Bicycle commuting
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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)[citation needed].
In the West it is common to combine bicycle commuting with public transport (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[citation needed], 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 a commuter bike is more likely to be fitted with most or all of the following: rear rack, lights, fenders (also called mudguards), panniers, and a chain guard. Hub gears (or no gears at all) are also common.
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[edit] Advantages of bicycle commuting
[edit] Health advantages
Better physical health, including reduced risk of heart disease, is one benefit of bicycle commuting. The National Institute for Health has increased the suggested amount of exercise from half an hour to an hour a day.[1] Bicycle commuting can provide a practical method for meeting the recommended amount of daily exercise for people that work jobs that aren't physically demanding or labor-intensive.
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.[2] 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 a person's health during a period of time that is often spent sitting in traffic.
In some countries health insurers actively support bicycle commuting. In Germany the campaign Mit dem Rad zur Arbeit[3] – which started in 2001 as a regional pilot project – has become a success in all 16 states with 14,000 companies and 125,000 people participating.[4]
Measures that promote physical health, including aerobic exercise, have been shown to reduce the symptoms of depression [5]. Bicycle commuters in general enjoy greater productivity, and (particularly for the deskbound) a nice balance for the day, particularly in combination with stopping and stretching.
[edit] Economic advantages
Transport is the number two cost after housing for most households in rich countries. Automobiles are particularly expensive, as seen in Economics of automobile ownership and people who use cheaper transport can use the money elsewhere. Bike commuters can save on gas, oil changes, brake repairs, tires, car washes, parking fees, a gym membership and maybe even a lower car insurance rate.
For an example see What do cars really cost?.
[edit] Quality-of-life advantages
Biking causes far less adverse environmental impact than any other travel mode, possibly even including walking, when you consider how much more food you have to grow to power a pedestrian over a given distance relative to bicycle[5].
"Bicycle Commuting Advantages" taken from The Way of the Bicycle, by Oasis Design Press
[edit] Issues with cycle commuting
A number objections are raised by those who use alternative transport. While it is undoubtedly a matter of personal choice, and these concerns are not without basis in fact, most issues have been solved in one way or another by those who are committed to cycle commuting.
[edit] Distance
Distance of travel is a significant limiting factor in cycle commuting. The distance an individual would be prepared to cycle, and the distance over which cycling is quicker or more convenient than other modes, will vary greatly by age, body type, personality and location. It is uncommon to find people in the West commuting distances over 15km (10 miles) each way solely by bicycle, but mixed-mode commuting (e.g. bike plus train) is more common[citation needed].
To consider London, as an example: rail stations have substantial bike parking for commuters who cycle from the station to the office and leave their bike locked up at each end; others use folding bicycles or travel off-peak, when cycles may be carried on overground trains. Still others cycle to their local station and leave the bike there, traveling from the rail station on foot, by bus or by underground subway.
[edit] Safety
The largest cause of serious and fatal injuries to cyclists is collision with motor vehicles. Studies have shown[citation needed] that drivers are to blame in 2/3 to 5/6 of all collisions where a cyclist is injured. Some advocate separation of motorized and non-motorized traffic, but the safety benefit of such measures is unproven. The benefits of cycling have been calculated to outweigh the risks by around 20:1.[6][7] Risk per cyclist has been observed to be lowest where cycling is most common, and to reduce as numbers cycling increases.
Bike safety can be improved with increased visibility by using reflective clothing, reflectors, and bike lights[citation needed] . Many states have regulations for all bicyclist, biking after dark, to have front and rear bike lights as well as having all standard reflectors. Other than visibility bike helmets are also important, nearly three-quarters of fatal crashes involved a head injury[8]. In the United States most states have laws requiring bike helmets for most minors.
[edit] Load carrying
The capacity for load storage on a bicycle is less than for most motor vehicles. Messenger bags, bike racks, panniers, crates, bike modifications, and bike trailers can increase the bicycle's load capacity, but perhaps the easiest option is simply using a backpack. The backpack also moves the center of gravity higher. In most cases the carrying of a change of clothes, small toolkit, wind and waterproof clothing, and work paraphernalia is practical. Special luggage is available for carrying laptop computers safely, although these may also be carried in normal bike luggage with a little ingenuity.
