subject: 5 Reasons Why Cycling Is Good For You [print this page] Not only is cycling good for you and good for the environment, it can also often be safer, quicker and more reliable than driving. Plus it's a lot cheaper!
Here are 5 reasons why you should consider taking up cycling:
Cycling is healthy
Cycling is good for the heart and can help reduce incidence of one of the biggest killers amongst the Western world: heart disease. As riding a bike instead of driving can help to reduce air pollution, it can decrease rates of lung disease and asthma too.
Cycling is also a low impact exercise, which makes it a great way to lose weight and keep in shape. Even light cycling burns between 400 and 500 calories per hour and can be slotted into everyday life, without having to set time and money aside for expensive gym memberships. A cycle computer will help you train safely and effectively.
Cycling saves money
Cycling to work instead of paying for public transport or driving can save you hundreds of pounds every year. Let's do the maths. A standard mountain bike or hybrid bike will cost you around 200 pounds. There will be some equipment (such as helmet, cycling shorts and bike lock) and maintenance costs, but compared to a car these are minimal.
A good car costs at least 5000 pounds plus petrol and all the other servicing and maintenance costs. There's road tax and car insurance to consider too!
Bikes are zero-emission vehicles
Since cycling creates no carbon emissions or pollution, it is a great way to make an individual contribution to reducing Global Warming, acid rain, ozone thinning and other negative effects of air pollution. You can significantly reduce your carbon footprint too.
Cycling is good for the mind
Cycling, like other physical activity, is a great stress reliever and will help you take your mind off all your problems. It helps you to produce serotonin, which is known to promote a feeling of wellbeing. This makes riding home after a hard day at the office a great way to unwind.
Fewer accidents
If people cycled more it would help reduce the death rate on our roads. In the UK alone, over 3000 people die every year due to car accidents. However, statistics confirm that cycles are very unlikely to be the cause of a fatal accident.
