Gas prices are becoming higher than some Chattanooga residents care to afford, and just in time for warm spring weather, too. Fortunately May is National Bike Month. Biking to get around town is an alternative that not only is more economical, but healthier for our bodies and our environment.
According to The League of American Bicyclists, the motor vehicles that Americans drive produce nearly a third of the total CO2, about half of the nitrogen oxides, and 81 percent of carbon monoxide in the U.S. The League als reports that biking a four-mile trip instead of driving can prevent 15 pounds of air-polluting toxins from entering our environment.
If those stats aren't convincing enough then how about the 410 calories per hour the National Institutes of Health says you can burn with moderate pedaling during a bicycle ride. Or maybe you prefer to save about $5,700 per year, which is what the American Automobile Association and Transportation Alternatives estimates the average American can save each year if they biked instead of drove a car.
You don't really need much more than a helmet to start biking. Although there are many accessories that can enhance you biking experience. Fenders to keep you clean, chain guards to protect your clothes, baskets or saddlebags to carry your stuff, bike locks, bottle holders, lights, and tool kits. Chattanooga has great locally owned bike stores with even better customer service to get started:
Trek Bicycle Store of Chattanooga
Having a bike and all the gear doesn't mean you're ready to save the planet by biking to work. Carbon dioxide isn't the only danger that a car can pose. You should be sure to be as prepared and safe as possible. Consider the following tips:
1. Always wear a helmet
2. Obey traffic rules (Tennessee Traffic Laws for Bicycles)
3. Be as visible as possible
4. Ride predictably
5. Be prepared
Chattanooga is home to many bicycle related clubs, organizations, and resources including Chattanooga Bicycle Club, Bike Chattanooga, and Outdoor Chattanooga, the last of which has several free biking events planned for the month of May. To learn more about the economic, health, and environmental reasons to bike more, as well as tips and articles for everything bicycle related, check out the League of American Bicyclists and Sheldonbrown.com. Be sure to celebrate National Bike Month in Chattanooga by biking to work, to school, to run your errands, for fun, or to lead a healthier and greener lifestyle.
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