[edit] Security
The risk of theft of a bicycle over a motor vehicle is higher due to their ease of transport by the perpetrator. To combat this risk, it is necessary to make the target bicycle difficult to steal, take longer to steal, and less appealing to the would-be perpetrator. Some recommended security methods are:
- Use a high quality, non tubular key-based u-lock.
- Use multiple locking techniques - u-lock and a chain / cable with a padlock.
- Remove any quick-release components such as the front wheel and saddle.
- Alternatives include securing components with cables, replacing quick release components with skewers or devices requiring a tool, or securing quick release levers with hose clamps.
- Lock all wheels and the frame to a bike rack.
- If a bike rack is unavailable, use a forged steel post that cannot be easily removed and the lock cannot be slipped over.
- If possible, lock the bike under cover, unexposed to weather.
- Put tape or adhesive labels on the bike at various locations to make the bike appear less valuable.
[edit] Sanitation
Cycling involves some physical exertion. In order to be presentable for work after riding in, a number of techniques are employed, including: showering at work; showering before riding then changing to fresh clothes; riding more sedately so as not to work up a sweat. Some cyclists keep a washcloth, baby wipes, or microfiber travel towel and clean up in a public restroom upon arrival. If the workplace has a particular dress code that is uncomfortable for commuting on bicycle, the clothes can be stored in a bag or at the workplace and changed into upon arrival.
If no shower is available, wearing wool or any synthetic wicking fabric will help keep sweat from lingering long enough to stink. Based on the volume of emails received at the Practical Pedal magazine [6] (a quarterly bicycle commute publication,) concerns about arriving to work in a smelly condition are the most frequently voiced concerns.
[edit] Speed
A cyclist can ride at 12-30+ miles per hour. Depending on the volume of motor vehicle traffic and the distance of the commute, bicycle commuting can be quicker or slower than driving. For longer commutes, a combination strategy using a bicycle and public transit can be effective using a folding bicycle or if local ordinances permit bicycles on the transit system. For commuters that perform cardiovascular exercise on a regular basis, combining the two activities may result in an overall more efficient approach. 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."
Time to Cover One Mile:
| mph | kph | time per mile |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 48 kph | 2 minutes |
| 20 mph | 32 kph | 3 minutes |
| 15 mph | 24 kph | 4 minutes |
| 12 mph | 19 kph | 5 minutes |
[edit] Pollution
Cyclists are exposed to direct pollution from motor vehicles. However, with the cardiovascular activity, their immune system effectiveness is increased reducing the impact the pollution causes.[citation needed]. Measurements in traffic have shown that pollution can in some cases be most concentrated within the cabins of cars, rather than outside them. Environmental groups advocate cycling as a means of reducing pollution.
[edit] References
- ^ Brooks GA, Butte NF, Rand WM, Flatt JP, Caballero B: Chronicle of the Institute of Medicine physical activity recommendation: how a physical activity recommendation came to be among dietary recommendations. Am J Clin Nutr 79:921S–930S, 2004 [1]
- ^ Murphy MH 2006. The effect of a worksite based walking programme on cardiovascular risk in previously sedentary civil servants. BMC Public Health 2006 May 22;6:136 [2]
- ^ (German)http://www.aok-mitdemradzurarbeit.de/
- ^ (German)http://www.adfc.de/2944_1
- ^ Worldwatch Institute - World Watch Magazine, March/April 2006, Volume 19, No. 2[3]
- ^ Hillman 1993. Cycle helmets-the case for and against. Policy Studies Institute, London. ISBN 0-85374-602-8[4]
- ^ Hillman, M. (1997) Health Benefits of Cycling Greatly Outweigh Loss of Life Years from Deaths. Br Med J, 314, 70
- ^ Bicycle Helmet Statistics
[edit] See also
- Bicycle-friendly
- Bicycle transportation engineering
- Bike to Work Week Victoria
- Bike-to-Work Day
- Segregated cycle facilities
- Icebiking
- Times-up!
- Utility bicycle
- Utility cycling
[edit] External links
- General
- Commuting 101 commutebybike.com
- Commute by bike CommuteByBike.net
- Bike & equipment reviews BikeCommuters.com
- Resources for the Aspiring Bike Commuter C.I.C.L.E.
- Practical cycling Bicycling Life
- Biking to Work Manual Chicagoland Bicycle Federation
- Commuting pages Paul Dorn
- Commuting pages Ken Kifer
- Commuting Advice London Cycling Campaign
- Places
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