Top Reasons To Cycle to Work
Do you think that cycling to work sounds like extra effort, time consuming, dangerous or just plain crazy?
Think again!
Cycling to work is rewarding in many ways. It's easy to feel nervous and unsure before you get into bike commuting, but by actually taking action and getting on your bike you may find that bike commuting becomes one of the happiest parts of your busy day.
To find out how you can benefit by riding to work, let's take a closer look at what you will gain:
1. Save time:
You save yourself substantial time if you live in an urban area and work in a city centre. On a bike you pass the traffic instead of sitting in it getting bored, stressed and fed up. You can arrive at your desk, or back home earlier than you would by car.
You also save time because you'll have done your fitness for the day. By riding to work you have no excuses to ride back home again, so you get your exercise done for the day and can then enjoy more family time or relax in the evenings.
2. Save money:
Public transport is expensive, stressful and time consuming. In the UK, most public transport is late in the mornings, stuck behind queues of traffic, or trains that simply don't run on time. Why not take your bike instead and know you're constantly making good progress on your journey most days of the week. This will save you money doing so, and considerably less stress.
You can also save money driving into work by not having to fill up with petrol/gas so often. Petrol/gas prices are on the rise so why not start thinking about riding to work to get fit and save you good money in the long term.
Save money on gym membership. If you ride your bike to work often enough and over the hills, you won't be needing to spend more time in a gym. Substitute your expensive gym membership for a new bike!
3. Less stress:
As already mentioned, waiting for public transport and sitting in traffic jams every morning and evening is highly stressful. It's probably one of the most stressful parts of your day feeling pressurised to get to your desk on time. If you plan to get up earlier to beat the traffic, why not get on a bike instead? You only have you to rely on to get to work on time, not the traffic.
Riding to and from work has an amazing way of refreshing ourselves to start the day positively, and end the day on a high. If we feel tired and stressed at the end of the day, jumping on your bike home can leave all of our worked-up stress behind on the roadside.
4. Gets you fit:
Riding to work undoubtedly gets you fit. Whichever way you look at it, starting to ride to work can only have positive benefits for your health. Even a short 15 minute bike commute one way has substantial health benefits associated with it. If you want to do more, then choose a longer commute, or take in more hills! You can ride yourself into 'race form' if you really want - it's entirely up to you!
5. Inspire others:
By seeing you ride to work on a regular basis and seeing you start your day positively, others will want to join you. Give back by inspiring everyone around you that "you can do it and ride to work too!" This includes your partner and your kids too. If mummy and/or daddy rides a bike, then your kids will some day want to do the same too.
6. Save the environment:
Cycling is green! Do your bit and contribute the planet by helping to make it greener. All you have to do is ride your bike to work and take your car less often. Cycling is only positive to the environment so feel proud when you are passing cars on your journey to and from work.
7. Connect with others:
Being part of a cycling community will not only help you feel better about yourself, but promote local community partnership, which is beneficial for all.
By riding to work you can connect with like-minded people and make friends. They in turn might introduce you to their cycling friends and then you have a group of you who can enjoy cycling and sports.
Start a group at work that meets regularly for bike rides at the weekends. By building a community you can enjoy cycling even more, travel the world and even take part in cycle events. Cycling then becomes a way of life and you won't want to be without it for long.
8. Become more productive at work:
At work you'll start to notice you can work harder for longer. You feel fresher and more positive in the mornings, so you get down to work quicker. You are more alert, so you can get on top of your work and feel 'on the ball'. You'll feel good about yourself after your ride into work and this has a positive effect on your confidence levels and self esteem.
If you are a boss reading this, realise that cycling to work is only positive for your workforce. Encourage it more by getting yourself on a bike! Lead by example and the rest will follow! If you want less sick days amongst employees, think about strategies to getting your workforce fitter - think 'cycle to work'!
Final words
Bike commuting not only will help you financially, but it will most definitely help you physically, mentally and most importantly emotionally. Most bike commuters tell me it's the happiest part of their day - and a part of the day they look forward to the most during a busy working week!
