How bikes can save us [Infographic]
What could be better than losing weight and gaining money? Here's what can happen when you take a bike for a spin.

By:

Jerry James Stone
Tue, Dec 18 2012 at 5:33 PM
 6
It's no secret that getting out from behind the wheel of your car and riding a bike can benefit both you and the planet. For example, people who perform aerobic exercise a few times a week are at decreased risk of diabetes, heart disease and also tend to lose weight. Exercise can also reduce anxiety and depression. It's also good for your pocketbook as fuel prices are still pretty high and show no sign of significantly declining anytime soon. Like this infographic states, Americans alone spend 20 percent of their income on transportation.
 
How bikes can save us [Infographic]
 
 
Related stories about bikes on MNN:
This infographic appears courtesy of Healthcare Management Degree. This story was originally written for TreeHugger. Copyright 2011.

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anonymous
George Costanza Dec 19 2012 at 1:48 PM
I read all the comments and other than JJ very uplifting. I have to say, just like with elec. cars, there has to be infrastructure like overseas where I live to avoid negativism and denial in the US, I can bike all the time, as in never once in 8 mos. have had to drive anywhere. nowhere is perfect. there is still exhaust. cars don't have flowers and rainbows coming out the exhaust. but I don't have road rage I can go to school and work. however I would NOT be able to do this in my
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small city in the US. JJ is a perfect example of negativism you will find now in US due to nonstop negativism of certain political parties and incentive by big oil to keep people addicted. you will notice all the valuable uplifting comments and solutions and I liked them. they were all from other countries and not US. I AM much skinnier now from daily biking. also as to infrastructure, it is much safer when EVERYBODY bikes and not surrounded by giant SUVs racing to Mao Mart. also when many people bike many other business sprout up and my bike shop will fix anything and most for free. and there are dozens of bike shop just in few block radius. not to mention auto centric societies are geared towards supporting giant big box. you cannot stop at one store and farm stand etc.. depends on how much you support quality of life and supporting actual humans. while I type this on modern computer made of plastic, I still think most recent inventions only serve to alienate more and more and don't think most negative comments which flood most US political sites would EVER be spoken out loud in public. there has to be a massive paradigm shift. in the US right now OWS best represents what has to happen, whether powers that be 'like' it or not and without any other serious competition which is NOT funded 100% by giant megacorporations. I HOPE that 2012 will give rise to SERIOUS competition to two party corporate system in the US as US is morally bankrupt and out of ideas. US cannot have any solutions to problems it denies and doesn't believe in because to admit problem would be 'inconvenient' to big oil/gas/coal/banks/pharma/agriculture. EVERYTHING is connected. biking makes you healthier less depen. on petroleum products less supportive of rape of aboriginal lands in Canada or petrodictators, less need of western medicine which only is administered AFTER you are sick, less supp of big ag, less supportive of Communism when you bike to local farmers' markets etc. re: one comment below older scooters are extremely polluting. better to buy a new elec. scooter.
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anonymous
Christopher Rucinski Dec 19 2012 at 1:47 PM

Actually biking IS more efficient than walking.

I agree that we should provide incentives to driving smaller, more efficient vehicles, but bikes are more efficient on these short distance trips.

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anonymous
JJ Dec 19 2012 at 1:46 PM
If Americans drive more than other countries than provide them with alternatives to driving smaller, efficient vehicles. Bicycles are not the best answer. Trying to shove biking down our through is not going to help. Walking is even better than biking (so, give us a break). Most bicycles are crappy piece inefficient mechanism. Talk about cars being inefficient? Get off your two wheel horse and come up with something better. Than you can give us your specifics. Shopping for a family using a bicycle
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will be even more beneficial but, you are not going to be buying watermelons, etc.. Going to the post office is also a problem if you need to pick up a package. Perhaps one should install a shower on a bike. After your 1 mile bike jaunt (especially with a slight uphill) do not come close to us.
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anonymous
Cynthia Davis Dec 19 2012 at 1:45 PM

I tried the biking-to-work thing before, seeing as my work is only 2 miles away, but the road I live on is very dangerous for pedestrians and there are all sorts of rocks and glass that destroyed my bike on it's first trip. =(

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anonymous
Ted Howard Dec 19 2012 at 1:44 PM
I ride an electric-assist Xtracycle cargobike. I run most of my inner city Permaculture gardening business off it, plus my Saturday Market kite stall. Yes it helps keep me fit and a haul a lot of gear! The real issue is human settlement patterns that make commuting mandatory, and then cars are given as the only choice due to poor public transport, poor allowance for biking, and a culture that tells you 24/7 that you're a loser if you use a bike. By design this is given as the way we are supposed
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to live. It's bs. Time to change was a while ago, so get on ya bike, get organised with others and join the cycle revolution that needs to happen in car addicted countries! Resistance is fertile! Let it grow, let it grow, let it grow! Regards Ted Howard Nelson New Zealand
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anonymous
Daniel Siepman Dec 19 2012 at 1:44 PM

I live in Holland, well, The Netherlands. In the city of Groningen to be precise. Going into town is a nightmare. By car that is! Groningen is RULED BY BICYCLES! The funny thing is: Groningen is also one of the most appreciated towns in the country. Anyway, the bicycle surely has an enormous potential. I really hope it gets a proper introduction in the States too.

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