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Did you know that the American driver can spend up to 1,600 hours of their life each year, sitting in their automobile, driving, idling, eating, breathing exhaust fumes, etc? On top of this, they pay an average of $8,200 for the privilege of automobile ownership, and this does not even include the many other expenses, such as traffic tickets, hospital expenses (accidents), repair and maintenance, and insurance fees. This is only the tip of the iceberg as far as the negative effects of driving go.
But there are other options out there, such as walking, public transportation, and biking, of which the latter is probably your best bet under most circumstances. But don't just take my word for it. Allow the statistics to speak for themselves.
- Biking:
- Is Quick and Cost Effective: While vehicle ownership costs over $8,000 per year, bike ownership costs more along the lines of just under $400, according to most estimates. This includes maintenance, safety equipment, theft, and the initial cost of purchasing the bike itself (spread out over an estimated 10 years of use). Purchasing a bike to fit your commute is as easy as looking at your lifestyle and available bike friendly pathways in your area and deciding which type would be most efficient, convenient, and comfortable.
- Uses Less Resources: All the energy and resources (steel, aluminum, plastics, leather, etc.) that goes into producing just one vehicle, could produce at least 100 high quality bicycles. While some people will claim they need all that extra metal and space for various daily excursions (getting groceries, etc.), you'd be surprised how effective of an errand-making machine a bike can be made into.
- Is More Efficient than Driving: Commuting on a bike is well over two-thirds more energy efficient than most any vehicle on the road today. Over 95 percent of the energy expended by a vehicle is used to transport its massive weight, rather than the individuals themselves. Another factor to consider, is that with the gridlock traffic of some area, is can occasionally be a shorter to commute on a bicycle. The key to making biking as efficient as possible is finding your best available routes to get around, which may be more plentiful than you realize, even if you live in the city. Fill out this bikeability checklist to designate just how bike-friendly your local area is.
- Is Surprisingly More Efficient than Walking: Bicycles are nearly 120 percent more efficient that walking, considering the amount of energy and time needed to gain the same amount of distance. One negative aspect of biking that vehicle owners like to point out, is that bikers and walkers need more food than the typical vehicle commuter, so therefore they are using more resources in a different form. This factor can greatly be improved upon by reducing your intake of meat. You'd be surprised how much your carbon footprint depends on your diet, and the most efficient energy sources are from fruits, grains, and vegetables. Plus, most people are eating more than they need, car drivers included.
- Can Make Public Transportation Even More Efficient: One of the biggest arguments against public transportation for some people is that it takes too long to get anywhere, especially if your route has a lot of out of the way stops. This is where a bicycle can come in handy. Whether your trek is a bit farther than you'd like to bike alone, or there are not any good pathways for a portion of your journey, some commuters find the best results from a combination of biking and riding.
- Is Safer than Walking: While this is a debatable statement, it has been said that walking can be as much as 36 times more dangerous than driving. This is because Americans typically lack safe designated walking areas. The same goes for bicyclists in many ways, but they do have the advantage of being larger, faster, and more convenient to accessorize with lighting. It has also been said that a biker has less risk of being hassled on the street with drugs, theft, or sex than a walker.
- Is Healthier Than Driving: Bicycling has many health benefits, which includes cardiovascular fitness and disease prevention. One of the biggest arguments a lot of people have about the bicycle, especially when being used to commute to work, is arriving sweaty and dirty. This problem can be overcome by simply developing a strategy, which involves bringing a change of clothes, adopting a simple hairstyle, showering at a nearby gym, or riding the bus and biking home at the end of the day. As the saying goes: Is is better to bike to a pub after work, than drive to a gym!
You know what is best for you and the environment, but hopefully some of these statistics and tips have helped you in making the right decision. Biking does not have to be an inconvenience, and if fact with the proper planning it can become a rather convenient and enjoyable part of your day!
More on biking:
Urban Cyclists: Stick Together, Don't Inhale?
Commute to Work by Bike
Consider Moving to or Vacationing in these Bike-Friendly Cities
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