So don't delay, get a bike and start riding to work - you have nothing to lose and everything to gain!
Think again!
Cycling to work is rewarding in many ways. It's easy to feel nervous and unsure before you get into bike commuting, but by actually taking action and getting on your bike you may find that bike commuting becomes one of the happiest parts of your busy day.
To find out how you can benefit by riding to work, let's take a closer look at what you will gain:
1. Save time:
You save yourself substantial time if you live in an urban area and work in a city centre. On a bike you pass the traffic instead of sitting in it getting bored, stressed and fed up. You can arrive at your desk, or back home earlier than you would by car.
You also save time because you'll have done your fitness for the day. By riding to work you have no excuses to ride back home again, so you get your exercise done for the day and can then enjoy more family time or relax in the evenings.
2. Save money:
Public transport is expensive, stressful and time consuming. In the UK, most public transport is late in the mornings, stuck behind queues of traffic, or trains that simply don't run on time. Why not take your bike instead and know you're constantly making good progress on your journey most days of the week. This will save you money doing so, and considerably less stress.
You can also save money driving into work by not having to fill up with petrol/gas so often. Petrol/gas prices are on the rise so why not start thinking about riding to work to get fit and save you good money in the long term.
Save money on gym membership. If you ride your bike to work often enough and over the hills, you won't be needing to spend more time in a gym. Substitute your expensive gym membership for a new bike!
3. Less stress:
As already mentioned, waiting for public transport and sitting in traffic jams every morning and evening is highly stressful. It's probably one of the most stressful parts of your day feeling pressurised to get to your desk on time. If you plan to get up earlier to beat the traffic, why not get on a bike instead? You only have you to rely on to get to work on time, not the traffic.
Riding to and from work has an amazing way of refreshing ourselves to start the day positively, and end the day on a high. If we feel tired and stressed at the end of the day, jumping on your bike home can leave all of our worked-up stress behind on the roadside.
4. Gets you fit:
Riding to work undoubtedly gets you fit. Whichever way you look at it, starting to ride to work can only have positive benefits for your health. Even a short 15 minute bike commute one way has substantial health benefits associated with it. If you want to do more, then choose a longer commute, or take in more hills! You can ride yourself into 'race form' if you really want - it's entirely up to you!
5. Inspire others:
By seeing you ride to work on a regular basis and seeing you start your day positively, others will want to join you. Give back by inspiring everyone around you that "you can do it and ride to work too!" This includes your partner and your kids too. If mummy and/or daddy rides a bike, then your kids will some day want to do the same too.
6. Save the environment:
Cycling is green! Do your bit and contribute the planet by helping to make it greener. All you have to do is ride your bike to work and take your car less often. Cycling is only positive to the environment so feel proud when you are passing cars on your journey to and from work.
7. Connect with others:
Being part of a cycling community will not only help you feel better about yourself, but promote local community partnership, which is beneficial for all.
By riding to work you can connect with like-minded people and make friends. They in turn might introduce you to their cycling friends and then you have a group of you who can enjoy cycling and sports.
Start a group at work that meets regularly for bike rides at the weekends. By building a community you can enjoy cycling even more, travel the world and even take part in cycle events. Cycling then becomes a way of life and you won't want to be without it for long.
8. Become more productive at work:
At work you'll start to notice you can work harder for longer. You feel fresher and more positive in the mornings, so you get down to work quicker. You are more alert, so you can get on top of your work and feel 'on the ball'. You'll feel good about yourself after your ride into work and this has a positive effect on your confidence levels and self esteem.
If you are a boss reading this, realise that cycling to work is only positive for your workforce. Encourage it more by getting yourself on a bike! Lead by example and the rest will follow! If you want less sick days amongst employees, think about strategies to getting your workforce fitter - think 'cycle to work'!
Final words
Bike commuting not only will help you financially, but it will most definitely help you physically, mentally and most importantly emotionally. Most bike commuters tell me it's the happiest part of their day - and a part of the day they look forward to the most during a busy working week!
So don't delay, get a bike and start riding to work - you have nothing to lose and everything to gain!
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