In today’s modern world, ideals, technologies, and even means of transportation are constantly shifting. As human beings, we are without exception evolving and as a result we are faced with challenges along the way. However, under stressful circumstances, we all possess the capacity to utilize these obstacles to both our advantage and disadvantage in the onset goal of achieving a comfortable mode of life.
With gas prices reaching an all-time high, there are many advantages to breaking the 4-wheel habit. Riding a bicycle to work everyday has numerous benefits, including but not limited to, reducing air pollution as well as health and wellness. To begin, not driving a car to work reduces the effects of air pollution because less exhaust is released into the environment.
Another factor deals with one’s health because the key to using your own muscle power while cycling is a step towards less doctor visits due to a healthier metabolism. When exercising on a bicycle, you are not only losing weight, burning calories, and demonstrating great cardiovascular health, but your brain is releasing what is known as endorphins. These are chemicals that cause you to feel good. This concept of releasing endorphins is extremely essential to contributing to a good mental health, which is especially important in the modern world. Adding on to the topic of mental health, exercising right before work can relieve the stress before it even begins, especially if you overworked the night before, are worried before a meeting or anxious over a presentation.
Furthermore, utilizing a bicycle is extremely cost-effective. To start, the amount of money you will save due to the fact that you do not need gas is extravagant. Reducing the amount of gas we are using is a great way to preserve our fossil fuels as well. Additionally, if we are to reduce the utilization of gas, we are significantly reducing the risk of pollution. According to the Environmental Defense Fund, cars release approximately 333 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere annually, which is 20 percent of the world’s total. This is quite an alarming statistic which shows that by reducing the use of cars as a means of transportation, we as the future, can commit an environmentally-friendly act to better our world in the long term. Moreover, you can also save money since you would not need to have car insurance nor finance car maintenance such as oil changes, brake repairs, or tire changes. Finally, it is time-effective in terms of traffic. For example, when there are heavy loads of traffic, you can easily pass it through bicycle lanes or sidewalks, reducing a lot of time that in a car you would be stuck. In conclusion, there are many benefits to riding a bicycle to work everyday that will not only improve your overall health, but your financial standings and time conveniences, all while promoting environmentally-friendly acts.
On the other hand, there are disadvantages and dangers that result from riding a bicycle over using a vehicle to get to work. Some risks involved include pain in your back and/or knees if you pull a muscle or strain a certain body part. This is especially more prevalent for the elderly or people with poor physical health. Another reason is that although you could cut through the time it would take to sit in traffic in a car, you do not have the speed that a car does, so it will take longer to get to work. Consider a day that you are running late to work-you can’t just hop into a car and speed to work, you have to bike there, while you are already running late, which will most likely result in an even further delayed arrival. Next, weather conditions must be considered; rain, snow, heat, and wind are all factors that would make riding a bicycle to work much more difficult and even dangerous. You also have to consider it being dark outside, which is much more dangerous because you increase the risk of getting hit or hitting into something. In addition, you have the issue of attire. Most occupations call for nicer clothing such as suits or dresses, and so therefore sweating riding a bicycle in such attire will also make it extremely difficult and uncomfortable. Moreover, you also have the issue of carrying items to work such as briefcases, purses, and other supplies that your job may require. In that case carrying such items in a small compartment in front of your bike may be a difficult task to fulfill. Finally, the most dangerous factor that must be considered when choosing to ride a bicycle to work everyday is the risk of accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2017, 783 bicyclists were killed in traffic crashes in the United States. For the car involved in the accident, they may need to pay for minor damage done to the car, but for the bicyclist involved in the accident, they will pay with their lives. Bicyclists involved in accidents with other cars either dead or severely injured, which are both major risks. In summary, there are many dangers to consider when riding a bicycle to work everyday that will not only affect your time, but your health, work requirements, and safety.
Conclusively, you are always going to have to deal with both the advantages and disadvantages when considering riding a bicycle to work everyday. You just have to consider the factors and conditions that you are under personally, and decide what suits you best from there. You may have to make adjustments and sacrifice your comfortability but if you feel like the advantages heavily outweigh the disadvantages than that is up to you to decide. In any given situation you are always going to have to weigh the pros and cons, but adjust until you find what in that scale makes you comfortable and go for it.
https://mainorwirth.com/practice-area/motor-vehicle-accidents/
https://mainorwirth.com/blog/sharing-the-road-with-cyclists/
https://mainorwirth.com/blog/crash-course-in-bicycle-safety/
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