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Biking to work is becoming popular
Workers in big cities are turning to bicycles for their daily commute.
Tue, Nov 30 2010 at 12:04 PM
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Photo: Trailnet/Flickr
You don’t have to buy a Nissan Leaf to have an emissions-free ride to work. Instead of shelling out in excess of $20,000 for a fancy new electric vehicle, spend a few hundred and buy a bike. Cycling, in general, is getting popular in some of the nation’s largest cities and this trend is spilling over into the daily commute.
The topic was covered in a segment on Monday’s Morning Edition on NPR. According to the story, cycling has tripled over the past two decades in some of the nation’s largest cities including Chicago, Minneapolis, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. This surge in cycling has also increased the amount of two-wheeled commuters in these cities.
Biking to work provides health benefits to you and the environment, but it is also a great way to network with coworkers. The NPR story points out a lunchtime bike ride tradition at National Geographic spearheaded by John Fahey, the company’s CEO. What better way to cozy up to the boss than to head out for a noontime bike ride?
“Fahey, an avid biker, says he's just trying to encourage a little exercise — and he wants the opportunity to get to know folks informally. As the group makes the 15-mile trek to Hains Point along the Potomac River and back, Fahey makes a point of chatting with everyone, staffers say.” Source: NPR
Biking to work is good for your health, a better choice for the environment and it might help you get in good with the boss. There’s yet another benefit of biking to work — saving money. Obviously you save money on gas as you aren’t driving your car to and from work every day but you also reduce the maintenance fees on your car. Your oil won’t need to be changed as frequently and you won’t have to get your tires rotated as often. Die-hard cyclists can save even more money by going car-free.
Biking to work can also be beneficial to your company, especially if they are jumping on the green building bandwagon. The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED rating systems provides a point to projects that provide bicycle storage and changing rooms for company employees.
There are a bevy of benefits of biking to work. If you use pedal power to get to your workplace, what benefits would you add to this list?
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Believe it or not, now you can get reimbursed $20 per month for bicycle expenses, accessories, maintenance, etc. Instructions at http://www.ehow.com/how_5051303_receive-_20-month-biking-work.html
Not a good idea if you want to stay alive and gain any influence in convincing others to ride and local government to provide you with cycling friendly infrastructure!
I've been car free for over two years now, love it! Bike to work, to the post office, downtown, just got back from the grocery store... The bike is great for the commute and for fun rides on the weekend. If you want to start tracking your miles check out gbt.co
I know those guys!
Been at it since 1990....... 10 degrees out this morning in Minneapolis. After this breakfast bowl of tastyness and coffee it's off to work. Bicycles are Freedom! Get Some! Look for Minneapolis Mafia on my space.
Hey, give me some clothing suggestions. I'm good to about 20 degrees.
My friend hopped on my bicycle and took off when we were going to the park to play ball. I ran after him, but was a full block behind when he rode out to cross the State Highway without looking. I see him moving sideways. He survived. The guy who hit him gave him a new bicycle. He went to AF Academy and became a Phantom pilot. Guess that's the type that fly those things.
My friend hopped on my bicycle and took off when we were going to the park to play ball. I ran after him, but was a full block behind when he rode out to cross the State Highway without looking. I see him moving sideways. He survived. The guy who hit him gave him a new bicycle. He went to AF Academy and became a Phantom pilot. Guess that's the type that fly those things.
I rode my bike to work during the Arab oil embargo and went over the handlebars when I got my bike wheel caught in the railroad tracks. I'm now retired and still ride to fend off diabetes. I had my pic taken by the cops twice for riding a bike as they thought I look like a criminal I guess and then when I went out for a walk, they put a decoy car in my walking path. Never had any problem with criminals exercising only cops and I'm a 13.5 gallon blood donor and retired Nuclear Engineer.
Many train stations in Australia have bike lock-ups where you can leave your bike in a cage, lock it up inside and catch the train to work. This works well when you don't work close enough to home to ride all the way and it's safer than just locking it up anywhere. Best part is cycling emits no pollution and is FREE. Saving the world doesn't have to cost a cent and here's why http://33ways.wordpress.com/donations/
I've been biking to work for the last 3 years and it's been so great for my general sense of well being. I actually enjoy going to work in the morning and feel wide awake when I get there. I especially enjoy riding on very cold winter mornings (in Pennsylvania). Try it if you don't live too far away from your job--you might become addicted!
I can shave about 15 miinutes off my commute to and from the train station by biking. No waiting for the buses and I can avoid the freight train crossings the buses need to use
it is disappointing that drivers don't recognize that bikes have the right AND responsibility to ride on the road. I've been "aimed" at by cars almost too many times to count and it's frightening. Reporting these accounts to the local (pasadena, ca) police is nearly fruitless--they try to talk me out of making a formal report. Frustrating. but biking is great for my health and sanity. My commute is 6 miles one way, down hill on the way to work. Give it a try!!
They need to change the laws to allow bikes on sidewalks. Drivers do the same thing to people on motorcycles. Who gets hurt more? I bike-person collision or a bike-car?
Jay- this is a terrible idea. What we need is bikes on the road with other wheeled traffic, and a much more rigorous licensing system. Driving in US is ludicrous- once around the block is usually enough to get your license. Crazy.
Really, I'm too scared to commute.
Don't let yourself be a victim. Time to cowboy up your tude.
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