3 benefits to consider when you bike to work

Biking to work—or wherever you need to go—offers plenty of benefits.

“We just want to encourage people to get out and bike more, save money and feel good,” said Candace Eudaley-Loebach, owner of Lovely City Consulting.

Here are three reasons to bike to work:

Good for your money

The savings are small in the beginning. But when you bike instead of drive, you’ll pay less for fuel. The more you bike, the more you’ll save.

Eudaley-Loebach’s family of four only owns one vehicle at a time. And the savings have been significant.

“We’ve always committed to one vehicle or less. We’ve saved on the cost of a car, fuel and insurance over the years,” she said. “But it takes planning.”

You don’t need to commit to a huge life change like that, though.

“Just get comfortable biking and keep pushing yourself,” Eudaley-Loebach said. “The more committed you become, the more money you can save and the healthier you’ll be.”

Good for your health

When you bike instead of drive, you check two things off your list—your commute and your workout, all in one.

You might no longer need that gym membership. Biking to work burns as much fat as spending 40 minutes at the gym five days a week, according to PeopleForBikes.

Walking or biking to work is also good for your mental health.

“I always enjoyed walking or biking to work,” Eudaley-Loebach said. “It’s a nice way to clear your head at the beginning and end of the day. It’s like having a reset button on your brain.”

Good for the planet

Remember those fuel savings?

When you bike to work, you help reduce air pollution from congestion and vehicle emissions.

“A long-term commitment to non-car travel is how you really impact the environment,” Eudaley-Loebach said.