Just like any other physical activity, biking gets your blood flowing and triggers the release of endorphins which can bring you to a state of euphoria that can reduce your anxiety and diminish pain. The release of endorphins in your blood and vitamins from the sun are working together to boost up your levels of good mood hormone and make you happier. Moreover, a 2010 study from American College of Sport Medicine showed that just 30 minutes exercise can boost you mind and mood and tackles depression. Exercise can improve your mood while driving a car or taking a transportation and sitting in rush hour traffic would do the exact opposite effect. By commute on a bike, you would be more happy stepping into work and getting home.
For those who want a few extra years to live, try biking. A recent study of commuters in United Kingdom tracked 263,450 adults for over five years and they have revealed that people who biked to work tend to live longer with a mortality rate 41 percent lower than people who drove and take transit to work. Cycle commuters had a 52 percent lower risk of dying from heart disease and a 40 percent lower risk of dying from cancer. They also had 46 percent lower risk of developing a heart disease and a 45 percent lower risk of developing cancer at all. Furthermore, if you want to get a few inch down, ramping up your cardio with biking is the perfect thing to start. An average person lose 13 pounds every year by biking. Doing aerobic exercise accelerates your breathing and heart rate, which helps to stimulate the contraction of intestinal muscle and keeps you on the path of wellness.
More than 90 percent of the world population breathes in air that violates air quality guideline and one out of two Americans breaths highly polluted air everyday. 15 percent of all asthma are linked to living near a major roads and 50-90 percents of emission are caused by automobiles. According to the University of North Carolina Highway Research Center, 80 percent of the carbon monoxide and 55 percent of the nitrogen oxide in the atmosphere came from vehicle that operate on gas and diesel which release large amount of pollutants in the atmosphere. In contrast, riding a bike, contributes zero pollutants.
America is a car country. More than 90 percent of American drive to work and we pay the price. Transportation alone account for 19 percent of an American family’s average budget, the 2nd highest cost after housing. A study of by scientists at the University of Wisconsin on 11 midwestern cities found that we could save money if citizens switch to bike for half of their short trips rather than car for 4 months out of the year. We could create a net social health benefit of $3.5 billion per year from the increase in air quality and $3.8 billion in saving from smaller health care cost associated with better fitness and fewer mortalities from a decreased rate of accident. As an individual, we can save up to $544 in medical cost annually if we add thirty minute of cycling to our daily life. It costs at most $300 dollar to keep your bike in shape while it costs thousands of dollars to own and maintain a car. What a great deal to save money while you enjoy your ride!