Cycling is a low-impact workout with numerous advantages. Cycling is not only good for you, but it is also good for the environment. It also has a range of intensities, making it suited for people of various skill levels. Here are the seven benefits of cycling – for you and the planet.
1) Great for your mental health
Cycling can help you feel less stressed, depressed, or anxious. Cycling while concentrating on the road helps you build attention and awareness of the present moment. This may help you focus on something other than your day’s mental noise.
It is proven that endorphins are released throughout exercise and this makes you feel better while lowering stress levels.If you’re feeling sluggish or listless, go on your bike and ride for at least 10 minutes.
2) It emits 0 emissions
When you can, ride your bike to reduce your carbon footprint. It releases zero emissions and is one of the most sustainable ways to get around. It is also an excellent alternative to modes of transportation that require long periods of waiting in traffic. In India’s traffic, you can get past lanes without the wait and the best bit? There is no age bar on cycling. It’s a one size fits all situation!
3) Improves overall coordination
You’ll enhance your general coordination by stabilising your body and keeping your bike upright. Improved balance aids in the prevention of falls and fractures, which can put you on the sidelines while you recuperate.
4) You inspire others to cycle
Cycling is an excellent method to stay in shape. It also assists you in inspiring others to pick up the habit. The more we all ride two wheels instead of four, the better for the earth and our own health we will be.
Large number of cyclists can also push for infrastructure that is sustainable and built for the future.
5) It doesn’t hurt your pockets
Cycling is a one time investment. Cycles are usually affordable for most sectors of the society. They also don’t require much upkeep and maintenance. By choosing cycling, you also cut back on fuel costs and transportation costs for other vehicles.
6) Prevents traffic, noise and air pollution
India desperately needs lesser traffic, lesser noise and air pollution. We are constantly used to the bellowing horn, getting stuck in traffic for hours and breathing in toxic air but this worsening living conditions and accelerating the climate crisis.
Cycles prevent all of this. If more people chose to cycle, we would see less space occupied on the streets, the loud horn would be replaced by the pleasant sound of a bell and we might get a shot at breathing good quality air for a change.
7) Creates more space
You will see a history of trees being chopped down to make the roads wider. This is usually with the aim to “decongest traffic”. With more cycles on the street, it reduces the space occupied by cars. This will also reduce the need to build parking spaces for cars. Thus leading to great environmental benefits.
More than 50 percent of the people in India use non-motorised forms of transport, such as walking and cycling, for short trips yet our country does not have cycling friendly infrastructure
Learn how we can #ResetWithCycling and what you can do to demand change!
