Top 5 Reasons to Bike to Work instead of Driving

There are many good reasons to bike to work instead of driving and personally I wish I could ride a bike so I could take my bike to work. Unfortunately or maybe fortunately, I am now 100% home based and don’t need to commute to the office in London unless for important business trips. But that doesn’t mean I can not share with others who are still commenting to work some of the best reasons why biking to work is instead of driving to work.

Whilst cycling to work was once a dangerous affair, with road improvements and cycle lanes increasing tenfold, it’s now a popular way to travel. However, there are still far fewer people opting to cycle to work, so there is a fair way to go before we can compete with the Netherlands!

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post

Top 5 reasons to bike to work

Before I become a driver and before I started working from home, I commuted to work every single day and that was challenging. It has good bits (I could nap on the train, read a book and relax) and some bad bits (people in your personal space, different smells and worrisome looks).

There are so many benefits when it comes to cycling to work, but if you need a little bit more convincing, we’ve put together our top 5 reasons why you should ditch the car and cycle to work instead.  

Huge health benefits 

We probably don’t have to sell this one in too much, but a recent study found that employees that cycle to work have a 41% lower risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and general mortality compared with those who don’t.  

Cycling boosts your immune system 

Whilst it has always been important to keep your immune system in tip-top shape, with the rise of COVID-19, it’s now more vital than ever.

On average, those who opt to cycle to work take one less sick day per year than those who don’t. Not only that, but by being outside you’ll also get that extra dose of vitamin D, helping your immune system, brain and bones. Not to mention being outside in the sunshine will give you that morning mental health boost!  

Cycling could save you time and money 

As well as avoiding rush hour traffic jams, you could save a lot of money on your commuting costs. Whilst there are some associated costs with cycling, it’s estimated to save the average person around £3,000 per year.

However, if you are going to cycle to work (which we highly suggest you should), remember to get  comprehensive road cycle insurance to cover yourself for theft, damage and personal injury.    

It’s a great way to fit in exercise

Many adults lead very hectic working lives, so finding the time to exercise is not always easy. For those of us that struggle to find the time to exercise, cycling can be a great way to get fit without having to wake up at the crack of dawn. 

If you use the time you would usually be sitting in your car to exercise by cycling to work – you’re well on your way to achieving the daily recommended amount of exercise by 5pm.

It’s a great way to shape up 

If you’re looking to lose a few pounds, by reducing the time you spend sitting during your commute and opting to cycle instead, you can easily burn around 300 calories per hour on average. If you’re trying to lose weight, it’s a sure fire way to shrink your waistline.

So next time you go to grab your car keys for your commute to work – why not try cycling instead? You can always start small at 1-2 days per week to see how you get on, and then gradually increase it as you become more confident and fitter.