Monday 19 November 2012

Save Gas, Money, and the Earth, with a Commuter Bike

By Eric Santucci


In these lackluster economic times, the majority of Americans are searching for money saving alternatives to driving. One way people are conserving their dollars is to carpool to work with colleagues instead of driving themselves each morning. Another popular money saving alternative to driving is the utilization of public transportation. The most cost-effective substitute to driving that people are embracing is riding to work on a commuter bike.

The cost of gas is currently $4.00 a gallon. You can easily do the math and see that it adds up quickly. With the level of oil in reserve decreasing, the price of gas will only increase further. It's the law of supply and demand. Public transportation like buses reply on gas just as drivers do, and this translates to increased bus fares. Commuter bikes can range anywhere from $800 to a couple thousand, but in the long run, you're still saving money when you commute by bike.

Recent studies have shown that people who ride to work, or anywhere really, verses people who travel by automobile are happier as well as healthier individuals. Car travel can be stressful to most drivers with all the traffic and congestion on the roads. On the other hand bike travel is relatively peaceful and allows for the rider to have time to think. Traveling by bike also requires that the rider sits down and thinks about how they spend their time because biking increases travel time, and riders need to allocate a certain amount of time to the bike journey lest they arrive late.

Besides being good for your wallet, commuter bikes are beneficial to the environment as bike riding means lower emissions. Each mile pedaled saves nearly one pound of carbon dioxide according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. It's also important to note that bike riding promotes health. You can strengthen and tone your muscles on your daily commute and well as develop your endurance.

Using a commuter bike is the most cost-effective substitute for driving yourself to work. Biking allows you to save hundreds of dollars that would otherwise be used to purchase gas. It also requires you to learn to manage your time. Another benefit is that you are lessening your carbon foot print, while increasing your activity and setting yourself up for a healthier lifestyle. Before you decide to start commuting by bike, make sure that you know your region and if biking will actually prove advantageous to you in your current community.




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