More People Turn to Cycling to Avoid 'Peak Hour' Commute

QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA, June 27, 2012 (Press-News.org) Anyone commuting to work right before and after standard business hours is familiar with the frustrations of gridlock traffic and wasted time. Today, many individuals are turning to bicycles instead of cars to accomplish their daily commutes.

This simple change in mode of transportation saves money, increases fitness and decreases stress levels.

Rising gas prices and a struggling economy has resulted in people looking for any way to trim down their expenses. Bicycling is a terrific means of saving money on travel expenses, because the only cost of commuting in this manner is purchasing the bike and a trustworthy lock.

Wired magazine reports that in the 70 biggest cities of the United States, bike commuting increased 35% between the years of 2005 and 2009. Since that time, many cities have worked toward adopting more bike-friendly commuter systems, which means that this number will only continue to rise.

Each one of these bike commuters are saving every single day on the expense of gas, parking fees, car maintenance and road tolls.

A study of 2,400 cyclists performed by the Transportation Research Board reported in 1997 that 95% of those surveyed stated that they chose to commute to work on a bicycle for health and fitness reasons.

When you consider that the average bicycle commute to and from work in a large city is about 1/2 hour, this one single lifestyle change can have a dramatic effect on the average amount of physical activity a bike commuter engages in every week.

Bicycling helps to burn calories and increase overall energy levels. If an individual cycles to work instead of sitting in a sedentary position in his car, he will arrive at work feeling more alert and energetic. This leads to higher productivity levels, which can only help further a career.

Being fit becomes a great deal easier when you trade in a car commute for a cycle commute at least a few times per week.

Exercise stimulates serotonin production in the brain, which in turn reduces stress levels and induces a sense of well-being. This means that the large number of men and women switching over to a cycle commute are enjoying a higher overall quality of life than those who commute via a vehicle.

In addition, individuals who commute by car often find themselves in stressful situations that are particular to a daily commute during peak hours. Some of these stress inducers include gridlock traffic, running late, being cut off by another driver and having an automobile accident

Those cycling to work may actually enjoy a shorter commute time, if their standard route to work tends to be gridlocked during peak hours.

More people are turning to bicycles as their primary means of commuting to and from work. These wise individuals are enjoying the benefits of money saved, health increased, and stress levels minimized.

If you are considering cycling to work, Merida have a bicycle for everyone's needs.

Website: http://www.merida.com.au