Chitika

Saturday, November 24, 2012

City Bikes: A Better Form of Transportation?

By Ken Godberson


Living in the city is vastly different than living in the suburbs or country. Getting around is just one of many aspects. While having a car in sprawling towns is more-or-less mandatory, it's much different in the city. It's much more compact. Travel by car is not necessarily the best for you, considering the amount it costs to maintain one. Subway travel can also get costly in the long run as well. However, there is an alternative.

It seems that not only does it reduce time, but reduce carbon emissions as well.- Last month, I visited New York City for a convention. Because I don't have the credit rating to stay in a fancy hotel, I took the train in and out each day and walked from Penn Station to the convention. As I walked the narrow streets of the city, I noticed not only the claustrophobic car and bus traffic, but also the fact that there were a decent amount of people traveling by bicycle. I began to ponder that this may be a more productive form of transportation for the city, even if you reduce travel to half by car, half by bike. It not only reduces chaotic urban traffic, but reduces carbon dioxide emissions.

Aside from the benefits to the streets and the environment, city biking also has many health benefits for the user. It helps the rider burn calories and strengthens the heart, lowering both weight and the chances of coronary disease. Riding a bicycle also does wonder for the legs. It strengthens muscle as well as improves coordination.

So now that we know the benefits of a city bike, the question we are probably asking is what kind of bike to get. That does not really have a concrete answer. There is a variety of bike types that you can choose from. You just have to consider what your necessities are. Do you need a basket to carry items? Do you usually carry a water bottle? Do you need a baby seat? When looking online or at a local bike shop, keep this necessities in mind.

Living in the city is a vastly different beast than a suburb. Getting around is crucial. This is why you should give serious consideration to switching over to a city bike. It has many societal, environmental, and medical benefits for the rider. So get out there and start biking!




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