the benefits of biking to work

Want a way to feel happier, save money and help the environment all at the same time? Simply riding your bike to and from work each day, or even just a couple of days each week, can do just that! The longer summer days lend perfect opportunities to spend a little more of your day getting in some physical activity, and you’ll arrive at your work feeling energized.

Hupy and Abraham encourages the incorporation of bicycling into daily life, but we ask that when you do, you remember to do so safely!

Here are a few benefits of biking to work: 

  1. Bicycling, even small distances, daily can significantly improve our health. Studies persist that cycling, whether for leisure or commuting, can improve cardiovascular health, mental health and encourage weight loss. Moderate daily activity can lift the fog caused by sedentary work environments and lack of natural light. A study in the journal Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics found that bike riding improved energy levels by 20 percent and decreased fatigue by 65 percent. As well, the low-impact, full-body workout you get from cycling triggers the release of dopamine that improves mood and increases energy. Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States. But studies show that women who cycle three times a week for at least 30 minutes can lower their blood pressure, cholesterol, and increase their overall fitness!
     
  2. You can easily save a significant amount of money by riding your bike to work, or other regular destinations, a few days a week. Considering the cost of gas and maintenance, we spend somewhere around $8,000 to $10, 000 a year just to drive our cars each day. A bike, for the average person, only costs about $300 a year or less. While many people may not have the ability to bike each day due to weather or their distance from work, biking to some destinations when possible will save you money no matter what! Worried about the cost of gear? Biking advocates state that the average commuter only needs a few essentials to ensure a safe and easy commute, and cycle maintenance is minimal compared to a car. So, the investments you make in your bicycle are recouped more quickly if you stick to a routine rather than purchasing, for example, a hybrid car.
     
  3. Simply using a bike to commute to and from work reduces the amount of pollution we generate and can be far less stressful than sitting in traffic for an hour or more each day. Live too far from work? It turns out, short car trips waste more fuel and create more pollutants than long car trips, so bicycling to the store or on small errands will save you gas, money and reduce the amount of day-to-day traffic. People also don’t often realize the detriment that asphalt has on the environment. With the increasing number of motorized vehicles on the road, parking lots are taking up more and more acres of land, and each time land is cleared for more parking lots, that leave less space for plants and animal life. Asphalt, roadway tars and other chemicals used in parking lots also release pollutants into the air and create “heat islands” that contribute to global warming.

With all of the biking trails and lanes popping up around the country, biking is becoming easier every day. If you’d like some information on the safest way to utilize your bike for more conscientious transportation, request a free copy of Hupy and Abraham’s “Your Guide to Bicycle Safety,” HERE and learn how to protect every bicyclist in your family!

And, if for any reason you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident, please contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at Hupy and Abraham today. Call 800-800-5678 or start a live chat anytime at Hupy.com.

Jill Erin Wellskopf
Connect with me
Director of Marketing, Hupy and Abraham