The Benefits of Biking to Work

With our rising environmental issues and our failing economy, we have to do our best to limit our expenses. One of the best ways is to save money on gas or public transportation. You could decide to walk to work if it is close to where you live, but for those people whose work is a little farther away, biking is the next best thing. There are many benefits to biking. I compiled a list of the main ones:

1. Lower your expenses.

Gas prices nowadays are higher than ever. Biking will eliminate your gas expenses completely. This way, you will have a few extra bucks in your pocket each month. I calculated how much I save each month by biking to work. I save approximately fifty dollars a month on gas. This works out to 600 dollars a year. So if you're willing to leave your house a little earlier, you could save yourself a lot of cash.

2. Help the environment.

There are several environmental benefits to biking to work. First, you are helping to reduce air pollution. Unlike cars, bicycles release no harmful gases, such as CO2. Second, bicycles do not release any harmful chemicals, oils, or gases, therefore reducing pollution even more. Cars often drip oil or other chemicals. Third, by biking, you are reducing road wear. This in turn, will reduce the necessity of concrete, asphalt and other materials needed to build and maintain roads. Also, think about all the noise during rush hour. Bicycles are not equipped with noisy engines, therefore you will also help reduce noise pollution. And think of all the traffic you are avoiding!

3. Stay fit and in shape.

Biking or cycling is one of the best cardio exercises. So while you save the environment, you will also get your needed daily exercise. Personally, I find it more difficult to do cardio indoors in the gym, than out in fresh air. In order to improve your cardio fitness overall, you need three or four sessions of twenty minutes a week. If you bike to work daily for approximately twenty minutes, you will easily get your necessary exercise to be healthy and stay fit.

4. Get some fresh air.

Why be stuck in traffic inside a car when you can enjoy the breeze on a bike? I find fresh air makes me feel better throughout the whole day. Obviously, this idea is not so smart when it's a little chilly outside.