Bicycles, a Wise Triple Play

Reprinted from the August, 2009, Ark Valley Voice,  in recognition of Bike to Work Day, Friday May 21, 2010.

As I write this, Salida is deep in the middle of the three-day Salida Omnium, an annual bicycle race drawing more than 400 professional and amateur cyclists from across the country.  Earlier today I rode my bike with cargo trailer in tow to the Farmer’s Market as well as to make deliveries for my wife’s business.  As I crisscrossed the busy streets I was struck by how easily the hundreds of additional bicycles preparing for the Alpine Park start blended into our fair city.  The only real evidence of this influx of spandex clad speeders was the premium their cars put on parking near the park.  This provided more proof that bikes have now become a normal part of the fabric of our fair city.

While many of us sport spandex and fast road or mountain rides on a regular basis, the majority of bicycle action in town is the more subdued commuter rides.  These bikes whether new or old, complex or simple serve up a triple play of benefits for their riders, plus hours of simple enjoyment.  Ordinary chores such as a trip to the store become enjoyable mini escapes as you peddle your way down the street, letting your car sit out another day in driveway.

What started with the failure of a few key financial institutions last fall has snowballed to affect the finances of nearly every American.  Most of us now more closely scrutinize how we spend our money leading to the all too obvious benefits for those choosing to use human power instead of petroleum for their local errands and commuting.  The federal government calculates it costs on average $.55 per mile to operate a motor vehicle.  Using this average and assuming you replace just three miles of your daily auto usage by riding your bike or walking, you will reduce your monthly automobile expenses by approximately fifty dollars.  Many people find that they enjoy riding so much that they not only commute on their bikes, they also complete a multitude of errands and often find that they are replacing hundreds of miles of driving each month simply and easily with  human power.

Of course there are financial costs for bicycles as well.  A bicycle capable of filling your needs around town will probably cost between seventy-five and four hundred dollars and sometimes much more, depending on the quality, style, features and age, but with a little care can last for decades.  Operating costs for a bicycle are very low, generally no more than a set of tires and little routine maintenance each year.  If you are new to bicycling you are in luck, because our valley is home to several outstanding bicycle shops that can help you select a quality bike that not fits your body and your budget and insure that you have the proper accessories to transport your goods and be safe while doing so.

Until the financial somersaults last fall, global warming was the buzzword of choice as overwhelming scientific evidence created a call to action heard around the world.  We all know riding a bike is better for the environment than driving a motor vehicle, but the actual numbers may astound you.  The US Department of Transportation’s National Transportation Survey found that an astounding 40% of all automobile trips in the US are less than two miles in length and 25% are less than one mile.  Because automobile engines and many of their emission control devices don’t work well when the engine is cold emissions during the first few miles are extremely high.  The World Watch Institute calculates that 90% of the pollution generated by a motor vehicle on a seven-mile trip is generated during the first mile.

The third piece of this triple play is what even a small amount of exercise can do to benefit your health.  Sad news was delivered recently when the a team of scientists supported by the Department of Health and Human Services reported that life expectancy in the US is set to decline by as much as five years over the next few decades as a result of increased rate of obesity.  Add to this the current leading cause of death in the US, heart disease, and I need not go any further in explain why choosing to leave the car in the driveway and hop on your bike may be one of the wisest decisions you have ever made.

Of  course riding a bicycle has an element of danger which statistically show bicyclist experience more injuries and deaths per mile traveled than when in an automobile, however studies more closely examining accident information points to unsafe riding habits in extraordinarily large numbers of these accidents.  For example a Safe Kids America publication states, “Among children ages 14 and under, more than 80 percent of bicycle-related fatalities are associated with the bicyclist’s behavior including, riding into a street without stopping; turning left or swerving into traffic that is coming from behind; running a stop sign; and riding against the flow of traffic.”  It’s our responsibility as bicyclist to learn and abide by our state laws and local ordinances and develop safe riding habits.  As a result, we will not only be safer, but we will merge more seamlessly with the automobile traffic with which we share the road.  To learn more about bicycle safety and Colorado laws affecting bicycles check out the Colorado Department of Transportation’s Colorado Bicycling Manual, available online at www.dot.state.co.us/BikePed/BikePedManual.htm

The benefits of riding a bike, or choosing any other human powered transportation, are certainly not limited to this triple play.  I personally find great satisfaction from quietly cruising through town without drawing a glance, or zipping past a gas station where people are pouring money into their fuel tanks only to convert it into air pollution and possibly even weapons for unfriendly countries.