By Laura Darche
As the weather warms, many people are tuning up their bikes to commute to work. If you’re hesitant to join them, here are a few good reasons and debunked myths to encourage you to commute to work by cycling in May, which is Bike to Work Month. You’ll see; it’s much more fun to fuel up on chocolate than to fill the car with gas!
Good reasons to bike
To have fun
Anyone who bikes to work will tell you, it’s really a lot of fun. It jump starts your work day and disconnects you from work on your way home. These personal observations have been confirmed by research showing that cyclists are happier about their commute to work and less stressed than their car-driving colleagues.
To stay healthy
Being active every day is key to staying healthy. Biking to work is an excellent way to efficiently combine your commute to work with daily physical activity. On average, those who bike to work lose 5.8kg (13 lb) the first year. And cycling helps protect against colds, heart disease and cancer; it even exposes bikers to less vehicle exhaust than those who drive to work.
To enjoy nature in the city
Because the University of Ottawa is located in an area where bike paths follow waterways and crisscross wooded areas, those of us who bike to work get a chance to experience nature every day. Contact with the outdoors has many positive effects: it improves memory and attention span, and reduces the effects of stress, mental fatigue and even depression.
To save money
You don’t need a high-end racer to get to work. The cost of a commuter bike plus basic accessories (a helmet and a lock) ranges from about $300 to $1500, with about $50 to $75 a year for maintenance. The savings in gas, parking and wear-and-tear on your car, not to mention the cost of a gym membership, make biking to work an investment that quickly pays for itself.
Debunking the myths
“I don’t want to get sweaty”
Biking at a moderate pace requires no more effort than walking and allows you to cover 15 to 20 km in an hour without breaking a sweat. Commuter bikes make it entirely feasible to cycle to the office in your work clothes. Mud guards, chain guards and good baskets or panniers allow cyclists to avoid muddying their pant legs or overheating under a backpack.
“I don’t have time”
For short trips (under 7 km), travelling by bike is often quicker than by car: you’re never stuck in traffic, there are few stop signs or lights on bike paths, and it’s easy to park (for free) less than five minutes from your work or shopping area.
“I live too far away”
A combination of bus and bike may be the solution for those who live far from work. Bikes can be parked for free at Park-and-Rides or can be loaded in front of certain STO and OC Transpo buses. Bikes are also allowed on Ottawa’s light rail system.
“I’m not sure it’s safe”
There are many dedicated bike paths that run near campus, allowing cyclists to complete nearly the entire trip with few safety concerns. Both Ottawa and Gatineau are making progress in this area and the situation is improving every year. Bike safety is a virtuous cycle: the more cyclists there are, the more the city invests in bike-friendly infrastructure, which makes cycling safer and leads to more cyclists.
Resources and events:
- Find the best path to work using Bike Ottawa's interactive maps that cover Ottawa and Gatineau.
- Build or repair your bike for less through the Bike Co-op.
- Take the EnviroCentre Ottawa Bike-to-Work Ottawa challenge and join the uOttawa team!
- Gatineau residents can also join the Option Vélo contest by Action Vélo Outaouais (French only website).
Sources:
- The happy commuter: A comparison of commuter satisfaction across modes
- The Telegraph - Cyclists are 40 per cent less stressed than other commuters
- The association between commuter cycling and sickness absence
- Forbes - New Research Indicates Cycling To Work Has Extraordinary Health Benefits
- Grist - Umbra on bicycle commuting
- Business insider - Being outside can improve memory, fight depression, and lower blood pressure — here are 12 science-backed reasons to spend more time outdoors