Green Initiatives, Health and Financial Benefits; Why You Should Choose to Cycle to Work

Bicycle

There are so many good reasons to jump on your bike to work, rather than jumping in the car. We have seen around a 40% rise in the numbers of commuters travelling by bicycle to work in the US. However, the numbers are still below 1 million per day. This is stark in comparison compared to the over 200 million personal vehicles on the roads each and every day.

In this piece will take a look at why you should consider the bicycle over the car. You may not be able to do a trip from Alaska to Argentina, but you can still reap great rewards by making the right choice.

Your Health

Cycling to work provides you with the opportunity to lose weight, improve your cardiovascular health, and generally feel better. Commuting time is normally dead time. By turning your bicycle into a free gym on wheels you can make use of this time in a very productive way.

It’s Good for the Bank Account

For some years we’ve been conscious about the amount we are spending on fuel. Rising fuel costs mean that we are shelling out more of our disposable income on getting to work every week. The upkeep for a bicycle costs only a fraction of that of a car; and you are self-propelled!

As well as this there are a number of initiatives that help you save money. For example,in the US we have a tax initiative where you can claim up to $20 per month in bicycle related expenses, as long as you commute to work 3 times or more on your bicycle. This initiative can help you take care of storage expenses and bike repairs through a tax free reimbursement.

Around the world there are cycle to work scheme initiatives. For example, in the UK, employers participating in the cycle to work scheme can help their employees save 42% on the cost of a bicycle. This is made up of 2% national insurance saving and 40% tax.

There is no doubt that opting to cycle to work will save you money.

Be More Productive and Improve Your Outlook

If you are cycling to and from work every day you will be healthier. You will have less days lost to illness. You will have more vitality and energy to do more in a day. You will have a brighter outlook on life because you’ll be flooding your body with happy hormones as you exercise regularly.

You really can’t overstate the psychological benefits of regular exercise routine. It is amazing how much more positive you can be when you get the blood pumping round your body a couple of times a day.

No Traffic Jams and No Parking Fees

Some of the most frustrating moments of the working day are when you are stuck in traffic jams, or looking for a parking spot. There are hundreds of companies around the US that are in the American League of Bicyclist’s special scheme named “Bicycle Friendly Business”. If you work for a company in this scheme you will have bike storage provided for you. Even if there isn’t set aside storage for your bicycle, all you need is a decent lock and you’ll be able to find a regular place to stow your bike.

Avoiding the stress of traffic jams and parking can make a massive difference to the lifestyle you enjoy as you commute to and from work. You certainly won’t miss the experience of tooting horns and having to pay to manoeuvre into tight parking spots.

These are just a few of the advantages of cycling to work. As the government makes it more advantageous financially to do so hopefully we will see more people making the right choice. Live every day as passionately as you can. Make proactive choices about the habits that you form and you are more likely to live longer, be happier, and be more productive in your work and home life.

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