My Year in Bike Commuting: Erin’s Story
I flirted with bike commuting for 3 summers before finally taking the plunge almost two years ago. It definitely changed my life, but it wasn’t as difficult as I’d imagined. I get asked about it a lot. How do I do it? What’s it like? Why do I do it? How do I deal with rain or snow?
All these questions got me thinking, what was the real impact on my life? It’s only two miles each way. So, I decided to track it. I signed up for Gohio’s commuting app, and decided to dutifully log all my trips over the course of a year to determine the quantifiable impact of bike commuting.
Here are the stats. My standard commute is 4.3 miles roundtrip. In one year I made 547 trips, traveling 1,051.8 miles. My bike commuting saved 800 pounds of carbon emissions. It also had a significant impact on my budget. Biking saved me an estimated $519.26 in travel expenses (gas and car maintenance) and another $1200 in parking fees. The cost of parts and maintenance on my bike? Around $150. Those numbers are reason enough to commute by bike, but it’s only one side of the equation.
A year later, I found the biggest reasons to ride have nothing to do with how much money it saves me, or how good it is for the planet. It’s all about how it makes me feel.
Overall, I’m more active and feel healthier. It’s not just biking. I’m more likely to go for a walk or take a yoga class after work or on the weekends. I spend more time outside and get more fresh air.
I also see and hear some pretty amusing and wonderful things on my commutes around town, things I wouldn’t notice from a car. A man on a skate board being pulled by his dog like he was water skiing. A group of children log rolling down a sledding hill, completely unconcerned that they were covered in mud. A theatre troop reciting Shakespeare in a park.
Above everything else, I feel more connected to my community and the world around me. I see more new businesses, coffee shops and restaurants around me to explore. Pedestrians ask me for directions. I stop to chat with the neighbors. I wave to children and see the excitement on their faces when they see someone on a bike. I overheard one little girl tell her mom I was the “Bike Lady.” Frequently, people at neighborhood events tell me they often see me riding my bike. My bike and I have become a regular fixture in the community.
After tallying 547 trips and crunching the numbers I calculated the real impact of bike commuting on my life. Bike commuting = more smiles, more laughter and a sunnier disposition. If you ask me, it’s worth every pedal stroke.
Author: Erin Synk
