6 Fictions About Cycle Commuting

A free article on Travel Tips

By: Roberto Bell

1. It is too treacherous. Yes, theres substantive gamble associated with pedalling. Riders do smash and get bashed by vehicles. But how dangerous is cycling in comparison with other modes of transit and with our understanding of the risk? A less than you might think.

Think on the calculations of a business that carrys out safety and failure testing, once known as the Failure Group and now known as Exponent. The business looked at a selection of activities and worked out that the number of fatal accidents per million hours of exposure was 0.26 for cycling, 0.47 for motoring, 1.53 for living (all causes of death), and 8.80 for motor biking. To put it another way, they discovered that the hazards of cycling were roughly half that associated with driving and a 6th of that connected with simply with living.

Sadly, the exact methods Exponent used are secret, and the full paper is not available to the general public, but trust us this is not a fly-by-night riders' advocacy organization that’s cooking the numbers. As Exponent explains on its website, it has been relied on to examine high-profile catastrophes like the destruction of the federal offices in Oklahoma City.

So, for the point of discussion, let’s assume that the Failure Associates analysis is an understatement and gauge another broad study that measures the risks using a slightly different metric—the number of deaths per billions of kilometres moved rather than per hour of exposure. The Rutgers University researchers who completed this study concluded that, per kilometre travelled, bicycling deaths are eleven times as high as automobile occupant deaths. Seems pretty grim for biking until you examine what the same work revealed about walking. Pedestrian deaths per kilometre walked were 36 times as high as driving deaths, implying that walking is more than 3 times as risky as biking.

However, there is always more that bikers could do to take responsibility for our safety. A disturbing 24 percent of fatal bicycle accidents involve an intoxicated rider. Research shows that bikers get into lots of smaller accidents that could be prevented. Various articles have shown that the failure to use lights in the dark or a helmet significantly increases a biker’s risk. Finally, newer riders must be especially careful about drivers opening doors and taking turns, and about riding on the pavements.

In the end: It isnt that cycling is without risk, but a little consideration is in required, especially when you begin to allow the many health advantages that biking enables.

2. It's a long way. The cycle might take too long or take too much effort if you live further than, say, 12 miles from the day job. But consider ways to grow your potential distance. A lot commuters, for example, use folding bicycles so they can go half way on a morning train.

3. I'll need an pricey bicycle. Untrue. You should be able to buy a new or used bike ideal for basic commuting for below $500. Find a good, close bicycle shop with a experienced staff, discuss the route and length of ride youre thinking of, and they'll help you select the appropriate frame and number of gears you will need.

If youre just starting out, you should hunt for a functional, commuter bicycle with mud guards to protect your pants, a stand, and a comfortable seat. And, if youre really looking for a easy ride, take a look at the new class of coasting bicycles that are designed to remind people with carefree recollections of cycling as a child. They feature pedal brakes called coaster brakes instead of hand brakes and an automatic shifter, and while they’re not designed for speed, theyre a terrific way to get reacquainted with the seat, says Doyne.

4. Its not possible to carry the kit I need. If this is what you think, youre toting way more than the average cyclist to work or you do not own the proper rucksack or features on your bicycle. A sturdy basket or touring panniers will mean you can easily carry a laptop, work clothes, food, paperwork, a slew of binders, and any other gadgets you regularly take with you.

5. Theres nowhere to scrub up. Jeff Peel of the League of American Bicyclists says that most riders are concerned about this, but that there are plenty alternatives beyond simply showing up at the office stinky and sticky. First, look to make sure that your office doesnt have a full bathrooms somewhere. If it doesn’t, look for close gyms or fitness clubs. Some offer shower-only memberships for bike or running types.

6. Riding will make me impotent. This is an accusation that has circulated since the mid 1990s, and theres a kernel of fact to it. There is proof that serious bicycle riders can suffer temporary and even long-lasting problems if they cycle lots of hours on a racing seat that doesnt fit properly. But there are now many of seats with ergonomically designed cutaway slots that remove the pressure off the key arteries and nerves. As long as your seat fits correctly and you dont ride as much as a professional rider training for the Tour de France, biking is more apt to reduce the odds of erectile dysfunction than raise them, since riding will help keep cardiovascular disease a major cause of erectile dysfunction.