why ride

It may just seem like a simple bicycle, but there are many reasons why you should ride a bike, or ride your bike more. Things that can really benefit you and your community.  In general, Cycling:

• Promotes a healthier lifestyle

• Lowers healthcare costs

• Strengthens family bonds

• Provides a recreational outlet for youth

• Builds closer-knit communities

• Creates jobs and supports independent businesses

• Reduces polluting emissions

• Decreases road congestion

• Cycling is a fun, inexpensive way to get fit and healthy.  It gets you out of the house and seeing more of the outdoors.

• If current trends continue, it is expected that by 2025, one in every 3 adults will be obese.  (International Obesity Taskforce, 2006)

• A moderate ride at just 20km/h burns more calories per minute that walking or tennis, and around the same as running or swimming. (Univerisity of Western Australia, 2006)

• Physical activity alters brain chemistry and leads to feelings of wellbeing. A sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of depression, and depression increases the likelihood of a sedentary lifestyle. (CPF, 2007)

• 21% of Queensland children aged 5-17 are overweight or obese. (Healthy Kids QLD Survey, 2006)

• In Queensland, cycling is the fourth most popular leisure activity outside of school for children after watching television, reading books and playing computer games.  This means the top 3 activities are non-physical.  (ABS, 2004)

• Cycling is one of the few popular sports that is age neutral, and it can be performed at varying levels of intensity to suit you current situation.  

• Most of a car's pollutants are given off in the first 8-10 minutes of a car journey, or roughly in the first 5km or so. By using your bicycle for short, local trips, you can really impact the environment. (Australian Cycling Strategy, 2004)

• Carbon Off-setting is all the buzz right now.  A study found that over 60% of trips made in a car are under 10km, a distance easily achieveable on a bike.  Even better than off-setting, eliminate the carbon altogether for that trip by riding your bike! (ABS, 1997)

• According to an ABS study the average household spending on transport is higher than the spending on housing or education. Given that the cost of petrol has been increasing considerbly since 2004, the cost of transport as percentage of total household expenditure would have increased even further.   (ABS, 2004)

• The average speed of an experienced cyclist in urban areas is between 15km to 20 km/hr. The average speed of a car during peak hour traffic is between 22km/hr to 35km/hr.  Many people underestimate the time it takes to get somewhere in a car, and overestimate the time it takes on a bike. (CPF, 2007)