Have you ever thought about how many short trips you take in your car? Maybe your office is 3 miles away from home, or you might live just 1 mile from the nearest grocery store. What if you didn’t have to drive on those short trips, what would change? Well, your car would take less wear and tear, because those short trips put more stress on your car than highway driving. That means you use less gas, and save a few dollars. According to the League of American Bicyclists, the average annual cost for maintaining a car is about $8000 per year (nationally), compare that to the $300 per year it costs to keep to a bike in good shape (again, national average), and it starts to make sense how much these short trips cost.

Saving money isn’t the only reason to ride on a daily basis though. Just like any other physical activity, biking is good for you. It burns calories (around 400 on a 10 mile round trip), lowers stress, and generally improves your physical and mental health. If your excuse for not exercising more often is “I don’t have enough time”, then riding your bike to work is a great way to multi-task!

Biking to work might seem like a drastic lifestyle shift, but it doesn’t have to be! A great way to start is to leave your car parked 1 or 2 days a week, when the weather is nice. If you think you might want a sample of “Life in the Bike Lane”, try riding to work (or errands, or social engagements) on Fridays. If you do, let me know! I’ll be watching Strava, MapMyRide, Facebook, and Instagram for bike commuters, use the hashtags #BikeToEverywhere, #BikeToWork, or #LifeInTheBikeLane. Chain of Fools will be giving out discounts and other perks to anyone who participates! If you have any questions, or need help figuring out how to make your ride easier, safer, or more fun, just call or drop by (preferably on a bike) Chain of Fools Bicycle Repair!