6 Fictions About Commuting By Bicycle

1. It is too adventurous, chancy, hazardous, jeopardous. Yes, theres authentic risk associated with pedalling. Cyclists do collide and get knocked by autos. But how adventurous, chancy, hazardous, jeopardous is riding in similarity with other methods of transportation and with our judgement of the hazard? A surprisingly less than you might assume.

Consider the calculations of a company that performs safety and failure testing, once called the Failure Group and now known as Exponent. The company reviewed a variety of activities and worked out that the number of deaths per 1,000,000 hrs of exposure was 0.26 for riding, 0.47 for motoring, 1.53 for living (all causes of death), and 8.80 for motorcycling. That is to say, they found that the risks of riding were about half that connected with driving and a 6th of that connected with purely with living.

Disappointingly, the exact calculations Exponent used are proprietary, and the whole article isn't available to the general public, but believe us this isn’t a fly-by-night cyclists' advocacy organization that is making up the numbers. As the company reasons on its site, it has been relied on to comment upon high-profile catastrophes such as the bombing of the federal offices in Oklahoma City.

So, for the effect of argument, let us assume that the Failure Associates work is an underestimation and review another broad study that measures the dangers using a minutely different yardstick—the number of fatalities per billions of kilometres travelled instead of per hour of exposure. Rutgers University researchers who completed this review concluded that, per kilometre travelled, cycling fatalities are eleven times as great as car occupant deaths. Seems quite grim for biking until you review what the same work found about walking. Pedestrian fatalities per kilometre walked were 36 times as great as driving kills, suggesting that walking is more than three times as dangerous as cycling.

That said, there is always more that riders can do to take accountability for our safety. A disturbing 24 percent of deadly bicycle accidents involve an drunken cyclist. Work shows that riders get into many smaller accidents that could be prevented. Numerous articles have shown that the failure to wear lights at night or a helmet significantly increases a biker’s risk. Finally, riders starting out must be especially careful about cars opening doors and making turns, and about riding on the pavements.

In the end: Its not that cycling is without danger, but with some consideration is in order, more so when you begin to allow the many health advantages that cycling enables.

2. Its too far. The cycle may well take too long or take too much energy if you live more than, say, 12 miles from work. But consider ways to expand your potential range. Many commuters, for example, use foldable bicycles so they can go partway on a commuter train.

3. Bikes are pricey. Wrong. You should be able to come across a new or used bike perfect for simple commuting for less than $500. Find a great, local bike store with a experienced staff, explain the terrain 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 beginning, you may want to hunt for a functional, commuter bike with mud guards to save your pants, a stand, and a comfortable seat. And, if youre really looking for a comfortable ride, take a gander at the new class of coasting bicycles that are designed to remind people with worry free memories 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 fantastic way to get back into the seat, says Doyne.

4. Its impossible to transport the kit I need. If this is what you think, you are toting way more than the average rider to work or you don’t have the right bag or features on your bike. A sturdy basket or touring panniers will mean you can easily carry a laptop, spares clothes, snacks, a few books, a slew of binders, and whatever other bits and bobs you regularly carry.

5. Theres nowhere to shower. Jeff Peel of the League of American Bicyclists states that most cyclists do worry over this, but that there are numerous other solutions beyond simply showing up at work smelly and sticky. First, look to ensure that your office doesnt have a shower somewhere. If it doesn’t, look for nearby gyms or fitness clubs. Many offer shower-only memberships for cycling or jogging commuters.

6. Riding will turn me impotent. This is an accusation that has been doing the rounds since the mid 1990s, and theres a kernel of truth to it. There is studies that long distance bike riders may experience temporary and maybe long-lasting problems if they ride many hours on a racing seat that doesnt fit well. But there are now lots of seats with specially designed cutaway slots that remove the pressure off the important arteries and nerves. As long as your seat fits correctly and youre not riding as much as a professional rider training for the Tour de France, cycling is more likely to reduce your odds of erectile dysfunction than raise them, as the exercise will assist keep cardiovascular disease a large cause of erectile dysfunction.

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The author commutes to the office with his 3 year old infant on a WeeRide, the infant bicycle carrier and enjoys every minute of it!

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