Benefits of Bike Sharing
What are some of the things that cities all around the world must deal with? Busy roads, higher vehicle emissions, and more. The number of cars on a street at any given time can mean that a person must leave their home an hour before work to get there on time when they only live a few miles from work. Over time, cities have tried many different ideas to help residents. Public transportation and carpooling have had the biggest impact. However, now we also have a new option in many larger cities. It is known as bike sharing and so far, it has proven that there are many benefits of bike sharing programs.
Less Congestion on City Streets
Think about a big city during rush hour. Two to four or more lanes of traffic, bumper to bumper, stopping and starting, crawling along at five miles per hour, road rage at other drivers because they cut you off. The horror stories are unending, and it happens in cities from coast to coast. With a bike share program in place, people who live in the city can pedal their way through town using bike lanes and avoid the stress that comes with driving.
Shorter Commute Times
In Washington DC most people can feasibly commute to work in about 34.3 minutes, which means they spend approximately 75 hours per year in their vehicle just going to work and coming home during rush hour. In Houston Texas, the average commute is 28.9 minutes, but people still spend approximately 74 hours in traffic each year. This is because 91% of people who live there drive their own personal vehicle to and from work rather than use public transportation. A bicycle may be a little slower, but you may also cut miles off your commute by cutting through side streets and other areas that you normally wouldn’t take your vehicle. You will also spend the time that you would normally be sitting, with a healthy activity.
Healthy Alternative
Most people in today’s world do not get their daily exercise. Bicycling is a healthy alternative to riding in a vehicle. It is a low impact cardio workout that increases all the major muscle groups in your body at one time. By having different gears, you make it as easy or as hard as you want. When you ride a bike, your heart health will improve, you will gain muscle strength and flexibility, improve your posture, decrease your body’s fat level, and more. As an added bonus, if you pedal at a moderate speed and weigh 185lbs, you will burn up to 650 calories in only an hour of bike riding. If you commute 30 minutes one way, there are 650 calories burnt at in a day.
Experience the Fun
Remember when you were a kid riding your bike to your friend’s house? The feeling you had when you coasted down a hill or in simply feeling the wind and the sun on your face? Cycling has proven effective in lowering stress, reducing anxiety, and banishing depression. Do you see any downside to that? It will help you more than any stress-filled traffic jam ever could!
Bike share programs are popping up in cities all around the world. It has proven to cut down on vehicle emissions and in general, makes people feel great when they start their day. To take advantage of the many benefits, you simply have to find a bike share station, rent your bike, and enjoy riding to the nearest station where you want to go. In the downtown Altlanta area, you can purchase memberships, buy one-way tickets, and round trip. Vacationers love it because they can see more, the residents love it because they can avoid the headaches of a traffic jam. What will you discover you enjoy about it?