Benefits of bicycling
It’s April. The flowers are blooming, the air is sweet and warm. It’s time to get back into biking!
Why bike? Let me count the ways.
First:
Remember the sense of freedom you felt when you first learned to bike? You can move three times as fast for the same amount of effort on foot, but not so fast that you don’t notice what you’re passing. You’re still outside, so you can hear the birds chirping, see the flowers, and smell their aroma. You feel so free and alive!
Second:
Your physical health will improve in so many ways! It’s a low-stress workout, easy on your hips, knees, and feet. Your cardiovascular system becomes healthier as you exercise your heart, expand your lung capacity, improve your blood circulation, and reduce blood pressure and cholesterol. As one of the most enjoyable forms of exercise, you’re more likely to do it enough to significantly lose weight, burning calories both during your ride and after, since you’ve raised your metabolic rate. Biking regularly also reduces your risk of type 2 diabetes by 60% and increases your immunity by enhancing the circulation of immunity cells in your body. When you bike, you strengthen your core muscles, improving your posture, gait, and balance.
Biking also improves brain function by stimulating the growth of neural connections, and by increasing blood and oxygen flow to the brain. Exercise also increases the number of mitochondria (which otherwise decline with age, reducing metabolism and energy). Studies have also shown that those who exercise moderately have a much lower incidence of cancer. A study of 2,400 identical twins concluded that those who exercised the equivalent of three 45-minute bike rides a week were nine years “biologically younger.”
Your mental health will also improve. Biking is “one of the most effective treatments for stress and in many cases has been proven to be as effective as medication — if not more so.” Biking releases endorphins, which improve your mood, calm anxiety, and reduce chronic pain. The extra flow of oxygen during your exercise can improve your creativity. Your slow-wave sleep duration will also increase, improving your sleep.
Third:
Bicycling can be a delightful family or social activity, particularly on a path that is dedicated to bicycles. In the Tri-Cities, you can bike with Tri-Cities Family Bicycling, or with older bicyclers in Fun, Fit, and Over Fifty. There’s also the Tri-Cities Bicycle Club, or the more competitive Chinook Bicycle Club. Bike Tri-Cities also has regular events.
Fourth:
The economy of a bicycle pencils out very well. You (and/or a battery) provide the propulsion, so the cost of motor fuel is of no concern. The upfront cost of bicycles is less than that of a motor vehicle by a factor of ten. The primary maintenance costs are for tubes and tires, which add up to a few pennies per mile (plus tune-ups if you don’t maintain it yourself). There is no need for insurance.
Fifth:
The environmental impact of bicycling is far lower than for motor vehicles. They emit no carbon dioxide or unhealthy pollutants such as soot, nitrous oxide, or carbon monoxide. The mineral resources required to produce them are less than one-hundredth of those needed for motor vehicles. Bicycling is good for the Earth!
Sixth:
Bicycling is a highly efficient way of getting around. Bicycles are small and light, so they reduce traffic and parking congestion. Bicyclists are legally allowed to pass stop signs without stopping in many states, and can move between vehicles at a stop light.
Yes, there are some challenges. Bicyclists are more vulnerable to injury in collisions, so safe routes are essential. Fortunately, we have great maps of bike paths, lanes, and routes in the Tri-Cities. Bicyclists should use a helmet whenever riding. They are exposed to the elements and should dress accordingly. Tire flats happen and bikes need maintenance, but local bike shops can fix and prevent flats and can maintain your bike. The Wheelhouse Community can show you how to do that yourself! These measures are minor inconveniences compared to the many advantages of bicycling.
To paraphrase an unknown author, bicycles are a simple solution to many of the world’s complicated problems. So, get your bike out and go for a ride! Then, ride it to the Earth Day Celebration at The REACH Museum from Noon to 4pm on Saturday, April 19.
Visit www.visittri-cities.com/events/tri-cities-earth-day for more information!
Steve Ghan leads the Tri-Cities Chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby