Commute by bike to work

Have any of you commuters noticed the rising number of bike racks on public buses?  Having racks on public buses allows for a complete commute – ride your bike to the bus stop and finish by bus.  This is another way to make it easy for you to leave your car in the garage.  According to the Journal Sentinel, the number of bicycle racks nearly doubled in 2011!  In 2010 there was an estimated 33,615 bike racks on buses; this number has increased to 68,541 in 2011.  What a great innovation to help people live more of a sustainable life!

Transportation systems are within reasonable walking distance for 85% of people and 99% of people who ride their bicycles.  Unless you are in the 1% of people who are not close enough to ride their bicycles to a bus stop to finish their commutes, you should be making a conscious effort to get to work in a different mode than driving a car.  Even if you start using this form of transportation a few times a week, you will still be saving on gas, getting a workout and significantly lowering your stress levels.  The benefits of being a bike commuter outweigh the costs.

Consider the amount of money that you can save from your weekly paycheck while also getting a workout.  According to Pucher and Buehler, people who commute to various places by bike live longer.  An individual making the shift from the car to a bicycle for short trips gains an estimated 3-14 months of life. This is a heart-healthy exercise that will also help to keep those extra pounds off.  Not only will your body and wallet thank you, but your employer will too with the “Bicycle Commuter Incentive” that companies give out. (Click here for more information on the Bicycle Commuter Incentive) Take the chance to use this opportunity to live a healthier, more sustainable life, and let’s get more people commuting by bicycle!