Bike Commuting

The Huffington Post reports that “Long commutes have been linked to a number of negative health outcomes, including high stress levels, poor sleep, unhealthy weight, a shorter life, and even a higher chance of divorce.”(1)  Save yourself!!  Join the thousands of bike commuters who are turning their daily commute into their favorite part of the day.

1) Creative Solutions –  Keith A, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, designs custom computer systems for complex businesses. Keith reports “I can spend HOURS trying to solve a difficult system integration issue without success; then 30 minutes into my bike commute home… the perfect idea comes to me that will solve all the issues!”  Keith isn’t the only one.  The New York Times recently reported on research showing that exercise improves creativity. (2)  Keith says “My commute is frequently both the most enjoyable AND the most productive part of my day. “

2) End “Exercise Guilt” – Laura S, of Salt Lake City, Utah, says “I spent years vowing to exercise after work and NEVER DOING IT. Then I would feel guilty, vow to do better going forward… and repeat.”  Sound familiar?  The New York Post reports that although more than 50% of Americans believe they would feel more energetic, more motivated, happier, more focused, and less stressed if they exercised, these same Americans find each day they don’t have time, they are too tired, or they have too much work to do. (3) Turn time wasted in a soul-sucking commute, into time spent moving you toward your goals of more energy, focus, and happiness!  Laura says “Now that I bike commute, I never feel guilty. I do a reasonable amount of exercise just getting to and from work, and the rest of the day is mine to do with what I wish!!”

3) Mental Well-Being – Ben R, of Vermont, loves commuting to work by bike. Last week, Ben had to drive to work due to a three-day storm which included high winds, downed tree branches, and flooded roads. Ben noticed throughout the week, his job-satisfaction was plummeting, and his irritability was increasing day by day. This week, he noticed that he liked his job again and was back to cracking jokes at meetings with his colleagues. “When I noticed the change, I realized that my bike commute made the difference. My bike commute is great for my body, but it is critical for my mental well-being.”

4) Reliable Commute Time – Sharon S, of Philadelphia, has a daily 50-mile roundtrip bike commute to her job in Valley Forge. Fortunately, it is a beautiful route, first along the Schuylkill River then onto a rail-trail which she exits only one half mile from her office. While her colleagues think she is crazy… or amazing… depending on their perspective, Sharon thinks the car commuters are crazy.  The traffic on I-76 between Philadelphia and Valley Forge is frequently so bad, it takes Sharon less time to commute by bike.  “When I drove to the office, I would always leave my house at the same time, but some days I’d arrive 30 minutes early and other days I’d arrive 20 minutes late. It was so annoying. Now I arrive every day at the same time. Also, I am traveling through beautiful green space for almost the entire route. Whereas I-76 was a fume-filled slow-moving parking lot of angry commuters.”

5) Body Positivity – Allison, of New Canaan, Connecticut, commutes to work each day by bike. While biking she regularly thinks “Its pretty bad@#$ that my legs are propelling me from my home all the way to my job 2 towns away”. Allison reports that she now views her body as an “awesome instrument, rather than a flawed ornament”. Allison says since adolescence, she has viewed her body as an ornament, to be dissected and compared against “the ideal”. Are my calves too small? Are my ankles too thick? I don’t even want to think about my thighs… Allison finds that appreciating how her body does the work of getting her to her job has changed her perspective in a way that hours of jumping around at the gym never did.

Five different perspectives, however one theme is consistent… People LOVE commuting by bike.  Perhaps commuting by bike  might be a terrific addition to your life.  Read this article, “But It’s Too Far… Solutions to Every Obstacle to Bike Commuting – Part 1” to learn more about how to incorporate bike commuting into your life.   Be the next person to Join the Bicycle Revolution!