article

Bicycle commuting is the act of commuting to work or school by bicycle, a common form of utility cycling. Bicycling is the dominant mode of commuting in countries such as India and China and is also common in many European countries (though rare in most parts of the United States).

In the West it is common to combine bicycle commuting with other means of public transportation (also known as mixed-mode commuting). Folding bicycles are used if space, fees or restrictions interfere with taking full size bicycles along. Another alternative is to have a bicycle parked at a station.

Worldwide the bicycle is probably the most common commuter vehicle, and the second most common form of commuting after walking. In most countries any bicycle that will move is considered suitable for commuting, while in the West you are more likely to find a commuter bike is fitted with most or all of the following: rear rack, light system, fenders (also called mudguards), panniers, and a chain guard. Hub gears (or no gears at all) are also common.

Studies have shown that integrating moderate cardiovascular exercise into daily routines is highly beneficial to health, protecting against coronary heart disease, some cancers and reducing incidence of obesity. At least one study has shown that transportational cycling confers additional benefit even among those who are otherwise fit. Commuting by bicycle is often a good way to improve your health in time you would otherwise spend sitting in traffic.

In some Countries health insurers actively support bicycle commuting. In Germany the campaign Mit dem Rad zur Arbeit – which started in 2001 as a regional pilot project – has become a success in 15 of 16 states with 11740 companies and 101529 people participating.

Resistance to bicycle commuting

Cycling advocates often address the following concerns raised by people considering commuting by bicycle:

  • Safety. While there is some risk, the benefits have been calculated to outweigh the risks by around 20:1 (Hillman). It is also the case that those places where cycle commuting is most common tend to be the places where the casualty rate is lowest, probably due to the well-documented safety in numbers effect (cyclist casualty rates vary approximately with the inverse square of numbers cycling). But if you are a new or returning cyclist, or if you have fears over safety, an accredited adult cycling course would be a wise investment. These are often branded Effective Cycling in the US. Other countries' cycling organsiations (eg CTC in the UK) or local authorities may be able to advise on local providers.

  • Load carrying. Many commuter cyclists carry paperwork, laptops, business suits and other paraphernalia. Enterprising cycle luggage companies make bags specially designed for the commuter, particularly panniers to carry laptops and business suits. The traditional wicker basket is also a surprisingly adaptable load carrier, and some in the teaching profession have been known to use trailers to transport exercise books. Waterproof bike messenger bags are also popular.

  • Security. Locking a bike at the station is a risk. Some commuters overcome this by brush-painting the bike or buying tatty second-hand machines; others use high quality and/or multiple locks; others again will use folding bikes and take them on the train. In big towns and cities it's best if you can find secure parking at your destination -- this is much easier with folding bikes, but the best employers now also provide secure covered bike parking.

  • Sweat. There is no rule which says you have to ride flat out. You can commute in normal working clothes and trundle along at a stately pace on a bike with full mudguards and chaincase. Or you can dress in cycling gear and change at the other end. Or something in between. Absence of showers and dedicated changing facilities is not really a problem, if you shower before riding out in the morning and keep a washcloth and handtowel at work, the loos are all the facilties you need. And the fitter you get, the less you sweat anyway.

  • Speed. In most congested towns and cities the bike is far and away the fastest mode of transport for short distances. Regular commuter challenges in cities such as London almost always have the cyclist winning. But even if it takes somewhat longer, consider this: Your commute is keeping you fit. Your commute is effectively time spent at the gym -- and time that you no longer need to take out of your day to exercise. As Congressman Earl Blumenauer once said: "Let's have a minute's silence for all those Americans who are currently sitting in traffic on the way to the gym to ride a stationary bicycle."

  • Pollution. Once again this is blaming the bicycle for the effects of those who choose not to cycle, but in reality it has been found that those in cars breathe up to twice the level of pollution that cyclists do -- and cycling also stimulates the immune system, making it easier to resist the effects of pollution. Cyclists can also take heart from the fact they aren't contributing to Global Warming.

The upside

As well as keeping you fit, cycling to work stimulates your circulation and gets you ready for work. Many studies have shown that physical exercise improves mental agility, and children who walk or cycle to school have been found to achieve higher than comparable children who are driven.

On an anecdotal basis many cycle commuters find that coming in on the bike changes the journey from a depressing, frustrating slog into an uplifting, exciting blast that wakes them up in the morning and relieves the stress at the end of the day.

It takes less willpower to continue a cycling to work habit than to go out training, especially if the weather is not brilliant. For a time-poor cyclist commuting is the perfect excuse to keep a regular mileage going and you can always take the long way home.

Some cyclists find riding in traffic fun in itself; heavy rush hour traffic is particularly joyful to breeze past. The traffic makes a regular route an ever-changing challenge in the way a regular training run cannot.

See also

External links

Personal sites

Utility cycling

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Bicycle commuting".

Home Page • arts • business • computers • games • health • hospitals • home • kids & teens • news • physicians • recreation• reference • regional • science • shopping • society • sports • world