Cycling is a healthy and fun way to get to work. Here are a few more reasons to swap the car keys for handlebars.
It’s cheap!
Call us Captain Obvious, but when you consider that the cost of new car ownership is over $11,500 a year on average, it’s clear that purchasing and maintaining a bicycle costs far less than driving to work. Plus, bike parking is easy, free, and plentiful!
It’s a healthier way of commuting.
Cycling allows you to stay in shape while you commute. Arrive invigorated! Then, work off the day’s stress on the way home. In fact, active commuting such as bicycling has been shown to have some incredible health benefits, including:
- 10% decrease in risk for heart disease
- 30% decrease in risk for type 2 diabetes
- 10% decrease in mortality risk
It’s doable year round.
Bicycles are a practical form of transportation to and from work one or more days a week. With the right gear, you can even bike year-round. If your commute is too long for bicycling or you want to gradually build confidence and stamina, consider riding to the nearest Metro or commuter rail station, or drive part of the way and ride the rest.
It helps reduce pollution.
Bicycling to work means fewer pollutants and traffic congestion caused by automobiles. Each year, cars and trucks travel more than 38 billion miles on roads, accounting for 30-40 percent of the ozone-causing pollutants.
*Sources: AAA, World Health Organization, Clean Air Partners
COMMUNITY HIGH FIVES
Hello I really enjoy bike to work day, several of us work at the University and either ride together or meet up at the stop to say hello and get a photo. It is really nice of you all to put this together for us 🙂 and thank you for the food and bike repairs. They’re AWESOME! Thank you again!
Linda Rossi
Just a short note to say thanks for all the planning and work that went into BTWD. This year was the first time I participated. Colleagues at work participated last year and had talked about what a great event it is. The pit stop in College Park was nice and, conveniently for me, was located at about the halfway point between my house in North Laurel and work. I stopped, had a cup of coffee and some fruit, chatted a bit with folks there, and then continued on my way. The 27-mile ride from home to work was pleasant, and I felt more relaxed at work after the two hour ride than after my usual 45 minute drive on I-95 and the Beltway. I felt the same way in the evening after the ride home. I am planning to bicycle to work one day a week through the summer. If it had not been for BTWD as a motivator, I’m not sure I would have seriously considered bicycling to work on a regular basis.
Michael Ratcliffe
It was a great sight to see the first-ever pit stop in Greenbelt for the National Bike to Work Day. And my ride with the convoy to College Park pit stop was also enjoyable, as was the time there. I have been biking (and using public transit) to work since 1981, and it is most reassuring how bicycling accommodations are improving.
Bill Norwood
This was my first time participating and it was a wonderful experience. I stopped by the Chinn Center and the volunteers were amazing! Not only did they tune up my bike, but they gave me bunch of free goodies and breakfast. Thank you so much for having this event I plan to participate every year.
Carrie Aceves
First time participating, but I bike to work at least once a week! Sterling to Reston!
Liz Stock Olivier
This is just what I needed to finally get up the nerve to bike to work. (I’m nervous about getting hit by a car as I spent the last 6 years in rural Vermont where I was never worried about biking in traffic)!
Carolyn Barnwell