Earthgarage free newsletter
Sign up here for free giveaways,
fuel saving tips and hot new products.
- Alternative Fuels
- Anti-Idling
- Biking
- Calculators
- Car Maintenance & Repair
- Car Sharing
- Carbon Offsets
- Electric Vehicles (EV)
- Fleet Management
- Gas Rebate/Cash Back Reward Credit Cards
- Government Programs
- Green Car Services
- Green Car Washes
- Green Driving
- Green Your Shop
- Mass Transit
- Parking
- Parking Lots/Driveways
- Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing
- Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV)
- Recycling
- Ride Sharing
- Smartphone Apps
- Tax Credits/Incentives
- Telecommuting
- Walking/Pedestrian Advocacy
Biking
Is it time to trade in your car keys for a Schwinn?
Biking, or cycling, is the most efficient mode of transportation for short or moderate distances. Aside from producing absolutely no emissions or air pollution, cycling is a terrific source of exercise. When you opt to hop on two wheels instead of four, you feel the distinct pleasure of using a sustainable form of transportation, increasing your health, and saving money on fuel, all at the same time. Sounds like a win win win situation to us!
One of the biggest positive impacts riding a bike has, is that on our planet. Simply choosing to ride a bike cuts air pollution by 100 percent. Yes, that's right, 100 percent. Compared to driving a car, which "the average car emits about six tons of carbon dioxide every year," says Adam Stein, VP Marketing of Terrapass, in an interview with Car Talk, riding a bike is a zero-emission form of transportation. The only non-renewable energy being used is the energy coming from you. That means no gas, oil or electric is needed to propel you down the road, just a healthy set of legs and lungs.
Now, the fact that when riding a bike you are not using any non-renewable energy, means that you are also not digging into your pocket for cash. With gas prices hitting record highs, this could be a game changer. Let’s consider the average price of operating your vehicle per mile, after gas and maintenance is factored, is 25 cents. If your average commute to work is about 15 miles round trip, and you ride a bike to work just twice a week, you can save almost $400 a year. That’s a lot of loot. And, you’re guaranteed to get there with a smile on your face.
Another incentive to riding a bike comes in the form of physical and mental health. Riding a bike can increase strength, stamina, cardiovascular health, flexibility and of course, give you that stunning body you have always wanted. Riding a bike is also a proven stress reliever that almost guarantees, as we mentioned above, that you arrive at your destination in a better mood. And, it’s just plain old fun.
So, next time you leaving the house for a quick jaunt, trade in the steering wheel for a set of handlebars. You can get in shape while saving money and the environment. Check out the links below for more info on bike riding.
On Biking, Why Can't the U.S. Learn Lessons from Europe?
Alternative Car Fuel: Yourself!
To e-bike or Not to e-bike - That is the Question
Bike to Your Town's Planning Board Meeting. Earthgarage - Greener Car. Fatter Wallet.
Is Bicycle Commuting Really Catching On? And if So, Where?
Los Angeles Dedicates Car Lane to Bicycles
Bike Sharing is Coming To New York City!
Cyclists Save Taxpayers over $200 Million Per Year
The New World of Electric Transportation
Across Europe, Irking Drivers Is Urban Policy
A City With Too Many Bicycles - Amsterdam's Unique Problem
We hope to provide some inspiration, information, and a community of folks who are driving the culture forward…starting with electric bicycles, electric folding bikes, electric scooters and electric three wheelers that can haul groceries or the kids to school!
Did you know that 40% of all urban travel in the US happens within 2 miles of where people live? Nearly all of that travel is by car! Realizing the great opportunity to help fight climate change, CLIF BAR created a game to see how many car trips could be replaced with a bike instead. It’s called the 2 Mile Challenge.
Alta Bicycle Share designs, deploys, and manages bicycle share systems, enabling people to have all the advantages of owning a bike with few of the hassles in many metropolitan cities and college campuses. Their bike share programs can be found in London, Montreal, Boston, Washington D.C., Melbourne, Miami, and Denver.
B Cycle is a bike sharing program located in most major cities in the Midwest. A person can sign up for a membership or a 24 hour pass, and can ride bikes from one station to another. If a bike share program is not in your city/town, B Cycle collects digital signatures to see where interest is and sees if its possible to to start a program.
Bicycle Benefits is a progressive bicycling program designed to reward individuals and businesses for their commitment to cleaner air, personal health, and the use of pedaling energy in order to create a more sustainable community.
A website for everyday bicyclists full of helpful tips and techniques.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) developed the Bike 'N Ride Program to provide safe integration of bicycling with Metrorail and Metrobus ridership.
BikeCommuters.com provides news, articles, product reviews, and how to’s of anything that is related to bike commuting. Readers can enjoy an up to date selection of information that will help commuters from the grocery getting person to the guy that has a 60 mile commute.
The Bicycle Friendly Community Program provides incentives, hands-on assistance, and award recognition for communities that actively support bicycling. A Bicycle Friendly Community welcomes cyclists by providing safe accommodation for cycling and encouraging people to bike for transportation and recreation.
An organization designed around bringing the biking community together to fund biking initiatives, influence public policy towards more recognition of the biking community, and generally promote an increased use of bikes on and off our streets.
Tips, news, reviews and safety for bike commuters.
Considering the benefits of biking in general, it’s no wonder that so many are exploring the possibility of making their commute to work a two-wheeled one. If you enjoy biking, consider this commuter alternative that can open up a whole new world. Some of the advantages include: spending less on gas and vehicle maintenance, reducing the number of cars on already crowded roads, decreasing vehicle emissions, and getting exercise!
CycleSafe's innovative designs and cost efficient bicycle parking products continue to encourage cycling and livable communities worldwide.
Dero Bike Rack Co. has re-engineered the bike rack to bring you a complete line of new products that meet modern bike storage and bike parking needs. They are architecturally distinctive and offer high bike security and protection from theft.
Electric bikes are part of a wide range of Light Electric Vehicles (LEVs) that provide convenient local transportation. Generally designed for one person and small cargo capacity, electric bike range, speed, and cost are moderate. For most of us, the majority of our trips are less than 10 miles - within the range of most e-bikes. Clean, quiet, and efficient LEVs offer the advantages of an extra car without the burdens.
League of American Bicyclists promotes bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation and work through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America.
A bike sharing program set up in Minnesota in 2008. Currently operational in Minneapolis and St. Paul, a membership to Nice Ride costs between $30-$40 a year (depending on if you are a student or not). Just pick a bike up from one location and drop it off at any other in the area. There are already over 50 swapping stations in the twin city alone!
World Commute offers resources for new commuters on how to successfully start walking and biking for transportation as well as how to start a commuting program at work. The site allows users to create a profile and record non-motorized trips including daily commutes to work or school and “taking care of business” trips to the store, coffee shop, etc.
Copyright © 2012, Green Automotive Alliance, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
