Making the decision to take more sustainable forms of transport for the daily commute makes sense in a number of ways. Not only are you choosing a healthy lifestyle choice and improving your fitness but you are also doing your bit for the environment. We all know that cycling a bicycle to work is the greenest form of transportation (aside from walking or running!), for lowering your CO2 emissions but also in helping to reduce congestion in our cities. This in turn will improve our air quality and make our cities more people friendly with less noise pollution and cleaner air.
If you are just starting out and considering switching to pedal power then we have compiled a list of great reasons to convince anyone to ditch the car keys and bike to work.
- More cost effective than financing a new car!
Goes without saying really, what you would typically spend on a single monthly car payment would purchase a perfectly good bike that would not only get you to and from work but would outlast the car. From lightweight road bikes designed with drop handlebars and narrow tyres for speed and agility Check out the SONA Strada RS available with the Bike to Work Package
To the classic city bike for all levels of fitness designed with comfort in mind Check out the SONA Ladies or Gents CT Bike also available with the Bike to Work package.
The Bike to Work scheme makes it even more affordable with a tax saving of up to 52% on the cost of the bike plus any accessories you may need to get you going.
- How much carbon is used in manufacturing your bike?
Yes cycling a bicycle to and from work produces lower carbon emissions than taking the car, but what about the manufacturing process? What is the cost, in carbon terms, of producing that bike? Trek bikes released study findings in their #GoByBike campaign called the ‘Rule of 430’. They found that cycling 430 miles (or 692km, approx. 2km a day!) is the magic number a person must cycle in order to balance out the carbon required to manufacture the bike in the first place.
- More Bikes on the roads means less wear and tear on our roads.
Potholes drive us all nuts! How much better condition would our road be in if there were more est. 13kg bikes on the road and less est. 2 ton cars! Just think of the benefits to cyclists wheels not to mention the reduced cost for road resurfacing due to wear and tear from heavy traffic.
- No need for a second family car.
Research shows that two thirds of all car journeys are less than 5km with more than half of all journeys being under 2km. Whilst it may not be feasible to adopt a bicycle as your primary source of transport, a bike will certainly make an excellent choice as a second vehicle. Trips that could be covered by bike in a fraction of the time and at a fraction of the cost. The AA estimates that it costs €10,691 to run an average family car for a year. So save yourself some time and save the expense of owning, maintaining and running a second car. Opt instead for a bike to run short errands and for commuting.
- Improve your overall health and wellbeing by cycling regularly.
The health benefits from regular exercise are well documented but did you know that cycling a bicycle actually gives you a mood boost and improves your overall mental health. Cycling releases, the ‘feel-good’ hormones known as endorphins. These hormones help to relax your mind and make you feel happier. Cycling therefore gives you a mood boost and reduces your feelings of anxiety. Cycling has also been shown to promote new thought patterns in the brain - improving overall brain cognitive function and well-being.
- Parking is much easier and cheaper.
The cost of parking a car in any town or city is huge but also the inconvenience of finding a spot and the increased demand for more parking spaces. A bicycle takes up a lot less space than a car – you could actually fit up to a dozen bicycles in a single car parking space. Also a lot of city multi story car parks now offer free bicycle parking!
- E-bikes make cycling more accessible.
Regardless of your fitness ability or maybe you are recovering from an illness or injury, e-bikes ensure cycling is more accessible with less stress on the joints whilst still giving you moderate cardio exercise. Motorised pedal assist has also increased the loads people can carry on a bike with e-cargo bikes. E-trikes have also been used to help people gain confidence on the roads. E-bikes can help provide transport and keep people fit and healthy – see the SONA Bike range of e-bikes here (all available with the bike to work package).
- Cycling is more efficient than taking the car.
Looking to avoid sitting in traffic and save time in the morning, cycling into work can actually be faster and you'll be starting your day with some exercise.
Particularly in urban areas bikes are often faster than cars, especially when city designers have set aside proper bike lanes and priority bike lights. There's nothing more satisfying as a bicycle commuter than breezing past a long line of gridlocked traffic!
- Cyclists are healthier and take less sick days.
There is the reason why employers are so keen to accommodate, support and encourage cycling to work for their employees. Cycling on a regular basis will give your Mental Health a boost, resulting in reduced depression, stress and anxiety - this will lead to less absentee days from work. Healthy workers are better workers — and that's good for the bottom line. Bikes therefore are smart business.
- Finally cyclists are cool!
It’s a Fact! A 2014 study found that cyclist demonstrate a unique blend of intelligence, generosity and the ‘cool’ factor!
So there you have it, 10 great reasons to try cycling to work. All you need to give it. A go is a bike and the desire to ride. Start out with short trips and build up your confidence and fitness. Whatever you do, however far you cycle, have fun.