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6 Myths About Bicycle Commuting

1. It is too risky. Yes, theres pure hazard associated with bicycling. Riders do collide and get hit by vehicles. But how adventurous, chancy, hazardous, jeopardous is riding in similarity with other methods of transit and with our perception of the risk? A surprisingly less than you might assume.

Think on the reckoning of a company that performs safety and failure testing, once known as the Failure Group and now called Exponent. The company researched a variety of activities and determined that the number of fatalities per 1million hrs of exposure was 0.26 for riding, 0.47 for motoring, 1.53 for living (all causes of death), and 8.80 for motor biking. That is to say, they found that the hazards of riding were about half that related to driving and a 6th of that connected with purely with being alive.

Disappointingly, the precise methods Exponent used are proprietary, and the total report is not available to the public, but trust us this isn’t a fly-by-night cyclists' advocacy organization that’s making up the numbers. As Exponent explains on its website, it has been trusted to review high-profile accidents such as the sabotage of the federal offices in Oklahoma City.

So, for the reason of discussion, let’s accept that the Failure Associates work is an underestimation and consider another thorough report that measures the dangers using a negligibly different yardstick—the count of fatalities per billions of kilometres travelled instead of per hour of activity. Rutgers University researchers who undertook this study concluded that, per kilometre travelled, bicycling fatalities are 11 times as great as car occupant deaths. Seems rather poor for riding until you look at what the same work discovered about walking. Pedestrian fatalities per kilometre travelled were 36 times as great as driving deaths, implying that walking is more than three times as dangerous as biking.

That said, there is still more that bikers could do to take accountability for our safety. A disturbing 24 percent of fatal bicycle accidents involve an intoxicated rider. Research shows that riders get into many minor accidents that could be prevented. Various articles have shown that the failure to wear lights at night or a helmet significantly increases a riders risk. Finally, newer riders should be especially careful about cars opening doors and making turns, and about riding on the sidewalks.

In the end: It isnt that biking doesn't have danger, but with some perspective is in required, especially when you begin to count the number of health advantages that biking provides.

2. Its too far. The cycle may well take too long or take too much effort if you live further than, say, 15 miles from work. But consider ways to grow your potential distance. Most commuters, for example, use foldable bikes so they can go half way on a morning train.

3. I'll need an pricey bike. Not true. You should be able to get a new or used bike ideal for basic commuting for below $500. Find a great, close bike shop with a knowledgeable staff, discuss the terrain and distance of ride youre considering, and they'll help you choose the appropriate frame and amount of gears you will need.

If youre just starting out, you may want to search for a functional, commuter bike with mud guards to protect your pants, a kickstand, and a comfortable seat. And, if youre really looking for a relaxed ride, take a gander at the new type of coasting bikes that are designed to reconnect people with carefree memories of biking as a kid. They feature pedal brakes called coaster brakes instead of hand brakes and an automatic shifter, and although they are not built for quickness, theyre a terrific way to get reacquainted with the saddle, says Doyne.

4. It is impossible to tote the stuff I need. If this is what you think, youre toting far more than the average cyclist to work or you don’t have the proper bag or features on your bike. A good basket or touring panniers will mean you can easily carry a laptop, change of clothes, snacks, paperwork, a stack of binders, and any other bits and bobs you regularly carry.

5. Theres nowhere to change. Jeff Peel of the League of American Bicyclists states that lots riders do worry about this, but that there are numerous other solutions beyond simply arriving at the office smelly and sweaty. First, look to ensure that your workplace doesnt have a full bathrooms somewhere. If it doesn’t, look for nearby gyms or fitness clubs. They often offer shower-only memberships for riding or running types.

6. Biking will make 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 serious bike riders can suffer short-lived and even long-lasting problems if they log lots of hours on a racing seat that isnt fitted properly. But there are now lots of seats with ergonomically designed cutaway slots that take the pressure off the important blood vessels and nerves. As long as your saddle fits correctly and youre not riding as much as somebody training for the Tour de France, biking is more apt to reduce the odds of erectile dysfunction than raise them, since cycling will assist keep cardiovascular disease a large creator of erectile dysfunction.