Safety and Education Committee Report - Archive

Why I Commute by Bike

May is bike to work month. I own numerous vehicles but the best option for commuting is usually my bicycle. At one time in my life the choices I made forced me to commute by bicycle. The choices I make now allow me to ride my bike to work.

Increased circulation makes the brain work better and the solitude of the open road frees one from outside distraction. I can go for a ride with one of my problems and come home alone. I see things more clearly when I ride my bike.

We don’t own the earth; we are only guests visiting for a short while. The trail of debris I leave behind is not a measure of my importance. The production and consumption of oil damages the environment. My bicycle does not contribute to congestion or cause pollution

The higher the Socio-economic status the longer and healthier one’s life is (Scientific American, January, 2006). One should not live a life of deprivation but reducing one’s cost of living is equivalent to an increase in income. Commuting by bicycle 25mi/day takes me about 20 minutes (100 min/wk) more than using a motor vehicle. At $.30/mile (or more) I’m saving at least $22.50/hr for the extra time spent each day. I think my total savings is around $2000/yr. To have the same net income I would have to work quite a bit of overtime. Working to pay for needless expenses is a waste of time. On Saturday I can be one of the fat old men working overtime in the factory or I can be riding my bike. Life is for doing what we like to do with people we like to be with.

I get 90 minutes of cardio-vascular exercise daily but it only takes 20 minutes out of my life. To maintain the same fitness level I would need almost 6 hours more time. My High School clothes still fit and they’re 40 years old. It requires over 1000 Calories to power my bicycle to and from work. To maintain the same body size I would have to eat much less if I didn’t ride my bike. I don’t like to be hungry.

I prefer leisure time rather than working to buy things I don’t need or have time to use and I want to stay in shape. According to Bill Gates, time is the only thing of value and each of us has 24 hours every day. Commuting by bicycle requires careful planning but actually saves time. I don’t have the time to drive my car.

Bill Fisk- Safety and Education

Safety and Education Coordinator