How Cycling To Work Can Make You Happier And Better Off

The Netherlands, Denmark and Germany are the top three countries that use bicycles to commute to work. The Netherlands has a population of 17 million and they have 22 million bikes.

The number of cars on the roads in the 1950s and 1960s caused an increase in congestion and road deaths. Thus the Government began to invest heavily in cycling. Separate tracks were designated and even on a road where cars and cycles share the road the cycles are given priority.

Why would the government deem it wise to get involved in the activity? Because it has obvious health and other reasons.

"Cycle fanatics have been trying to convince the rest of us about the benefits of cycling for years, over the past decade cycling has become increasingly mainstream as the many psychological and physical health benefits of cycling have been revealed by new research" according to Stefan Puno.

Benefits of cycling to work:

• Exercise: Cycling gives you a cardio and vascular workout. It actually burns more calories than jogging, without the impact jogging has on your joints. It increases your fitness levels, lowers blood pressure and tones your muscles.
• Convenient: You do not have to get stuck in a traffic jam and sit for hours waiting for traffic to clear up and get panic or stress attacks. Worse still is when you have to search for parking in the parking lot. When you bike to work there is no chance of getting stuck in traffic and all you need to do is find a pole and lock up and go to your destination.
• Money: Cycling to work saves you a lot of money by way of cars cost, gasoline costs. you also save on car maintenance, car insurance and parking as most parking nowadays is not free. A bike can be bought at the fraction of the cost of a car and there is hardly any maintenance costs involved. Bike maintenance is simple and enhances the life of your bike considerably. When not in use, it is best to hang the bike on a wall, or upside down, so there is no pressure on the tires. The tires must be kept inflated at all times. Check for any rust. At the first sign of rust take immediate preventive action by lubricating brakes and cables.
• Brain power: New research has shown that biking to work can have a very beneficial impact on your brain power. It increases the flow of blood to the brain keeping it healthy and in peak condition. It increases brain performance as there is an abundant supply of fresh air. With the daily commute to work you are preventing cognitive decline and at the same time decreasing the risk of Alzheimer's or dementia.

-Contributed by Stephan Puno | BikeStorageCo