The June 2016 issue of BC Business is chock full of statistics and stories about commuting – Frances Bula argues that big investments in transit, bike lanes and even non-driving Millennials aren’t doing much to de-throne the car as commuters’ choice. I am a non-driving Millennial who lives in Vancouver and I’m one of the 7% of folks in my community who cycle to work (and lots of other places, too) because doing so improves my physical, mental and social health (it’s cheaper and better for the environment, too!). Here are five ways that cycling to work enhances wellbeing.
Physical health
When I roll into work after a bike ride I feel energized, ambitious and satisfied with the fairly minor sweat produced by the exercise. If I didn’t ride to work I would be packing a few more pounds and wouldn’t be able to chase my son around parks or our condo. Cycling is much easier on my ankles, knees, legs, and feet than running, which is why, according to Men’s Fitness’s Chris Giblin, it’s an activity that people can take on for pretty much their entire life (for sure our working lives!). In true over-the-top Robin Sharma form, the productivity/leadership guru sees strong connections between getting “fit like Madonna” and success: “Getting to your absolute best physical condition will create explosive energy, renew your focus and multiply your creativity.” Being in good physical health makes me a better sleeper, a more productive employee, and even a smarter human being!
Mental health
Cycling home at the end of the day helps me relax by reflecting on big problems that need to be untangled or by thinking about stuff that’s totally unrelated to work. For the record, this is always done while obeying most traffic rules. Cycling magazine’s Selene Yeager highlights the brain-building benefits of commuting to work on a bicycle: “Plenty of science backs the idea that a good ride can also have emotional benefits. Cycling can elevate your mood, relieve anxiety, increase stress resistance, and even banish the blues.” I start the workday with high-energy and also bring a positive attitude and above-average endurance to the three hours of family time from daycare-pickup to dinner to bedtime, too.
Creativity
The simple act of changing your route to or from work enhances creativity by making your brain process different turns, lights and landscapes. Mixing up my commute is way easier on a bicycle than it is in a car. My commute is about 30-minutes and in that time I boost my creative potential. According to a study from the University of Leicester:“Credit goes to the flow of oxygen to your grey matter when it matters most, sparking your neurons and giving you breathing space away from the muddle and pressures of ‘real life’.”
Community connection
Cycling is the perfect commuter option for getting to know your neighbourhoods as well as the ones between where you live and work. Driving is too fast. Public transit is too crowded. Walking is too slow. When I ride to work I experience urban hipsterism, light industrial ‘hoods, affluent waterfront residences, skyscrapers, and impoverished communities. Riding a bike perfectly blends speed and depth to achieve a pretty perfect pace for community building.
Efficiency!
I live about two kilometers from one building where I work and about six kilometers from another one. If you drive a car to downtown Vancouver and leave around 7:30am I probably will pass you on the Dunsmuir viaduct as you not-so-subtly check your mobile device while jammed in gridlock entering the city centre. Plain and simple, for getting to and from work in a city, riding a bicycle is faster. And then there’s the parking problem! Spots in the city start at $80 per month and can be as pricey as over $150 per month! Even if you’re skeptical of positive benefits that come from cycling, such as mental health and creativity, it’s difficult to argue against the math of commuting by bicycle when you live within five or six kilometers of your workplace.
Riding home from daycare!