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Cycling is a solid, secure, playful and low-cost method to get around—it also happens to be good exercise, too. Still, myths about bike commuting stay. Listed below are some I've picked up over time
1. It's too treacherous. Yes, there's practical gamble associated with pedaling. Bikers do crash and get bashed by cars. But how treacherous is riding in comparison with other methods of transit and with our awareness of the risk? A lot less than you might think.
Think on the calculations of a company that undertakes safety and failure testing, once called the Failure Group and now called Exponent. The company considered a selection of past-times and worked out that the number of fatalities per million hrs of exposure was 0.26 for riding, 0.47 for motoring, 1.53 for living (all causes of death), and 8.80 for motorcycling. In other words, they discovered that the risks of riding were about 50% that connected with driving and a 6th of that associated purely with living.
Disappointingly, the exact ways Exponent used are secret, and the full paper isn't available to the public, but rest assured that this is not a fly-by-night riders' advocacy organization that is making up the numbers. As the company details on its website, it has been trusted to review high-profile misfortunes such as the sabotage of the federal building in Oklahoma City.
So, for the effect of argument, let's claim that Exponents analysis is an understatement and debate another inclusive study that measures the dangers using a barely different metric—the count of kills per billions of kilometers traveled rather than per hour of activity. The Rutgers University researchers who undertook this work concluded that, per kilometer traveled, riding kills are eleven times as high as automobile occupant fatalities. Seems pretty grim for biking until you look at what the same study revealed about walking. Walking kills per kilometer walked were 36 times as high as driving deaths, suggesting that walking is more than three times as dangerous as biking.
That said, there's always more that cyclists could do to take responsibility for our safety. A disturbing 24 percent of fatal bike accidents involve an intoxicated cyclist. Work shows that cyclists get into many smaller accidents that could be prevented. Numerous studies have shown that the failure to wear lights at night or a helmet significantly increases a biker's risk. Finally, newer riders should be especially careful about cars opening doors and making turns, and about riding on the pavements.
The bottom line: It isn't that cycling is without danger, but some consideration is in order, more so when you begin to include the number of health benefits that biking provides.
2. It's too far. The ride may well take too long or take too much out of you if you live more than, say, 10 miles from work. But consider ways to grow your potential distance. Many commuters, for example, use foldable bikes so they can go partway on a morning train.
3. Bikes are pricey. Untrue. You should be able to come across a new or used cycle ideal for simple commuting for below $500. Find a good, local bicycle shop with a experienced staff, discuss the terrain and distance of ride you're considering, and they'll help you choose the proper frame and amount of gears you'll require.
If you're just starting out, you may want to hunt for a functional, commuter bicycle that has fenders to save your pants, a stand, and a comfortable saddle. And, if you're really looking for a comfortable ride, take a look at the new type of “coasting” bikes that are designed to reconnect people with worryfree memories of cycling as a kid. They feature pedal brakes—called coaster brakes—instead of hand brakes and an automatic shifter, and while they are not built for speed, they're a fantastic way to get reacquainted with the seat, says Doyne.
4. It's not possible to transport the stuff I require. If this is what you think, you're toting way more than the usual rider to work or you do not have the right bag or features on your bicycle. A sturdy basket or touring panniers will mean you can easily carry a laptop, change of clothes, snacks, a few books, a stack of binders, and any other gadgets you usually carry.
5. There's nowhere to wash. Jeff Peel of the League of American Bicyclists states that most riders are concerned about this, but that there are plenty alternatives beyond simply showing up at the office smelly and sticky. First, check to ensure that your building doesn't have a full bathrooms somewhere. If it doesn't, check nearby gyms or fitness clubs. Some offer shower-only memberships for cycling or jogging types.
6. Riding will make me sterile. This is an accusation that has circulated since the mid 1990s, and there's a tiny amount of truth to it. There is studies that professional bicycle riders can experience short-lived and maybe long-lasting erectile dysfunction if they cycle lots of hours on a racing saddle that doesn't fit properly. But there are now many of seats with specially designed cutaway grooves that remove the pressure off the key arteries and nerves. As long as your seat fits properly and you don't ride as much as a professional rider training for the Tour de France, biking is much more apt to reduce your odds of erectile dysfunction than raise them, as cycling will assist keep cardiovascular disease—a major creator of erectile dysfunction—at bay.
The author cycles to the office with his three year old infant on a WeeRider, the infant bicycle seat and loves every minute of it!
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