Top Six Benefits of Cycling

A report suggests that more than 80% of the parents do not allow their children to commute using a bicycle because of a fear of road accidents. When these children grow up, their obvious choice of commute is always a car. If you are one such parent check out these varied benefits that cycling has to offer. These will definitely make you think twice about restricting your child from practicing his/her cycling skills.

1.) Cycling is good for health

According to research conducted by health organizations people who cycle regularly are likely to have a fitness level equal to a person ten times younger than their age. Studies also indicate that cycling reduces the risk of heart diseases to less than half as compared to a non-cyclist. Add to this the fact that cyclists are less likely to be obese.

2.) Cycling helps you save money

Fuel prices are on the rise and we all know that road bikes do not require fuel. Neither do they require any breakdown recovery services. You don’t need to take insurance or pay road tax. Plus you don’t require a license to ride a bicycle. Further consider the fact that bicycles have very low maintenance costs and may last for years together without a requirement to buy a new bike. All this equates to big savings!

3.) Cycles are easy to Park

Bicycles can be parked almost anywhere and the best part is that they do not attract parking bills that can be quite expensive on your pockets. Further savings! Not many of us realize this, but around 10 to 12 bicycles can be parked in a space occupied by a single car!

4.) Can get you home quicker in a rush hour

Who does not hate traffic jams? A few realize this but a bicycle can be twice as fast in a traffic jam situation and help you get to your home or office much faster than a car. Less commute stress equates more productivity. There are so many of us who travel by car to the office but are already so stressed out because of the commute that getting work done in the morning session becomes a distant reality.

5.) Cycles help you reach places that are inaccessible to cars

Cycling can take you places that one cannot dream of reaching using a car as cycles are not constrained to the road. Cyclists can use shared use pathways, bridleways and specialist bike paths, which can act as useful shortcuts. What about mountains? Of-course for the more expert among us there are mountain bikes that can even take someone right up there on the rocky terrains.

6.) Bicycles are eco friendly

Unlike cars bicycles do not pollute the air, are a lot quieter, do not use up fuel and can be manufactured with a fraction of elements required to make a car. So if you care about nature, you definitely have a winner here.

These are just a few of the many benefits that cycling has to offer. So if you are a parent reluctant to allow your kids to use cycling as a means of commute, you definitely have something to think about. Consider the fact that road conditions have improved considerably as compared to what they were some ten years back. To get over your fear, get your child recruited into organizations that offer professional bicycle training for kids. For instance ‘Bikeability’ if you are in the UK.

Proper training and proper safety precautions can ensure that your child is safe on the roads and that you have a peace of mind. But stopping your kids from commuting using a bike is definitely not the solution. Think about it!