
London has most expensive and dirtiest transport operation in the world
If you want to arrive at work with a smile on your face, as well as enjoy a range of other benefits, switching to a two-wheeled form of transport could be the answer.
1. Health benefits If you want to lose weight, get fitter and generally feel happier, commuting by bike is a great place to start. According to research by the Outdoor Foundation, at the end of their first year of cycling to work, the average person will have lost around 13 pounds. Other health benefits include improved coordination, higher levels of aerobic fitness, stronger muscles and lower levels of anxiety and depression. You’ll also significantly reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and type II diabetes. 2. Save money The cost of public transport continues to rise year after year, and though the price of petrol is lower than it has been for many years, the cost of car ownership remains high. Around seven million people in the UK commute less than five miles by bus or car each day. According to research by the Department of Transport, they could each save more than ?500 a year if they rode a bicycle to work instead.Read more on commuting:
- Five surprising facts about commuting
- With tube strikes and more to manage, here’s a look inside the minds of London’s commuters
- Is commuting more stressful than going to the dentist?
Five of the most creative responses to commuter woes
5. Save the planet Around a quarter of all the CO2 emissions in the UK are the result of road transportation. The figure is higher still ? up to 70 per cent ? in towns and cities. Cycling to work offers a number of benefits to your personal health but also helps to protect the environment for future generations, as it is one of the few forms of transport that generates no pollution at all. Phil Harvey is the manager at?Formby Cycles Image:?ShutterstockShare this story