Bike instead of drive
Earth Points60 
EaseAmbitious
Summary
Cycling is a great alternative for many car journeys, bringing significant health benefits and saving serious money. Plus it is a lot more fun! Use your bike (or a bike through a bikeshare) to run an errand or go anywhere in range.
Description
Car travel is one of the biggest carbon dioxide emission sources and creates harmful particulates, nitrous oxide, ozone, and other pollutants. Cycling is a great alternative for many car journeys, bringing significant health benefits and saving serious money. Plus it is a lot more fun!
Further, cycling is a visible action that helps other people see that regular people can bike — and you do not have to wear spandex. Your trips also show your community that the infrastructure needs changing; more bikes can thus mean fewer wide roads and large cement parking garages and instead more bike paths and stands. Tar and cement are big greenhouse gas emitters.
Further, cycling is a visible action that helps other people see that regular people can bike — and you do not have to wear spandex. Your trips also show your community that the infrastructure needs changing; more bikes can thus mean fewer wide roads and large cement parking garages and instead more bike paths and stands. Tar and cement are big greenhouse gas emitters.
Tips
• If you do not own a bike they can be purchased affordably second-hand.
• Start with one short trip. If this is new to you, do not push it too much the first time.
• Try running an errand with your bike, not just commuting to work. It can make errand running more fun!
• Other trips could include a school run, a short food trip, visiting a friend nearby, or taking the kids to the park.
• If you are in an urban environment, consider joining a bike share — this way you do not have to buy and store a bike, but instead will send a message to your community that bikes and bike shares are desirable.
• A bike tune-up by your local bike pro or co-op can make a huge difference and make you feel more confident.
• Strapping a milk crate to a bike or using panniers (bags slung on both sides of the bike) is an easy way to carry things.
• Use good lights and reflective clothing if riding at dusk or in the dark.
• Start with one short trip. If this is new to you, do not push it too much the first time.
• Try running an errand with your bike, not just commuting to work. It can make errand running more fun!
• Other trips could include a school run, a short food trip, visiting a friend nearby, or taking the kids to the park.
• If you are in an urban environment, consider joining a bike share — this way you do not have to buy and store a bike, but instead will send a message to your community that bikes and bike shares are desirable.
• A bike tune-up by your local bike pro or co-op can make a huge difference and make you feel more confident.
• Strapping a milk crate to a bike or using panniers (bags slung on both sides of the bike) is an easy way to carry things.
• Use good lights and reflective clothing if riding at dusk or in the dark.
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Photo Credit
Photo by Adrian Williams on Unsplash