The benefits of biking in Brindleyplace
Cycling to work allows you to integrate a feeling of joy into your daily routine. Observe your surroundings, listen to the birds and reap endless health benefits! You may find yourself wishing your commute were longer! Here’s why…
Physical health benefits
Sneaking the health benefits of biking into your daily commute is so easy it almost feels like cheating! One of the most commonly cited reasons for not exercising is lack of time. We are all super busy with work, home and social lives. Active travel saves commute time and meets the recommended guidelines for exercise of 150 minutes a week without having to go to the gym! You don’t even need to ride fast, even slow cycling burns about 500 calories per hour. If you cycle twice a day the number of calories really adds up. Research in the UK has shown that a half-hour bike ride every day will burn nearly five kilograms of fat over a year! You don’t only burn calories whilst on the bike, sports scientists say cycling raises your metabolism even after you’ve finished too!
Plus, as little as 20 miles a week on a bike can reduce your risk of coronary heart disease by half. The National Forum for Coronary Heart Disease Foundation found that routine cyclists’ fitness was equal to that of someone 10 years younger! Cycling to work is also linked with a 45% lower risk of developing cancer and 46% lower risk of cardiovascular disease compared to commuting by car or public transport. A study looking at active commuting found that those who cycle to work have a 41% lower risk of dying from all causes!
Mental health benefits
Sitting in traffic or crowded public transit increases stress, whereas cycling to work can transform your daily commute into a moderate form of therapy. Studies have shown that daily cycling can reduce stress, alleviate depression, improve sleep and reduce anxiety. A Cycling UK survey found that 91% of participants rated off-road cycling as very important for their mental health.
Cycling impacts your brain – when your heart rate increases, more oxygen is pumped to your brain which helps manage anxiety and depression. Endorphins, serotonin and dopamine are also released which dramatically improve mood and help us feel positive. Just one bike ride for as little as 30 minutes was also found to improve memory, reasoning and ability to plan – shortening the time it takes to complete tasks, so we become more productive too!
Financial benefits
Research by Blackhawk Network, found that commuters saved £750 a year by biking to work. The saving rises to £1,100 per annum if you live in Greater London. The cost of maintaining a bike is far lower than the equivalent costs of running a car. If you cycle to work you may no longer need a car (or a second family car). As well as no longer buying petrol, you’ll save on tax, insurance, parking fees and all the other expenses saved when you don’t own a car. Not to mention the extra cash you could receive if you sell the car.
Environmental benefits
At the moment, every year in the UK outdoor pollution is linked to up to 36,000 deaths. Cycling helps to reduce deadly emissions, saving lives and making the world a cleaner and healthier place to live. The total CO2 emissions per kilometer of riding your bike is about 21g, more than 10 times less than a car. There are also economic benefits as cyclists are more likely to stop and shop, supporting local retailers.
Don’t forget we’ve got bicycle storage around the estate too!
References
https://www.cyclinguk.org
https://www.bikeradar.com
https://www.tredz.co.uk
https://momentummag.com
