In a 2021 study, 51% of workers said that they would like to cycle to work. How many of us actually have the motivation to cycle to work? About 6%. Clearly, many of us think that cycling to work is the right thing to do. But few of us have actually committed. Is it time you finally got on your bike? Or is cycling to work overrated? This post takes a look at some of the pros and cons of taking a bicycle to work.
The pros
Less carbon emissions
Compared to driving a car to work, cycling is definitely the more eco-friendly option. The only carbon emissions released by a bike are during manufacture. Otherwise, there are no exhaust fumes. It is believed that if the average person swapped out all short journeys (under 3 miles) with a bicycle, they could reduce their annual carbon emissions from transportation by as much as 67% (especially since most of the journeys we make in a car are short journeys). If you’ve been looking for an effective way to reduce your carbon footprint, riding a bike could be the way to go.
Cost savings
Riding a bicycle is also cheaper than driving a car or taking public transport. You don’t have to worry about fuel or tax or parking charges. And the average bicycle is a lot cheaper to buy than the average car. Some people can save hundreds of pounds per year by commuting by bicycle. This could be something to consider if you’ve been exploring ways to cut costs.
It keeps you fit
Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of cycling to work is the health benefits it can have. Cycling burns 50% more calories than walking. In fact, just 30 minutes of low intensity cycling per day could burn over 200 calories. You’ll tone up your thighs and your glutes (cycling uphill is one of the best ways to tone up your butt!). You’ll also exercise your heart in the process by increasing your heart rate. Cycling could even lower your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. It has also been linked to a lower risk of cancer.
Better productivity?
Some studies have found that employees who cycle to work can be more productive. Cycling to work helps you to start the day with some physical activity, which can make you enter the workplace feeling more energised and alert. Cycling to work is also generally less stressful than driving to work for many people. You don’t have to deal with traffic jams and the endorphin rush from exercising can counteract the production of stress hormones. Studies have also found that people who cycle to work generally take less sick days. It’s no wonder that many employers are bringing in cycling to work schemes.
The cons
Only suitable for short distances
If you commute a long distance to work, cycling may not be practical. Cycling is generally much slower than taking a car (aside from in congested city areas where cycling can often be faster). Any journey over 10 miles is likely to take upwards of an hour on a bicycle if you’re not an experienced cyclist. This is not something you want to be doing back and forth every day. Of course, bicycles can be taken on buses and trains, but this does mean paying for public transport as well as taking a bicycle. Cycling is generally three times faster than walking – so if you walk to work you could still save time by cycling.
Safety concerns
If you get into a road accident on a bicycle, your chances of sustaining a serious injury are much greater than when in a car. This is something that puts many people off cycling to work – especially if a journey to work involves cycling on fast roads that don’t have bike lanes. The best thing you can do to protect yourself is to always wear a helmet and to take care at junctions (this is where most accidents occur). Most accidents involving cars and bicycles are due to the fault of the car and it is usually easy to get compensation with the help of a car accident lawyer. That said, you do need to make sure that you can cycle proficiently and that you avoid cycling when intoxicated so that you are not the cause of an accident.
Not pleasant in all weathers
Cycling isn’t fun in many extreme weather conditions. On a hot day, you could end up arriving to work very sweaty – which isn’t ideal if you’ve got a meeting first thing where you need to look presentable. On a cold day, wrapping up warm is meanwhile important to avoid getting hypothermia. Rain will result in you arriving to work drenched, and can make road conditions challenging. Cycling in the snow and ice is meanwhile not recommended, as there’s a high chance of skidding and injuring yourself. Cycling in high winds can also be very challenging. All of this can be avoided by taking a car.
Bike storage issues
Not all workplaces have somewhere safe to store a bicycle. You may be able to lock your bicycle up against a lamppost or railing outside, but you may not be able to keep an eye on it while you’re working. This could be something to particularly consider if your workplace is in an area with a high bicycle theft rate. Of course, not all workplaces have secure parking for cars – however it’s harder to steal a car than it is to steal a bike.
Should you cycle to work?
Whether you should cycle to work is likely to come down to several conditions.
Generally speaking, it’s worth cycling to work if you want to save the planet and save some money, as well as staying fit and boosting your productivity. It could be particularly worthwhile cycling to work if you don’t have to travel too far to work, are able to take cycle-friendly routes and have bike storage at work.
When is cycling to work a bad idea? If you have to travel more than 10 miles to work, have to cycle on dangerous roads or have no secure place to keep your bike. In these cases, taking a car or taking public transport may still be the better option.
