Living a Green Lifestyle? Ride a Bike!

We compare a lot of life skills to riding a bike – once you’ve learned you never forget, right? One of the best childhood milestones for many of us is the day we learned to ride a bike without training wheels. Few things in adulthood can compare to the freeing feeling of riding a bike around the streets of our hometown with our friends. Why is it that when we get our licenses and get busy, we forget how wonderful and simple the very act of riding a bike can be? 

May 8, 2019, is National Bike to School Day, and to highlight it we’re going to tell you all the healthy, eco-friendly reasons why should unearth your biking skills, assuming you’ve let them go that is.

6 Health Benefits of Riding a Bike

Cycling is Great for Your Heart

Studies have proven that taking your bike to work is an incredibly smart and healthy habit. Cycling to work, or wherever you need to go, can extend your lifespan, lower your risk of heart disease, and decrease your odds of a cancer diagnosis.

Bikes are Easy on the Joints

If you struggle with joint issues, especially in your knees, biking may become your best cardio option, as it’s easier on the joints than walking or running. If you struggle with arthritis or other joint pain, cycling allows you to get the full range of motion you need to stay active without the joint compression of other exercises.

It’s Safer Than Taking Your Car

When compared to automobile fatalities, bikes were proven to be a safer mode of transportation. Despite the sometimes terrible news stories, taking a bike is still safer than taking a car. You’re more likely to get into a car crash than an automobile accident. However, if you’re still worried about traffic or other safety issues, opt for a less busy route to your destination. It’s also a smart idea to invest in a quality helmet, and wear it anytime you’re on cycling on the road.

Cycling Can Cut Your Commute Time

If you live in a busy downtown area, you can actually get to work quicker on your bike than in your car. Cycling eliminates your risk of traffic jams and other commuter issues, ensuring you have more control over your commute. As an added bonus you’ll get a healthy dose of sunny vitamin D and lots of fresh air as well.

Helps You Meet Your Weight Loss Goals

Biking can be a great way to lose weight! Anytime you up your physical activity, you increase calorie burn and energy production, both of which are key factors in weight loss. Time and intensity matter more than distance when it comes to cycling for weight loss, so be sure to log your mileage and consider wearing a fitness tracker to measure heart rate.

Improves Focus and Mental Clarity

Being physically active, especially first thing in the morning, is statistically proven to improve your mental wellbeing. The time it takes you to cycle to your destination can free your mind to process worries, thoughts, routines, and reach conclusions you may not have reached behind the wheel of a car.

As an added bonus, cycling cuts down on pollution so not only do you get healthier, you reduce your carbon footprint in the process! Do you ride a bike as you move through your weekly routine? Tell us about it in the comments section below!

###

Photo by Coen van den Broek on Unsplash