Bicycle travel has changed my life. It has provided me with a profound sense of freedom that can only come from exploring the world on two wheels.
It’s easy for me to say that living in Boulder, a city nationally recognized for its prominent bicycling culture. However, people across the country are choosing bikes over cars at an unprecedented rate.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of Americans who commute to work by bike has increased 60 percent over the last decade, making it the largest percentage increase of all commuting modes.
In the spirit of Walk and Bike Month, here are ten reasons why you should leave your car at home.
1. Freedom
Riding a bike is the ultimate freedom. When traveling, the journey becomes the destination. The focus shifts away from where you’re going to where you are in the moment. You can hop on a bike with or without a destination in mind and decide how fast or slow you get there. Everything is wholly dependent on your own free will.
2. Clarity
Life slows down to a more natural pace when you’re able to soak in the scenery around you. Cycling allows you to see, hear and smell things differently than when you’re boxed in a car. Moving your body releases endorphins, so you arrive places happier and more relaxed than your friend who just stressed about rush hour traffic and finding a place to park. Enjoy the wind in your hair, living in the moment and not being attached to your cellphone.
3. Adventure
It’s an incredibly authentic way to travel because each ride is an adventure and the possibilities are endless. It allows you to get intimate with a new place, exploring all of the twists, turns and hidden side streets of a city. You can reach locations that aren’t accessible by car or bus. You can stop whenever you’re feeling curious about something you pass along the way. Bike share programs have made it easier than ever to find a bike while you’re traveling. If you want to upgrade from the standard Citi Bike, Spinlister is a great alternative. It’s a peer-to-peer global bike share that allows users to rent and list bicycles from each other in over 50 countries worldwide.
4. Speed
Cars may have the ability to go fast, but bikes are often quicker in urban areas, especially when city designers have set aside proper bike lanes. No more waiting for trains or buses either. As a bike commuter, there’s nothing more satisfying than breezing past a long line of gridlocked traffic.
5. Health
Incorporating a bike ride into your regular routine is a great way to improve your health. It gets your legs moving and heart pumping without stressing your joints. One of the best things about cycling is that it’s something you can do for the rest of your life. The low intensity nature makes it accessible for all ages.
6. Money
A recent study estimated that traveling by car is six times more expensive than traveling by bike. The initial purchase of a bike is a fraction of the price of a car and doesn’t come with all of the hidden costs. Think of all the money you’ll save on car loan interest, insurance, gas, parking, tickets, oil changes, repairs and so on.
7. Environment
The environmental tolls of motorized vehicle traffic are no secret. During its lifetime, the average car produces 1.3 billion cubic yards of polluted air and scatters an additional 40 pounds of worn tire particles, brake debris and worn road surface into the atmosphere. More than half of the U.S. population lives within five miles of their workplace, making the choice to bike easier than ever.
8. Community
There is an inherent sense of community that comes with being a cyclist because you share a mutual appreciation for life on two wheels. That doesn’t exist when you’re driving. Drivers tend to be more self-centered because controlling a two-ton killing machine gives some people a heightened feeling of importance, like wherever they’re going is more urgent (I’m looking at you, aggressive drivers).
9. Bliss
It may seem counterintuitive, but cycling makes life easier. Even the most mundane errands become more exciting because it’s another opportunity to ride your bike. Working at an office when it’s a beautiful day outside is the worst, but it’s much more bearable when you arrive by bike instead of sealed up in a metal air-conditioned cocoon.
