<p><img alt=”” class=”floatRight” height=”240″ src=”https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/163142_477997724395_772254395_5479794_2467878_n.jpg” width=”179″/></p>
<p>I’ve now been commuting via bicycle for a solid four years or so. I don’t ride in severe weather or days in which I have errands to run [that aren’t bikeable], but it’s safe to say 75% of the time I head into work, it’s on <a href=”https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150276115234396&amp;set=a.10150237577039396.331629.772254395&amp;type=3&amp;theater”>my trusty steed</a>. On those days, I also run all my errands by bike. <a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?loc=log”>My training log</a> returns 436 hits for the word “commute.” It’s safe to assume 99% of those were by bicycle. My typical commute is just under four miles round-trip, but again, I often run errands on the bike and also head into DC for “<a href=”http://www.itbymike.com/”>2nd job</a>” on it as well so we’ll say my average “commute” is right around five miles. 436*5 = ~2000 miles commuted.</p>
<p>Suffice to say, I love it. Why do I love it? Lucky you, that’s the point of this post:</p>
<ol>
<li>It’s better for the Earth. Yes, manufacturing a bicycle isn’t green, but the couple thousand miles equates to ~100 gallons of gasoline not consumed, <a href=”http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2006/11/how_gasoline_becomes_co2.html”>which then equates to</a> ~2000 pounds of carbon dioxide not put into our air.</li>
<li>It’s better for me. 2000 miles * <a href=”http://www.livestrong.com/article/135430-calories-burned-biking-one-mile/”>50 calories per mile</a> = 100k calories burned. 100k calories / 3500 calories per pound = ~30lbs of weight lost. Sure, I make up for that by eating a bit more, but I’m 100% certain I wouldn’t be in the shape/size I’m in now without what commuting provides.</li>
<li>It’s better for you. One less car on the road = one less car in traffic = an ever so slight improvement in your day.</li>
<li><a href=”http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/06/why-exercise-makes-us-feel-good/”>It makes me happier</a>.</li>
<li>It’s cheaper. Using the government estimate for miles, 2000 * $.55 = $1100. My bike cost me $700 to build and $0 to maintain (huzzah single-speed) and shows no signs of needing a penny anytime soon. Meanwhile, that $1100 not spent keeps growing.</li>
<li>I get to see many things I would not see in a car. Traffic accident? Water main break? <a href=”https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150295511129396&amp;set=a.10150237577039396.331629.772254395&amp;type=3&amp;theater”>Giant tree down across a road</a>? I can stop and check it out.</li>
<li>I get to explore whenever I want to (at 55 degrees last night, it was “a nice night,” so I took a long/new way home through some neighborhoods).</li>
<li><a href=”https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=456134874395&amp;set=a.456134869395.246587.772254395&amp;type=3&amp;theater”>There’s no risk of a traffic jam</a>. I think the most people I’ve even seen on the ride to or from is probably ten. I’d say it averages one.</li>
<li>I never get stuck with a crappy parking spot. Well, that’s debatable, I suppose.</li>
<li>Fresh air is nice. I mean, it’s gotta be, right? <a href=”http://www.freshair.org/”>They have a flipping fund for it</a> (Note: established in 1877… pretty serious business)!</li>
<li>It’s often quicker from point A to point B (I have beaten Heather from Clarendon to our home, three miles away).</li>
<li>As with all my cardio work, <a href=”http://www.nber.org/papers/w12929.pdf”>it provides a chance to clear my mind</a>.</li>
<li>Perhaps the biggest benefit, and the one that triggered me to write this today… The light amount of heat and sweat produced in my short ride perfectly irons small wrinkles out of clothing. This morning I wanted to wear a nice(r) shirt (it’s not hard to top my usual tee). Unfortunately, it had some small wrinkles. I really didn’t want to iron it. I had also planned on driving in since it is 35 degrees with 25mph winds. Yes, I’m currently sitting at my desk with a nice, smoothly sweat-ironed shirt.</li>
</ol>
<p>I could go on for days, but thought it was fitting to end this at 13 given the date today and given the fact I have a lot of work to do. If you have never tried it, I implore you to bike to work at least once… Get wild, just give it a shot. Sure, if you have a ride longer than two miles, you have clothing and showering logistics to work out, but <a href=”http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2011/09/substantial-increases-bike-ridership-across-nation/161/”>plenty of folks do it</a> and I’d have to think the growing numbers means it might actually be “a better way.”</p>