike 30 minutes a day have a lower risk of breast cancer.
Bike commuters report lower stress and greater feelings of freedom, relaxation, and excitement than car commuters.
47% of Americans say they would like more bike facilities in their communities.
Traffic congestion wastes nearly 3 billion gallons of gas per year in the U.S.
For every 1 mile pedaled rather than driven, about 1 pound of CO² is saved.
On a round-trip commute of 10 miles, bicyclists save around $10 daily.
Adolescents who bicycle are 48% less likely to be overweight as adults.
According to a recent study, if people switched to bikes for half of their short trips, they'd create a net societal health benefit of $3.5 billion per year from the increase in air quality.
Of the 10 most common causes of death in the U.S., seven are affected by transportation.
After analyzing national statistics from between 1985 and 2007, researchers found that vehicle use correlated approximately 99% with annual obesity rates.
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