10 Reasons Why Every Student Should Have A Bicycle 5

If a motorcycle is called a hog, then is a bicycle called a piglet? I don’t know, but I do know that every college student should have a bike. They’re economical, fun, fast, cheap, and have countless other benefits. Albert Einstein rode a bike, and he was a genius, so shouldn’t you ride your hog, er, I mean… piglet? For every car purchased, I bet I could buy several hundred bikes. Would I want to? No, I only need one. Here are the best ten reasons to ride a bike, and stick with it!

1. Save on Gas

Gas prices  rise, and then the fall, and then rise again. The best thing about bicycles? They don’t need gasoline to run; just your feet, legs, and a bit of stamina and you’re ready to go. Literally.

2. Less time at the Gym

Given a choice between taking a lazy drive or an energizing bike ride, I prefer the pedals of the bike over the pedals of the car. Taking a ten or twenty-minute bike ride is enough moderate exercise that should be experienced every day. Exercise keeps you healthy, happy, and hearty (in that exercise is good for the heart).

3. Help the environment

We all know that cars emit noxious gasses, and bikes emit none at all. Bikes leave very little, if any, carbon footprint.

4. Good for the body

There is nothing like a brisk bike ride to loosen up those muscles before a quiz or test. It gets the blood moving; perhaps more importantly, it gets the blood moving to the brain.

5. Good for the mind

When I ride my bike it’s like I’m in hyperspace and the world has to catch up to me (instead of the other way around). Riding a bike is a mental release; there is much more to focus on than just walking, or driving. I find it helps clear my mind from thoughts; it’s just me, the bike, the road, and the attempt to keep my balance.

6. Relaxing

Riding a bike, especially on a beautiful day, is one way to connect to nature. Suddenly, I’m Pocahontas singing “Colors of the Wind” as I become part of the wind while riding my bright green Schwinn. Driving is so cut off from the world; the driver hides within metal and must look out from behind glass, but with a bicycle there is nothing between you and the world! Or the pavement, so wear a helmet.

Karolina Kurkova, The Candid Photos

7. Quicker than walking

For me, walking to class takes about 20-25 minutes. Taking the bus is at least 15 minutes. Riding a bike? I can easily make my trip to class in 5 minutes. There is a limit to walking speed, and the bus stops and goes, and stops and goes… and stops and, you get the point. With a bike, I control the speed! If I’m in a hurry, I’ll just have to pedal faster.

8. Cheaper than a parking pass

While there is no argument against a cars speed, a car is not always an option. For campuses which require parking passes, taking a bike is a better alternative than paying to park daily or buying an expensive pass.

9. Less maintenance equals less costly

Car repairs are expensive – that’s a fact. Bike repairs are not as costly as car repairs, and bicycles break less often. A car tire might cost $50, and you need to buy four! A bike tire? The most I’ve ever paid is $20 . Well… if math proves bikes are the better option, then bikes must be the better option. You can’t argue with the math.

10. No way to lose valuables if stolen

When a car is stolen, it seems like the end of the world. Valuables are kept inside cars: GPS’s, phone chargers, iPods. Suddenly the car is gone, and so are those precious items. Well, with a bike there is no worry, because who keeps their GPS inside their bike? Yes, I can see it now; a bright pink girly basket on camouflage mountain bike with a GPS and an iPod duct-taped to the basket.  I don’t know who would do that, but you never know…

What do you think? Is taking a bike a valuable option for students?